A question for all you world travelers

[rolanni]

It has come to my attention that I will be traveling this summer (via train, all the way to the City in the Clouds and back). This means that I will have to find locks, at least two, for my beloved purple backpack (which, by the way, clashes or works against every article of clothing I own. And that is why I Love It. Here's a picture). I thought, of course, that this would be an Easy Project, but locks have gotten complicated since the last time I felt the need to lock something up. (Come to think of it, the dufflebag that goes into through transit prolly ought to get locked, too. My previous philosophy regarding these things was that, if somebody wanted a ratty pair of jeans so bad that they were willing to risk their hand in my luggage, their need was greater than mine.)

Do I really want a TSA-compatible lock? I mean, the reason I'm locking things is to keep people out of my stuff, not to make it easier on them. Which is better, a key-lock or a tumbler-lock? Should I, really, even bother?

Comments

[sethb.livejournal.com]

Don't use a TSA lock. All the crooks have keys by now. (Besides, you're not flying, and non-TSA luggage locks have been remaindered and can be purchased very cheaply.)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Don't use a TSA lock. All the crooks have keys by now.

That was of course my concern.

Besides, you're not flying[...]

Yeah, but Amtrak has recently announced that it will be conducting airport style luggage searches "at need."

[sethb.livejournal.com]

If they want to search your luggage when you check it, open it for them. They don't (as far as I know) claim to be opening luggage arbitrarily while in transit, unlike the thieves of the TSA.