How Squire Padlocks can help Keep Your Property and Business Safer

Every time you leave your property unattended, you are running the risk of never seeing it again. With today’s rising crime rates, you need to know that when you lock something up and leave it, it is as protected as it possibly can be.

Enter Squire’s closed-shackle padlock; a tried-and-tested device with the highest possible security rating. This 6-pin S cylinder padlock has been designed to withstand long-term exposure to inclement weather as well as render tampering almost impossible.

We feel that it’s easily among the best padlocks on the market right now, and, over the course of this review, we intend to show you how we arrived at this conclusion.

What is it?

The Squire closed-shackle padlock is a 6-pin S cylinder locking device that is as smart, efficient, and easy to use as any other in the world. In addition, this padlock has the highest possible security rating for a commercially available padlock, having been tested to a CEN grade of 6, the highest grade possible.

For those who don’t know, CEN is the European committee for standardisation, a group that brings together the national standardisation bodies of 34 European countries. A CEN grade, then, means that the device corresponds to the criteria agreed upon by many of the world’s foremost experts in this area of industry. The higher the grade, the better the lock.

A padlock of grade 6 would be recommended for heavy duty assignments such as protecting the contents of warehouses, shops in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and shipping crates (for both transit and storage).

During the R&D phase, these locks have been placed in an environment chamber, and subjected to the equivalent of over 5 years’ outdoor use in changing (and sometimes extreme) weather conditions. They survive more-or-less unscathed, meaning that a Squire padlock represents a longer-term investment than some other brands.

Although they are not made to withstand marine environments (i.e., perpetually damp atmospheres with high concentrations of salt), Squire padlocks will be able to withstand extended periods of bitter cold or oppressive heat, as well as wind, sleet, rain, and snow.

Adding to this durability is the thick rubber base, which protects the mechanism from water, dust, dirt, grit, or sand ingress.

Why Choose a Squire Padlock?

As we’ve discussed elsewhere on the site, most thieves are consummate opportunists. They’re out looking for an easy score; a quick way to make fast cash. Why would they risk a run-in with the law when there’s an easier target down the street?

A Squire padlock is a massive deterrent to an experienced thief, while an inexperienced thief could tinker with one for ages and do nothing except waste their time.

Whilst a Squire padlock is not entirely indomitable, it is highly unlikely to be broken open with hand tools. An angle grinder could be used to force this lock open, for example, but using one makes a lot of noise – not exactly high on a thief’s wish list.

The goal of most security equipment is of course to inconvenience the thief to the point that it simply isn’t worth the effort needed to steal the valuables or gain entry to the premises. This upsets their ‘risk vs. reward’ dynamic in favour of the former category. This padlock succeeds ably in this regard.

In addition, many insurance companies will require a CEN grade padlock of 4 or higher to ensure that proper security measures are being taken. A grade 6 padlock, whilst possibly representing overkill for certain applications, will go a long way to ensuring that your policy pays out in the event of an incident.

Ultimately, we feel that if something’s worth protecting, it’s worth securing in the best way possible, which is where a Squire padlock comes in.

We were very impressed with this padlock. Its thick, durable design is a deterrent in and of itself, and the fact that Squire have been making premium quality security equipment since 1780 is another ‘peace of mind’ factor that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Overall, this is an excellent product that sits comfortably among the best padlocks we’ve ever seen. For the remainder of this review, we’ll have a look at some of the product’s best features, as well as isolating what else makes it stand out in a crowded security equipment marketplace. We’ll also examine two alternative options, one from Squire, the other from a different manufacturer, and see how they differ from this padlock.

Product Overview

We don’t talk enough about steel. Steels are alloys of iron and other metals and are, quite frankly, the strongest metals in the world. This Squire padlock features a body fashioned from specially hardened steel that would be extremely difficult to break.

The steel body has also been given an electrophoretic finish. This affords it a high level of corrosion resistance, meaning that it can be left outdoors, in almost all forms of weather, and it will be fine.

The key cannot be removed until the device is locked. This is an always-welcome feature, as it allows the user to be 100% sure that the padlock has been sealed properly before leaving it unattended. In terms of peace of mind, this is a real plus, because if you’re holding the key in your hand, you can rest assured that the lock has been set properly.

The cylinder also features ‘anti-drill’ protection measures. Drilling is a common way to open a locked padlock, as a drill is easier to buy and use, as well as far less noisy and intrusive than an angle-grinder. Protection against drills, then, is an absolute must if you want your property or business to be fully protected, especially if the area wherein the padlock is being used isn’t anywhere residential or especially well-guarded.

By offering protection against drills, as well as bolt cutters (more on this feature in the next section), this Squire padlock has ensured that the two most obvious methods of tampering are no longer available to would-be thieves.

The barrel is also replaceable. This is one of our favourite features, as the barrels are usually the first thing to go on padlocks as they get older.

Weighing 1.15kg (about the same as 4 or 5 medium-sized potatoes), this padlock is weighty enough as to feel solid and well made, but not so heavy as to seriously inhibit portability. Though heavy, it isn’t especially thick, being only a little over 3 CM (31.9mm to be precise) in thickness.

This is a particularly good design feature, as bulkier locks can actually be harder to use, especially if you’re using them to lock chains or metal gates.

As always, we recommend carefully measuring whatever it is you wish to lock and checking those measurements against the stated product dimensions before you commit to buying a lock. There’s no sense spending money on a lock that doesn’t fit.

