Are you looking to learn how to pick a lock? If so, you will need to have a lock pick set. There are several options on the market, which in turn can make it a tricky proposition to find the best one for your needs. We have carried out intensive research to know the best lock pick sets on the market right now.
At the end of the guide, we will see the best lock pick sets that you can get. This will help to narrow down your options and make it much easier to find the lock pick set that meets your requirements.
Contents
Best Lock Pick Sets
1. Stainless Steel Lock Pick Training Kit – Best Overall
If this is your first-time lock picking, the choices on the market can make it somewhat hard to find the best models on the market. We have scoured the internet for the best lock pick sets, and this stainless steel lock pick kit is one of the best for beginners.
To that end, it comes with most of the things that you require to start picking locks. It is a training kit that contains systematic instructions on how to pick a lock. All the things that you require to challenge yourself and unlock as many locks as you want are already in this set.
If you are looking to gift someone with a gift, then this is a very cool gift to give. It is great for anyone that enjoys stuff like that.
This set comes from a brand that makes some of the best picks on the market today. Although there are different models from the manufacturer, these are some of the best and affordable that you can buy. As it is good for beginners, you can use it to hone your picking skills and become an expert lock picker. Click here to see the best price.
Key Features:
- 24 PCS toolset
- Stainless steel material
- Made in the USA
- Blue
- Affordable
- Durable
- Good for beginners
- The case is not durable
2. Professional 24 Piece Lock Pick Set – Best Versatile Lock Pick Se
Up next is a similar lock pick set like that we reviewed above. The T & A pick set comes with several features that make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy a lock pick set.
At first glance, it is clear that this is a durable option on the market. At a relatively low price, it is cool to see that it offers good value for money and will allow you a good performance that is good as even more expensive lock pick sets.
The 24 pieces found in the case allow you to almost have the right tool for whatever you want to do. It is multifunctional and will guarantee a good performance. Additionally, all the parts of the lock pick set are made of stainless steel. Stainless steel materials ensure that the lock pick set is durable and will last for several years. You don’t have to worry about corrosion.
T & A is not as popular as some of the other brands that make this type of product. However, it offers you some of the best customer services that we have come across.
The whole set weighs around 13.7 ounces and is available with a pouch. The only downside is that this pouch is not durable. Click here to see the best price.
Key Features:
- Stainless Steel
- Multifunctional Set
- 24 PCS
- Gray color
- Nice gift
- Good for beginner
- Durable stainless steel material
- Affordable
- Flimsy pouch
3. Lock Pick Set Locksmith Practice Tools – Best for Beginner Lock Pick Set
If you are on the lookout for an affordable lock pick set that you can buy for yourself or as a gift, then you will not regret buying this product. It ticks all the important boxes required to have a good product.
As the name implies, this is a practice lock pick set. Therefore, it is specifically geared towards anyone that is just starting to pick locks. The design is nice and the instructions are pretty straightforward. Therefore, most people can use this to hone their skills to become expert lock pickers.
While the manufacturer is not a popular option, we believe that the performance and value that this offers is one of the most reliable. The lock pick set is reliable and will stand the test of time. It is made of stainless steel, just like the others that we have reviewed so far in this post. It is also made in the USA. Therefore, you can rest assured that you will get excellent performance and value for money from this option.
Included in the set are 24 pieces. This range of picks and tension tools come in a reliable looking case that will protect the pieces from getting easily misplaced.
Another thing that sets this option apart from others on the market is that it comes with handles that feel ergonomic. Therefore, they are easy to grip and use. Click here to see the best price.
Key Features
- Ship from the USA
- Stainless Steel material
- 24 Pieces
- 6 Ounces
- Reliable performance
- Affordable
- Excellent for starters
- Durable
- Leather case peels over time
4. Lock Model with Professional 24-Piece Set & 3 Locks – Best Budget Lock Pick Set
This lock pick set comes from the Oland brand. It is an excellent option that is versatile and designed to use by different groups of people. Whether you are a beginner or a professional lock picker, you will certainly have a great time using this lockset.
It is made of high-quality material that will last for a very long time.
With just 17 pieces, it doesn’t come with as many parts as some of the others on the market and this list. However, it is still a versatile option that contains several useful tools. Some of the things that you will find here include a torsion wrench, short and medium hooks, and so on.
