Matador BetaLock Review
How does it compare to an admittedly crowded field of bag hangers-on?
Matador BetaLock Review Introduction
Matador loves accessories. You love accessories. We all love accessories. But - Matador REALLY loves them. They’ve spent the last few years making accessories about 50% of their bread and butter. I’ll let you decide if the accessories are bread..or butter. Regardless, they are an important part of the product offering and Matador typically launches some truly helpful products that are made really well. At least, that’s my experience in the past.
On the docket today is a quick review for one of their 2023 accessories - the BetaLock. It’s a machined, lockable carabiner-style lock to take with you on your trips and use in all manner of ways. OR EDC for that matter.
This is my Matador BetaLock review. For my testing I’ve basically just taken it on a number of trips and used it how I would typically use something like a Hero Clip. I’ll also just hypothesize some ideas. With something like this, the usage is wicked personal. Don’t consider my usage or list the end all be all - get creative if it works.
As always for full transparency, I did ask Matador to send me a piece for review and they were kind enough to say yes. That said, they had no input into the review itself or my comments on the lock that you see here, and this is not sponsored. I do use affiliate links which help to support the site if you decide to use them to make a purchase, but you’re under no obligation to do so and there’s no additional cost to you. Thanks for stopping by!
-Need travel insurance? As an American, our health care system is complicated and your regular insurance might not cover you abroad. For international travel, I’ve been using World Nomads for years. They have adventure packages that cover most hiking and even ice hockey. Be sure to read all the coverage information (it’s laid out very well on the site) to make sure it’s right for you, but be sure to give them a look. I find their rates quite competitive and the quotes are free! -
Matador BetaLock Overview
The BetaLock itself is an airplane grade aluminum lock and it feels like it. You can feel the machined nature of this once you put it in your hand.
It works as a regular carabiner, but also comes with a key-based lock. This differentiates it from many other lockable carabiners that have those “twist style”/threaded locks that screw into place. This is an important note for travel, for me. More on that later.
Important to note that this is not intended as load bearing, and should NOT be used in climbing harnesses. It’s not designed or rated for that. So please don’t be a Touron and attempt to attach yourself to a buffalo with this. I think that voids the warranty.
Material stats from the site:
Weight: 1.94oz (55g)
Dimensions: 3.7 H x 2.5 W x 0.47 D in (9.3H x 6.3W x 1.1D cm)Materials
- Forged 6061 aluminum body and gate
- 316 stainless steel, 304 stainless steel, plated zinc lock components
- Anodized finish
It retails for $30 USD as of Dec 2023 and comes in multiple colors - I am particularly fond of the orange and green colors.
BetaLock Features Features
The lock cable.
The lock itself is pretty slim on features because at its heart it’s a lockable carabiner. While that means it’s fat on USES, there won’t be much to describe here. But I’ll do my best!
First, it’s a carabiner style lock. Opens and closes by pushing on it. Straightforward.
Next, it’s actually a patent-pending deadbolt style locking gate “lock” that is opened and closed with a key. When locked, you cannot open the gate.
This is TSA compliant from a lock perspective..
This also works well with the BetaLock cable - sold separately however.
The Good
The full carabiner.
Will get the expected out of the way here - Matador has released a well machined and designed product. It feels super high quality when you handle it, and at this point I think we can expect that from them. Their designers always appear to take their products very seriously (at least in my experience).
Next up, I think the most important thing here is the flexibility it provides. The Lock performs well as a standard travel carabiner. I was able to hang my bag up (though again, keep in mind that load bearing statement if you’re carrying rocks or bodies) as you’d expect. So think: while you’re in an airport and need to hop into a stall to change or use the toilet - hang that bag up on the door. You can also use it to hang up a toiletry kit in your hotel or hostel, etc. Hang groceries. Whatever you want.
But what I really like is the ability to lock it. The threading carabiners can certainly be closed. But a particularly industrious thief can certainly just unscrew that and remove it. Not here. They’d need a TSA Key to do it. Or your key. Don’t give them your key. So for things like securing your zippers with the cable (they do a neat trick where you can use the cable in every zipper on the Seg28 bags that I replicated in the photos). The lock usage can also lock the main zippers on Matador bags, of course.
But also, this thing is pretty beefy. You could use it to secure your bag in a hostel. Lock that bad boy right to a bed. Or, to a seat on a bus. Or, to your chair in a cafe. Etc. You get the idea. Like anything some Internet Genius will try and refute this and mention anyone could cut your bag. Yes. You’re right. But that’s extremely rare and this would deter anyone looking for the “grab and go” kind of move. Or possibly yank someone backwards off a moto if they tried - which frankly I think is worth 30.00 to see.
All that said - none of this is to fearmonger. I will say that in nearly 20 years of traveling I’ve never experienced any kind of bag theft, attempt, or even near miss. I tend to find your best protection is keeping your wits and don’t go into dodgy situations. But there are plenty of scenarios where you won’t know those who are around you, or you might nod off to dream land because you’re exhausted, etc. This can ensure the bag is still with you when you wake up.
At the end of the day I think this kind of combines two things into one - a lock and a carabiner. And I like that.
The carabiners’ colors are also fire. Let’s be sure to get that out of the way. It’s just a nice way to add some personalization to your kit, without having something useless like a fuzzy keychain creature. That bright orange is also going to be pretty handy if you need to check your bag and you’re using one that looks like a lot of other bags. Spot it quickly with something like this.
The hanging shots are with the Gravel Domestic Duffel. The key shots are attached to the Bellroy Key Holder.
The Bad
Not much? It’s that “one more item” problem. Some people might not want more stuff, so I’m pointing that out here. I get that.
The other is the price. I don’t find this expensive for a well made tool. The problem is the Amazonification of American shoppers for 20 years has completely deluded their sense of what something “SHOULD” cost. Like us average people actually know what that threshold is. I think the price is totally fair but the fact of the matter is, there is always a group that is willing to purchase a questionable replacement on Amazon or Ali Express. More power to them, totally within their right though I don’t really support that idea. I’d rather go to the original maker. All that is to say that for some, the price point might be a barrier to entry on an item such as this.
Final Thoughts On My Matador BetaLock Review
I think per usual, I’m not really surprised with the quality of Matador’s output here. I’ve always felt they put out high quality products and I stand by that opinion here.
The BetaLock is an accessory that while I wouldn’t really call it indispensable, it could be incredibly versatile and useful for you. People often have carabiners on their bag for no good reason. Why is that? They don’t use them.
Make carabiners useful again. Hang your bag. Hang shoes. Lock your bag. Lock your bag TO things. Add this to your bike commute in some way. Really, you can be as creative as you want to be so long as you’re not bullying your younger sibling and hanging them off Half Dome. This isn’t rated for that.
As always with most brands, I’d suggest buying directly through their website for best service.
Wander more - and wander smarter everyone.
Like My Content? Feel Free To Buy Me A Coffee!
Head on over to our Travel Accessories reviews page for more like this or more accessory reviews like the Bellroy Laptop Caddy review.
Please be sure to subscribe below, and follow us on Instagram @alwayswanderofficial for photos from our wanderings, and updates for when we post new articles and reviews!