PadLock and chain!

AlainB · Feb 25th, 2005, 17:32

One thing that I would have not think by myself is to get a chain and a padlock for my trip to India.

Yesterday, I bought 3 feet of chain to use with the combination padlock that I have.

What do you think? Will the chain be usefull? Is it too long, to short, too small or too big?

What would you use a chain for except locking the luggage in the train?

Alain

spitze_udz · Feb 25th, 2005, 17:42

The size is ok if u have single bag

rab · Feb 25th, 2005, 18:20

If that is the actual chain it doesn't look too heavy. You can save weight by using a braided galvanised wire, possibly 2 or 3 mm gauge.

That is what I use, with a loop at each end held by heavy duty crimps. It is lighter yet still is enough to prevent opportunist thieves.

rab

shere · Feb 25th, 2005, 21:16

I always find it useful to carry a 12V car battery, inverter and a few bits of wire. Then you plug everything together attach to the chain and if any thief tries to steal it he get a nice electric shock.

Only joking. Yes it looks OK. The determined thief will always find a way but it will be a good deterrent.

Merchant · Feb 25th, 2005, 21:58

This is really unnecessary. India is not a den of thieves.

seventies'hippy · Feb 25th, 2005, 22:05

Never leave travel documents, money etc in your luggage no matter how you have secured them.

They're all you really really need,,,,,,,,,,

AlainB · Feb 25th, 2005, 22:43

Hi,

I think that I am beginning to be "well traveled" now. I have been to many place. I never had something stolen from me except in New-York city. This was 100% my fault and I deserved it. (I parked my car near Washington Square, put my luggages in the trunk then went for a walk. How stupid!! I lost all my luggages.). Not to say something bad about NYC. It is my favorite place after home.

So, I quite agree with Merchant and seventies'hippy. It will be just to prevent opportunist thieves as Rab said.

The best protection is when there is many people around. The whole world is filled with almost only good people. No need to worry too much. Just being a little bit streetwise is enough.

Alain

Merchant · Feb 25th, 2005, 22:45

You have nothing to lose but your chains.

beach · Feb 25th, 2005, 22:49

Quote:

You have nothing to lose but your chains.

Merchant,

Are(were) a communist ???

Merchant · Feb 25th, 2005, 22:51

No, I'm too young. By the time I had a political consciousness (in high school), Reagan was president and communism was gasping its last breaths.

Karma Queen · Feb 25th, 2005, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merchant

This is really unnecessary. India is not a den of thieves.

it is very much necessary! for padlocking bags on trains etc, and also for using on the hotel room door if there isn't one, or perhaps you don't quite trust the one provided.

true - india isn't full of theives, no more than any other country, but bag snatching still happens, and i wouldn't be prepared to take the risk of being without my possessions in a foreign country when all it would have taken to prevent it was a measly little padlock!

Merchant · Feb 25th, 2005, 23:16

I think this is really a personal decision--

Are you someone who padlocks your stuff? Or are you someone who thinks such measures are extreme?

There is no practical, statistical, or empirical reason to bolt your gear to stationary objects in India. (You MIGHT get hit by a car, and yet you still cross streets . . .)

The padlockers will padlock, and the non-padlockers won't.

Karma Queen · Feb 25th, 2005, 23:37

fair enough, but i just don't particularly like this sort of frivolousness! god, sorry i sound like my mother. personally, i'd just rather be safe than sorry.

crvlvr · Feb 26th, 2005, 01:08

You are better off not drawing any undue attention that the padlock and chain will inevitably draw -- making you a target.

Merchant · Feb 26th, 2005, 01:17

Where did the whole, I'm Going to India and By God I Must Padlock My Gear! notion come from? Do people padlock their gear when they travel in other countries? When they travel at home? Do they only do it in the developing world? I'm truly curious.

The level of personal crime in India in general is extremely small, and against white people it's infinitesimal. If you get shanghaied, it will make the newspapers.

