Best List: Noke padlock
Padlocks are essential for sheds, locker rooms and bicycles, but damn do I continue to forget my combination or lose my key.
Noke (the “e” is long, for “no key”) has this problem solved for iPhone-toting folks like me with its fantastic, easy-to-use smartlock that will never ask you for a combination again. Heck, even if your iPhone is missing, you can use Noke’s special key fob that ensures you’ll never be locked out from your gym clothes (or lawnmower) again.
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There are two ways to unlock the smartlock: with a single click, or with a click and a code you enter on your phone. The second way is more secure, obviously, but it’s too much like two-step authentication to make me happy. In either case, I need merely to have my iPhone nearby when I click the Noke’s locking mechanism.
I love walking up to the locker at the gym and just clicking the Noke lock to open it; I’ve already received some envious stares and questions about it.
In even better news, there’s a separate key fob you can purchase (for $25) that will unlock the Noke with a simple press on the fob itself — this makes it even more likely that you’ll be able to get that padlock open, whether you have your iPhone with you or not.
I’ve got the review unit from Noke stashed in my gym bag right now, and I’m planning on getting a second one for the shed in my yard — multiple fobs, users and smartlocks can be added into the free app that runs the whole Noke ecosystem. I can add anyone who’s registered with Noke to any of my smartlocks (handy for family members who need access to a shed or bike), and I can see a history of who opened my lock and when. Hell, it’ll even track my smartlock’s location over time, making sure I can always find where it’s been.
In the gym, the backyard or even on my bike chain, the Noke smartlock keeps my stuff secure while obviating my need for a separate key or combination I need to remember. Sure, it’s battery powered, but Noke has a way to use a new battery to open the lock in the eventual case when the smartlock stops responding due to a dead battery.
Noke’s got both padlocks and U-shaped bike locks for sale, all using this fantastic tech to build a key-free secure future.
Price: $69.95, $24.95 for smart fob
Noke provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. Learn about more lust-worthy products.
