The lock that rides with you…Hiplok’s SWITCH 105 wants to solve the oldest argument in bike security: where do you put the damn lock?
You know the routine. You’ve got a quality folding lock, and it lives in your bag — bouncing around with your pump, your rain jacket, and whatever else you’ve convinced yourself is essential. Or it’s bungeed to the rear rack in a way that feels fine until the first pothole. Or it’s just… not with you, sitting on the workbench at home while your bike is locked up with the sketchy cable lock you keep for emergencies.
Hiplok has been chipping away at the carry problem for years — their wearable chain locks made real inroads with urban commuters. The SWITCH 105 is the next chapter: a Sold Secure-rated folding lock built around a modular carry system that genuinely addresses how real riders actually move through the world. Order the SWITCH 105 from Amazon for $129.
THE SWITCH SYSTEM
The headline feature here isn’t the lock itself — it’s the ecosystem around it. The SWITCH system ships with three components: a bracket that bolts to your frame, a holster that connects the lock to said bracket (or to any bag strap or belt), and a plate that lets your water bottle cage swap right back in when you’re not carrying the lock on-bike.
“COMMUTING AND WEEKEND RIDING REQUIRE DIFFERENT SETUPS. SWITCH ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT.”
That last bit is clever. The bottle cage swap means you’re not choosing between hydration and security on a mixed-use bike. On the commuter days, the lock mounts cleanly to the frame. On the trail days or the coffee shop rides, you throw the cage back in and clip the lock to your bag strap or belt via the holster. Additional brackets are sold separately, so you can set up multiple bikes without re-bolting every time.
In practice this kind of modularity lives or dies by how quick the transitions actually are. Hiplok’s video demos show a satisfying one-click swap, and the machined quality of their other products suggests this won’t feel cheap after a few hundred uses. That said — this is a lock you’ll want to handle before fully committing, so if you’re near a dealer, do that.
THE LOCK ITSELF
Strip away the carry system and you’ve got a solid, if not bombproof, folding lock. The bars are hardened steel linked with steel rivets, and the locking length tops out at 105cm — generous enough to get through a wheel and frame and around most fixed objects without requiring you to park in exactly the right spot. Folded down, the whole package measures 110mm, pocketable in a jersey or jacket.
The security rating is Sold Secure Pedal Cycle Bronze. Let’s be honest about what that means: it’s the entry level of the Sold Secure tiers, which is worth acknowledging. Hiplok is transparent that there’s no angle grinder resistance here. For a high-theft urban environment where you’re leaving your bike for hours, you’ll want to layer this with a secondary lock or a heavier hitter. As a quick-stop lock for lower-risk situations — the coffee shop, the trailhead, the grocery run — it’s appropriately specified. The bar thickness at 4mm is consistent with this positioning.
Weight comes in at 1.18kg. Not featherweight, but reasonable for a folding lock with a real mounting system attached. Three coded, replaceable keys ship in the box — the replaceable key program is a genuinely useful touch that more lock makers should adopt.
Product Details
- 105cm locking length
- Folding design with hardened steel bars
- SWITCH plate allows the lock or a bottle to use the same mount
- Sold Secure Bronze rated
- Clips to belts and bags when not mounted on the bike
- Weight: 1.17kg (2.59 lbs)
- Three replaceable keys
- Available in black and grey
- £89 | €99 | $129 from Amazon
Who It’s For
The SWITCH 105 makes the most sense for the rider who commutes on the same bike they also take out on weekends — the gravel commuter, the urban all-rounder, the person whose bike genuinely has to do everything. The flexible carry system rewards that versatility rather than fighting it.
It’s less compelling if you’re after maximum security for long-term city parking. In that case, something from the higher Sold Secure tiers (Silver or Gold) is the right call, and Hiplok’s own lineup has those options if you want to stay in the family. But if you’re shopping in the “daily carry, lower-risk stops” category, the SWITCH earns its $129.99 by making the lock more likely to actually be with you when you need it.
The lifetime warranty — activated by registering within 30 days of purchase — is a confidence-builder. It signals Hiplok believes in the hardware, and it gives buyers a reasonable backstop on a product they’ll likely use daily for years.
Bottom Line
The best lock is the one you actually bring. Hiplok built the SWITCH around that idea, and it shows. The SWITCH system is genuinely flexible, the modular bracket-and-holster design solves a real problem, and the 105cm reach gives you enough flexibility to lock up properly in most situations. The Bronze security rating asks you to be honest about your threat model — pair it accordingly — but for a huge slice of everyday riding, it’s more than adequate. Available in All Black and Light Grey.
The Verdict
Smart Carry, Honest Security
A well-built folding lock that solves the carry problem better than almost anything else at this price. Know its security ceiling and use it accordingly — it’ll reward you with years of reliable, actually-with-you performance.
$129.99 — hiplok.com
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