This Squire padlock is almost supernaturally strong, representing excellent design and build quality. It has the potential to last for decades.

As for the keys, this padlock operates on a restricted key system. 2 good-sized keys (not too small, as some padlock keys can be) are provided with purchase. However, new versions of these keys cannot be cut without the key card supplied. This means that if the padlock key is lost or stolen, no unauthorised person can copy it. Replacement keys are only available directly from Henry Squire & Sons, and there are over 260,000 different key variations.

This Squire padlock is therefore a great choice for securing warehouses, perimeter gates, gardens and outdoor areas, vehicles, trailers, building sites, and other secure facilities.

Special Features 

Rated Highly

The CEN Grade 6 rating is not given lightly. By the exacting standards of 34 European countries, this padlock is as good as padlocks can get – and that’s a guarantee. This is a padlock that sits comfortably alongside the very best models that money can buy. No lock is 100% thief-proof, but this one comes pretty darn close.

Scientifically Proven to Resist the Elements

This Squire padlock has been subject to an electrophoretic finish. Electrophoretic deposition, or ‘E-coating’ is a metal finishing process that involves the application of a special coating that (among other things) improves resistance to corrosion and wear, such as the kind of damage that can be caused to metals by long-term exposure to the elements. E-coating is a widely used and highly regarded method of protecting metals, so you can be sure that this padlock will last for a long time.

Super-Tough Shackle

A common method of breaking lesser padlocks involves taking a bolt-cutter to the shackle and cutting it open. It’s hard work, but worth it to the thief if the prize is right. The design of this padlock renders this practice impossible, going to great lengths to protect the shackle. This makes this Squire padlock basically bolt-cutter proof. Even if a thief were able to gain access to the shackle, they will find that it is fashioned from boron, which is 80% stronger than steel.

Alternative Options

In this section, we will present two viable alternatives to the Squire padlock. One will be a different lock from the same manufacturer, the other will be from a separate maker.

Squire Combination Heavy Duty Padlock

This padlock is entirely keyless, meaning that, unlike the Squire padlock we’re presently reviewing, there are no keys to lose or replace. Instead, this lock uses a combination mechanism. A 4-digit code is set and must be input correctly each time the lock is opened.

The 4-digit code is a safe method, as there are 10,000 potential combinations. The code can also be easily reset at any time (providing the original code is input first).

Fashioned from alloy steel and solid brass, making it highly resistant to brute force attacks, this padlock is also weatherproof, coated as it is with a dual-compound body coating. This coating will resist high-saline environments (such as seafront locations) in a way that the Squire padlock discussed above does not. To make this claim with confidence, Squire has subjected this padlock to over 180 hours in a salt spray test.

Although the shackle is more exposed here than on the other Squire padlock, the fact that it is made from boron means that it would be extremely difficult to cut with bolt cutters.

One small annoyance is due to the combination being set at the bottom of the lock. This means that, in cases where the lock is attached tightly, and not easily moved around, it can be quite difficult to input the correct code.

The combination must also be exact. Every number must absolutely be in the correct place for the lock to work. As with the other Squire padlock, this is a good feature on paper, that can make the device finicky in practice.

This lock also comes with a 10-year warranty and full police accreditations.

Burg-Wätcher Padlock

Lacking the extra shackle protection of the Squire padlock, this padlock is nonetheless a very impressive model, with an array of excellent features.

The 11mm shackle, fashioned from extra hard steel, would be insanely difficult to cut through. Being chrome-plated, it’s also highly drill resistant, with a double lock that prevents tampering. The housing is made from a tough, durable plastic that cannot rust and is highly resistant to even the most inclement weather conditions.

The Burg-Wätcher padlock is only about 2 CM (22mm to be precise) thick, making it a better choice than the Squire for those primarily concerned with space.

Unlike the Squire padlock, the internal locking mechanism is rust-proof, which is an uncommon, but very welcome feature. It also comes with 2 keys.

Our View

This Squire padlock is easily among the best on the market today. It has been designed to resist not only the fury of the elements, but also the best attempts of the most determined thieves to tamper with it.

The shackle is well protected from bolt cutters, and the body is as safe as possible from drills. Even the keys are extra-secure. Furthermore, this padlock has been designed and manufactured by a company with more than 240 years’ experience in the field of locks and other security equipment.

However, despite this padlock’s great design and performance, there are some negative aspects of this product that we should probably talk about. Firstly, some users have complained that, while the outer layers of the lock are reasonably rust-proof, the internal areas are somewhat prone to rusting. Despite the presence of the protective rubber flap we discussed earlier, water can sometimes enter the lock when the key itself is wet (for example, during heavy rainfall). This water then has nowhere else to go and so rusts the lock.

Secondly, the shackle can be slightly difficult to align, especially if you happen to be in a hurry. Whilst this demonstrates how precise a piece of equipment this padlock is (attention to detail is usually a hallmark of great design), it can become frustrating to align the shackle just right, especially late at night or in bad weather.

These minor issues aside, we’re still big fans of Squire padlocks – and of this model specifically. Not only does it meet the highest standards of over 34 countries, but it also demonstrates a commitment to excellence in all aspects, from expertly selected, highest quality materials and basic functionality to a design that acts as a clear visual deterrent before the thief even attempts to gain access to it.

Padlocks don’t come much better than this. If it’s peace of mind you’re looking for, look no further.