It has been found that learning how to pick a lock comes with certain advantages. For instance, it will help you to exercise the brain and will ensure that you have a challenging yet fun experience.
The package comes with lock models, 6 keys, a carrying case, and a manual. The carry case is durable and will keep your tools safe.
The stainless steel material means that the lock pick will last for a long time. It will prevent any rust in the lock pick set. Additionally, the option comes with an ergonomic handle that makes it super convenient to use the tools.
If you are an intermediate user or a starter, you will find this to be a really good option. Click here to see the best price.
Key Features:
- 17 Pieces
- Stainless Steel
- 8 Ounces
- 7 x 3.5 x 0.7″ package dimensions
- Ergonomic handle
- Durable stainless steel
- Useful manual
- Comes with several tools
- Steep learning curve
5. Mookic Furniture Hardware Set Multi-Function Pick Tool – Best for Intermediate Users
Last but not least on this list is this Mookic pick toolset. It is the best option if you are an expert lock picker or you have been practicing with other lock pick sets. It comes with a really nice design that you will find comfortable to use.
Weighing around 8 ounces, this option is lightweight and is easier to use than several other options. It offers an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to hold and maneuver the lock picks in your hand. Despite all of the advantages that it offers over your typical option, it is affordable and will not cost a lot.
The stainless steel material is further proof of the excellence of this option. It is durable and will last for a long time. The stainless steel material means that the tools will not rust.
Inside the storage case are 15 different tools. This is the lowest number of tools that we have reviewed so far. Nevertheless, if you know what you are doing, you will find this quite versatile and will be able to handle different types of locks as long as you have this in hand. Click here to see the best price.
Key Features
- Shipped from the USA
- 4 ounces
- Stainless Steel
- 81 x 5.04 x 1.34″
- Durable stainless steel material
- Made in the USA
- Cheap
- A smaller number of tools
Buying Guide
In the section above, we considered five of the lock pick sets that you can find on the market right now. The list of best beginner lock pick set assists you to narrow your choices and make a correct choice. Now, in the buying guide section, we will look at the best lock picking tools and the types that you will find on the market. It will further assist you in making the correct buying decision.
Types of Lock Picks
When choosing your lock pick, it is important that you consider some really important features. One of these features is the type of lock pick. When it comes to choosing lock picks, particularly for pin tumbler locks, there are six main types on the market.
However, these six are designed centered on two main styles of lock picking. The styles are pin picking and raking. You should keep in mind that the styles need different techniques and will need a certain design.
To that end, we will look at the common types that lie in each style of picking.
Single Pin Picking
The first type of pick is the single pin lock. In single pin picking, you get exactly what is implied by the name. You will have to pick a pin at a time.
You can see where the issue lies with this type of pick. You have to lift each pin at a time and this requires a pin that is thin and precise. Because of this, you have single pin tools coming with a hook design. However, we will consider some options that do not have this designed.
For single pin picking, the shorter hook, deeper hook, and offset hook are the main types of picks that are used. We will consider the benefits of each type.
Shorter Hook
Single pin picking needs to be done carefully and precisely, or else you risk failure. The pick needs to fit into a small keyhole. Therefore, when choosing a pick for this purpose, the pick must have the following qualities:
- Can handle one pin at a time
- Thin enough not to bump into some other pin or mechanism.
Shorter hooks fit the bill perfectly. These picks are designed in such a way that they give you plenty of movement and space in the tiny keyhole. Additionally, they will reach and move the pins that you want.
While these come with benefits, there are also drawbacks. One of the major disadvantages of these is that they are rendered nearly useless if the shorter cut pins are behind longer pins. Therefore, it can be an issue for those that just starting to learn lock picking.
Deeper Hook
The deeper hook picks up where the shorter hook stops. It is an excellent type of pick that offers similar versatility and performance as the shorter hooks we have discussed. Where shorter hooks are too short to reach and manipulate tricky set-ups, these are better.
By adding some length to a shorter hook, you will discover that you can more easily handle heavy warding.
There are different types of deep hooks, and we will discuss the type in this section.
Standard Deep Hook
This is very similar to the short hook. It has a simple and straightforward design. It is actually a short hook that has some length and reaches added. Because of the length, you will find it easier to pick locks that the shorter hook cannot reach.
While these are excellent for very paracentric locks, they come with some downsides. The main problem with them is that you cannot easily use them as primary lock picks. The additional length and reach make them bulky and big.
