The Litelok X1 is the rare lock that nearly every independent tester crowns first. BikeRadar, OutdoorGearLab, Bikerumor, and thebestbikelock.com all rank it their best overall, and Cycling Weekly places it second only to a lighter newcomer. The reason is the combination that used to be impossible: real angle-grinder resistance in a lock you will actually carry.
The modern threat is the cordless angle grinder, which defeats almost every standard U-lock in 30 to 90 seconds. The X1's Barronium-armored shackle changes that math. BikeRadar's lab needed 4 minutes 38 seconds, OutdoorGearLab logged 6 minutes 35 seconds, and Bikerumor had to swap a destroyed cutting wheel mid-attack. That is enough to force most thieves to give up and move on. It carries Sold Secure Diamond for both pedal and powered cycles plus the European ART 4 rating, the strongest independent marks available.
What seals it is weight. OutdoorGearLab described the X1 as unbeatable security without the back-breaking weight, and at 1.7kg it is far lighter than the 2kg-plus tanks that match its cut resistance. You get diamond-grade protection that still fits in a pannier or frame mount, which is why it is the lock testers recommend to serious city riders first.
What It Won't Do
The X1 is not the single toughest lock made. The heavier Litelok X3 and the Ferosafe Hiplok D1000 both resist a grinder longer, so a determined, well-equipped thief with time and spare discs has a better chance against the X1 than against those two. It is also expensive at around $260, a large jump from a standard U-lock, and because Litelok sells mostly direct, you will not always find it on a shop wall next to the Kryptonites and Abus locks.
The Kryptonite KryptoLok is the lock most riders should actually start with. It is a different tool than the X1: it is not angle-grinder resistant, and it does not pretend to be. What it delivers is Sold Secure Gold protection against the bolt cutters, prying attacks, and opportunists that account for the vast majority of real-world bike theft, all for under $50.
OutdoorGearLab named it their Best Buy and RunBikeCalc their best value, praising its 4 by 9 inch shackle window as the sweet spot for size and convenience. At 2.9 lbs with an included FlexFrame transport bracket, it is genuinely easy to carry every day, and it comes from the brand with the deepest track record and an anti-theft registration program behind it.
The honest framing is about risk. If you park a mid-value bike in a low-to-moderate theft area, the KryptoLok is plenty of lock for a fraction of the price. If you graduate to a grinder-heavy city or a high-value e-bike, that is when you step up to the X1.
What It Won't Do
The KryptoLok's limit is the power tool. OutdoorGearLab cut its 12.7mm shackle in about 20 seconds with an angle grinder, so in a city where grinder thefts are common it is the wrong choice. Its shackle is also thinner than the 14mm-and-up shackles on the premium locks, and it carries no powered-cycle rating for heavy e-bikes. Match it to a sensible risk level and it is excellent. Ask it to guard a $4,000 bike on a busy street and it will disappoint.
Who Should Buy Which
Litelok X1
The angle-grinder-resistant U-lock testers rank first almost everywhere, pairing diamond-grade security with a weight you will actually carry.
- City commuters parking in higher-theft areas who want real angle-grinder protection
- E-bike owners who need a powered-cycle Diamond rating
- Riders who refuse to carry a 5-pound lock but still want top-tier security
- Anyone replacing a stolen-bike lock who wants the broadest expert consensus pick
- Buyers who value Sold Secure Diamond and ART 4 ratings over rock-bottom price
Kryptonite KryptoLok Standard U-Lock
The default sensible U-lock: Sold Secure Gold protection, a roomy shackle, and a price under fifty dollars that no premium lock touches.
- Everyday riders in low-to-moderate theft areas
- Budget-conscious buyers who want a trusted brand under $50
- Commuters who prioritize light daily carry and a roomy shackle
- Students and casual cyclists locking a mid-value bike
- Anyone who wants solid Gold-rated protection against hand tools and opportunists