There's little point in spending a fortune on a padlock to protect something that's of low value and easily replaced. On the other hand, something of high intrinsic or cash value will warrant greater protection.

Make sure you have a good idea of the value of the property - the average garden shed contains £2000 worth of equipment which comes as a surprise to many.

Consider how much you should spend in relation to the value of your property. Kasp® recommends spending between 1 and 5%.

If your property is in a high crime area or if the location would give a thief plenty of time to overcome a lock then you will need a higher level of security. Padlocks are not normally ‘picked’ by thieves but are physically cut either with bolt croppers or with an angle grinder. With an angle grinder a thief can get into any lock, but it takes time and is very loud so location of your property is a consideration.

Check the Kasp® security rating to make sure you have the right level of security.

If you need a padlock for outdoor use, then choose one that is weather resistant. The body of a brass padlock won't rust, but the internal springs will if they're made of steel, so they are not particularly suitable for long term outdoor use in a harsh environment. Choose a weatherproof padlock, such as our 135 series or one of our Marine options. A Marine padlock is a brass or stainless steel body with a stainless steel shackle and rust free internal components. Remember that all padlocks will need regular maintenance even the Marine range.

Check the Kasp® corrosion resistant rating found on Kasp® products to determine the level of resistance.

Security is only as strong as its weakest link.

If the padlock is fixed to a hasp & staple or chain, make sure they are of similar security ratings otherwise your security will be compromised.

It may seem obvious but securing something like a garden gate that is easily climbed over or flimsy enough to break doesn't warrant spending on an expensive high security padlock.

Convenience or security? Combination locks may eliminate the need to carry keys or have many duplicate keys if many people share access, but they are easier to pick and the most likely to be vandalised. The more dials the higher the security so choose wisely for your security requirement.

Kasp has a wide range of combination padlocks to choose from, small luggage locks to medium security 119 series, we also offer a Marine version 114 series, perfect for low to medium security outdoor use.

Many Kasp® padlocks are available keyed alike which allows a number of padlocks to be opened with the same key. This avoids the need to carry a huge bunch of keys around and the issue of key identification. Our Keyed Alike options are Twin and Quad packs as well as in singles. Our 125, 180 and 190 are service padlocks and can be ‘Master Keyed’ to your specific requirements.

If you are interested in Keyed Alike or Master Keyed system then please talk to your stockist or contact our security advisors.

Padlocks used indoors typically require limited maintenance, however outdoor padlocks need looking after with regular lubrication. Metal will corrode over time especially in coastal areas. Padlocks do have small internal components which may over time be affected by debris.

For lubrication, the recommendation is to use a "dry" graphite powder type lubricant of the type available from good locksmiths, security shops or online, Kasp 300.

Using ordinary fatty based lubricating oil, eg WD40, can over time form a sticky deposit inside the lock and lead to impaired operation of the mechanism. You can use a silicone based dry oil.