Lately we've been seeing a lot of compact bicycle locks that can be easily stuffed in a pocket, then used to temporarily secure your bike while you sit near it at a sidewalk cafe. The Ottolock recently raised a few eyebrows, as it looks like a zip-tie on steroids. Hiplok's Z Lok should raise a few more, as it looks like a regular zip-tie – but there's more to it than that.
For starters, the Z Lok has a stainless steel core, so it can't simply be cut through with a knife. It also has a double-sided locking mechanism, which can only be released using an included two-pronged key. So yes, Z Lok owners could unlock each others' bikes, although they're probably not a big part of the bike-thief demographic.
![The Z Lok has a double locking mechanism, which can only be released using an included two-pronged key](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/756e054/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1620x1080+0+0/resize/1440x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fhiplok-z-lok-2.jpg)
Besides its use as a "coffee shop" lock, it has also been suggested that the Z Lok could be used to secure bikes (or other gear) to car racks, or to lock helmets to parked bikes.
It's available now, priced at £14.99 (about US$19) for a set of two. You can see it in use, in the video below.
Source: Hiplok