No longer reserved for gardening tools and equipment, such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, shovels, rakes and leaf blowers, people are opting to store more expensive items in their garden shed. Things like kids play equipment, bikes, outdoor furniture and games.

In fact, many people have converted their usual tool shed into a private pub shed – allowing them to kick back and relax with a pint of beer, glass of wine or fizzy pop, overlooking the garden. Some have gone a step further and added a TV and seating so they can watch live sport or films outside.

But the truth is, no matter what items you keep in your shed, it’s likely to be a target for thieves because nobody watches over their shed as much as their house, do they? So, you must make sure that you secure your outbuilding – ideally with a padlock.

We appreciate that the range of padlocks on the market today is vast, and knowing which to pick can be easier said than done. That’s why we thought we’d share a few pointers to help you decide which you should consider.

• Weather – given that the padlock will be used on the outside of your garden shed, you may presume that you need a marine-grade padlock. Whilst these padlocks are a brilliant option if you live on the coast and endure harsh weather conditions, a standard weatherproof padlock is a viable option if you live inland. These typically come with a hardened steel shackle and offer formidable strength against all weathers, whereas the marine-grade ones have a stainless steel shackle which is ideal for saline environments.

• Size – there are padlocks with short, long, extra-long and even adjustable length shackles. Although larger padlocks tend to be more secure than smaller ones, the right one for you will depend on the ring or mounting where the padlock will be installed. In tight spaces, or if you’re grouping multiple items together, a padlock with an extra-long shackle will effectively increase the locking area. However, a discus padlock has a shackle that goes all the way around its circumference and is resistant to attack from bolt cutters.

• Lock – do you want a keyed padlock or a combination padlock? A key locking padlock can be keyed to differ, keyed alike or master keyed. A combination padlock, on the other hand, offers a more convenient alternative and uses a numerical code – saving you the hassle of finding a safe place to store keys in the house. You simply set the combination for easy access and change the code whenever you see fit.

• Security – lastly, and by no means least, you need to think about the level of security required. Of course, this boils down to what you’ll be housing inside your shed and your budget. Although any padlock is better than no padlock, if you’ve got expensive tools that – in the wrong hands – could be dangerous, it’s worth considering a high-security padlock.

Hopefully, after reading our top tips, you should have a better idea of which padlock you need to keep your garden shed and valuables protected against thieves and the elements. So, why not check out the fantastic selection of padlocks available to buy at LockShop Direct today?