Can I blame the Lonely Planet for the padlock paranoia?

Feb 25th, 2005, 17:32	#1
AlainB Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montréal, Canada Posts: 16	PadLock and chain! One thing that I would have not think by myself is to get a chain and a padlock for my trip to India. Yesterday, I bought 3 feet of chain to use with the combination padlock that I have. What do you think? Will the chain be usefull? Is it too long, to short, too small or too big? What would you use a chain for except locking the luggage in the train? Alain Attached Thumbnails __________________ http://www.geocities.com/alaboux/dog.gif

Feb 25th, 2005, 18:20	#3
rab Honorary Mod Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: McLaren Vale, South Australia Posts: 1,217	If that is the actual chain it doesn't look too heavy. You can save weight by using a braided galvanised wire, possibly 2 or 3 mm gauge. That is what I use, with a loop at each end held by heavy duty crimps. It is lighter yet still is enough to prevent opportunist thieves. rab __________________ IndiaMike Mod Team (The Honorary One)

Feb 25th, 2005, 22:43	#7
AlainB Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Montréal, Canada Posts: 16	Hi, I think that I am beginning to be "well traveled" now. I have been to many place. I never had something stolen from me except in New-York city. This was 100% my fault and I deserved it. (I parked my car near Washington Square, put my luggages in the trunk then went for a walk. How stupid!! I lost all my luggages.). Not to say something bad about NYC. It is my favorite place after home. So, I quite agree with Merchant and seventies'hippy. It will be just to prevent opportunist thieves as Rab said. The best protection is when there is many people around. The whole world is filled with almost only good people. No need to worry too much. Just being a little bit streetwise is enough. Alain Last edited by AlainB : Feb 26th, 2005 at 02:54.

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Feb 25th, 2005, 17:42	#2
spitze_udz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Udaipur,Bangalore Posts: 158	The size is ok if u have single bag

Feb 25th, 2005, 21:16	#4
shere Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,124	I always find it useful to carry a 12V car battery, inverter and a few bits of wire. Then you plug everything together attach to the chain and if any thief tries to steal it he get a nice electric shock. Only joking. Yes it looks OK. The determined thief will always find a way but it will be a good deterrent.

Feb 25th, 2005, 21:58	#5
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	This is really unnecessary. India is not a den of thieves.

Feb 25th, 2005, 22:05	#6
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,127	Never leave travel documents, money etc in your luggage no matter how you have secured them. They're all you really really need,,,,,,,,,,

Feb 25th, 2005, 22:45	#8
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	You have nothing to lose but your chains.

Feb 25th, 2005, 22:51	#10
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	No, I'm too young. By the time I had a political consciousness (in high school), Reagan was president and communism was gasping its last breaths.

Feb 25th, 2005, 23:16	#12
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	I think this is really a personal decision-- Are you someone who padlocks your stuff? Or are you someone who thinks such measures are extreme? There is no practical, statistical, or empirical reason to bolt your gear to stationary objects in India. (You MIGHT get hit by a car, and yet you still cross streets . . .) The padlockers will padlock, and the non-padlockers won't.

Feb 25th, 2005, 23:37	#13
Karma Queen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: England Posts: 365	fair enough, but i just don't particularly like this sort of frivolousness! god, sorry i sound like my mother. personally, i'd just rather be safe than sorry.

Feb 26th, 2005, 01:08	#14
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: On the move in India.. Posts: 4,535	You are better off not drawing any undue attention that the padlock and chain will inevitably draw -- making you a target.

Feb 26th, 2005, 01:17	#15
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,101	Where did the whole, I'm Going to India and By God I Must Padlock My Gear! notion come from? Do people padlock their gear when they travel in other countries? When they travel at home? Do they only do it in the developing world? I'm truly curious. The level of personal crime in India in general is extremely small, and against white people it's infinitesimal. If you get shanghaied, it will make the newspapers. Can I blame the Lonely Planet for the padlock paranoia?

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