Offset Hooks
As we have considered above, short hooks and deeper hooks come with their benefits and drawbacks. The shorter options offer more agility and are easier to maneuver. The deeper hooks on the other hand offer a longer reach while not being as easy to maneuver.
Well, the offset hook combines the best from both types of picks and reduces the flaws. This type of pick comes with depth, precision, and maneuverability that combines to make an excellent lock pick. Due to this design, you can easily move around pin stacks.
Raking
The other style of lock picking is raking. Where the single pin picking is precise, raking is comparatively volatile and erratic. In this type of picking, you jettison finesse for speed.
Since you want to open as many pins as possible as quickly as possible, rake picks often come with long bodies and have contact with the lock. The larger contact area means that you will more quickly open the lock for you.
However, the effectiveness of this type of pick is dependent on several factors. There is a trio of main styles that you can use a rake pick. We will consider these in the section below. The three styles are scrubbing, rocking, and zipping.
Scrubbing
This type of rake pick uses the scrubbing method. What is this? Well, scrubbing refers to a scrubbing motion. This violent movement aims to bounce the pins of the lock to the shear line.
Since this is how it works, any pick that you want to use with this method must have the ability to strike the pins of the lock severally as you scrub.
One downside of this is that there might be snagging. So you have to be careful because snagging can break your pick.
Rocking Picks
The other style in raking is rocking, and rocking picks are what is used here. In rocking, you change the angle of the pick the deeper you move into the pick. The aim of this change of angle is to lift the pins to the shear line.
One of the best things that we like about this type of picking is that it is versatile and you can use almost any type of pick to do it.
Zipping
The last style of raking is zipping. In this method, you vigorously bounce the pins to the shear line and pick out the keyway as you apply an upward force on your pins.
As with rocking picks, you can use different types of picks to use this style.
Features to consider
Once you get into the world of lock picking, you will find out that there is a lot that you need to know so as to get the best option for you. For instance, you need to know the types of locks and the methods of picking a lock. We have discussed that in the section above.
Apart from that, there are other important things that you certainly have to know. You can boil this numerous information down into the following.
Narrowness
You have to consider the size of the pick. Lock pick sets usually come with several pieces, some up to 24 as we have discovered in our review above.
When making a choice, it is recommended that you go for a set that has several narrow picks. A narrow pick will have the advantage of giving you more space to wriggle in.
Master Your Sets
If you are a beginner, it wouldn’t be ideal to buy the most expensive lockset on the market and end up not knowing how to use it. Therefore, we advise that you buy a lock pick set that is affordable, just like those that we have reviewed above. After buying it, then you should look to master that particular set before you move to buy another one.
Brand
Some might say that the brand of your lock pick set doesn’t really matter, however, we disagree. Getting a lock pick set from a reputable brand is better than buying from an obscure brand.
Stick to the top five lock picking practice kits that we have reviewed above and you can rest assured of quality and good performance.
Materials
Regardless of the brand that you buy, you should always check out the durability of the picks. And the material of construction is what most affects the durability. Therefore, you should consider lock picks made of materials that will hardly break or get damaged. One of the best materials that you can find is stainless steel.
FAQs
Is it legal to buy lock pick sets?
In most states, it is not illegal to own a lock pick set. There is no law on lock picking, and lock picks are freely bought and sold. However, in states like Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia, ownership of a lock pick set is evidence against you. You might have to prove that you were not planning to use the set to commit a crime.
What’s the hardest lock to pick?
They are several locks on the market that claim to be “unpickable”. According to expert picks, some of the most challenging locks to pick include the Master Lock Speed Dial 1500iD, The ASSA Abloy Protec2, and Banham M2002.
Can you pick a lock with a paperclip?
Yes, you can. Picking a lock with a paperclip is similar to picking a lock with the regular wrench and rake found in lock pick sets. Just make the paper clip into these two tools and you can use it to pick the lock.
Conclusion
If you are just entering the world of lock picking, choosing the best lock pick might be a big challenge due to the options on the market. In this post, we have reviewed five of the best lock pick sets you can buy. These contain the best lock picking tools and are the best beginner lock pick sets. We have also considered the features to keep in mind when making a buying choice. Keep all of these in mind and you will certainly find it easy to make the right buying decision.
