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review
Accessories - misc
Fabric Horse Lock HolsterFabric Horse Holster in action

Fabric Horse Lock Holster

9
by TR McGowran
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Nov 22, 2009

3
£10.00

VERDICT:

9
10
The coolest way to carry a D lock. Mind numbingly simple. Doesn't work if you are wearing lycra
Weight: 
0g
Contact: 
www.fabrichorse.com
How we test

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This product is so simple it is genius*. I hate having to lug around a couple of kilos of theft deterrent but unfortunately it is a necessity if you leave your bike outside, unattended for more than 3 minutes, in a major conurbation such as London.

D-locks offer the best security but the Plastic holder's are ugly plus I have more than one bike but only one lock so each frame would need one. If I put the lock in a bag then I am burdened with carrying the bag. What this clever strap does is allow you to wear your D lock off your belt in a kind of holster fashion.

I was a little sceptical at first thinking that even with a belt on, the weight of a Kyrptonite New York lock hanging off my trousers might pull them down! The Lock Holster is made using the fabric from car seat belts recovered from scrapped vehicles then cut and sewn in a little factory in Philadelphia.

To fit it, you slide you belt through the loop on each end so it sits straddling the side belt loop on your trousers. The D of the lock then snuggly slips in between the holster strap and your trousers and once adjusted is remarkably comfortable and secure even on longer rides. If you had it on all day you would possibly feel it becoming uncomfortable from carrying that sort of weight on your hip. The holsters are available in a few different sizes depending on what lock you use; mainly Kyrptonite mini or NYC sizes.

*if you wear a belt and own a D lock

Verdict

The coolest way to carry a D lock. Mind numbingly simple. Doesn't work if you are wearing lycra.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Fabric Horse Lock Holster

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Urban riders who need to carry around big locks to prevent their bikes from being stolen.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

It allows you to 'wear' your D lock in a fabric holster.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10

Finished to a very high standard with no frayed edges or dangley bits of thread.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Comfortable to use and it doesn't move about. You don't notice you have a lock hanging off you.

Rate the product for durability:
 
10/10

They are made from old seatbelts, designed to take a lot of strain.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
10/10

Lighter than a normal D lock bracket

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

very comfortable for rides under an hour.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

10 bucks for a material belt isn't really a lot considering it is very well made, by hand.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Performed better than I thought it would.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfortable and simple.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

You can't buy them in your favourite bike shop yet.

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Definitely

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 78  Weight: 178

I usually ride: Sparton, brakeless fixed  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, sportives, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Fabric Horse
Fabric Horse Lock Holster
Cycle security
Bicycle security

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3 comments

Avatar
TRs Blurb n Blog | 15 years ago
0 likes

You might have breathing difficulties if you wore your trousers with the waist band as high as Simon Cowell but not if you wear your belt around your hips or below your navel. As for crashing with it on, I think it would actually offer a fair amount of protection as it helps spread the point of impact out (if you were to fall on you bottom) plus it sits on you bum which is fairly padded.

Avatar
Tony Farrelly | 15 years ago
0 likes

Did you have any breathing difficulty TR?

I carry around Kryponite New York D-Lock and bloody heavy laptop in my rucksack and vast amounts of other crap and I've never had any trouble breathing even when when I used to carry it in a courier bag with a compression strap right across my diaphragm – that wrecked my back mind 1

Occasionally I wonder what would happen if I fell off and landed on my back… bottom line is I'd better not, same goes for anyone who carries anything sharp, heavy, or irregularly shaped in a rucksack or courier bag surely? At least with the holster most of the lock is placed where you've got some natural padding.

Avatar
markymark | 15 years ago
0 likes

erm...what happens when you fall off/get knocked off??
nice D shapped hole in your back i think??

i remember during my motorcycle training being told never carry a chain on my body as it would dig in during a crash/slide.

also wouldn't the weight on your belt be restricting your diaphragm, so making breathing harder??

sorry to be a kill joy, but just can't see this being a good idea 2

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