Protector 13mm security chain 2.0m

Weighing in at a hernia-inducing 6.95kg the Protector 13mm chain isn't something you'd want to carry around but for keeping your bikes secure in the shed or garage it's an excellent last line of defence, especially when used with a ground anchor or Shed Shackle.

13mm refers to the diameter of the chain links which are neatly welded and shrouded in a cordura sleeve to protect your frame. Even so, you should be careful: this is a heavy chain, and if you were to drop it on your Aluminium downtube I can imagine it'd carry enough heft to leave a dent.

There's a range of Protector chains, from 10mm to the 16mm which resembles something you might find attached to a ship's anchor. Pragmasis guarantee that the 16mm chain is impossible to bolt crop by hand; the same guarantee doesn't extend to the 13mm links that we tested but after five minutes of huffing and puffing with three-foot bolt croppers we'd barely marked the thing. Obviously there's no point having a beefy chain like this if you're using a padlock from the pound shop, so make sure you get a decent lock too. The chain is pictured here with a Squire SS50CS Stronghold Padlock which Pragmasis also supply (£45.25), and that we'll be testing soon.

Verdict

For static applications a beefy chain is hard to beat, and the Protector is beefier than most while remaining very usable. An excellent last line of defence against the crooks. Not cheap, but cheaper than a new bike...