Starter's Pick Guide by Country

Intro

Hey, I’m The Lockpicking Spoon (Spoonyspoon on Discord) and I, along with my friends in the LPU, decided to make a second document, so now we have made a country-specific list of tools to get a picking hobby started!

New and Not Sure Where to Start?

Your budget will be the main factor in what you get, but a good starting point is the Pick & Tension Tool Sets. You generally want a couple of common hook profiles (a short hook is 100% mandatory, and an offset hybrid or euro hook makes a nice side piece to that), maybe a rake or two, and a mix of tension wrenches. That’s all you need to get started opening pin tumbler locks. Don’t feel like you need to spend a fortune right away. In this hobby, most of your money should be going to locks, not tools.

Disclaimer: This document will not have gutting tools, tools for picking other types of locks, or singles and rake sets. All of those can be found in this document

Don’t focus on trying to get the “best” set. All of the options listed below have viable beginner sets or decent picks to build your own. Focus on getting some basic items from a reputable source and start picking!

Just tell me what to buy!

USA - JimyLongs and Sparrows tension wrenches, like the heavy bars, flatbars, and level 1 tension set is the best combination for a complete set when buying locally ($40+S&H) or the TOOOL necessary nine and their TOK ($42+S&H) if you want to buy a completed set from a single vendor, European brands like Moki, Multipick, and Law Lock Tools have a vendor in the US now, via lockpickersbench.com

EU - the Law Lock Tools Valyrian euro set (55gpb+S&H) is a fantastic cover-all entry set, though I covered my handles in shrink wrap because they were too thin. The Multipick Christina Palmer set is also a good starter kit for anyone in the UK or throughout Europe, and decoder’s minimum set (36$+S&H) is especially a good choice if you are on a budget.

Australia - the Bare Bones standard set (74.95 AUS+S&H) is a staple in the Australian locksport community, and is highly recommended, though according to various pickers, they need some extra finishing with 800 grit sandpaper.

Vendor Info, by country

Listings will have domestic companies first, but a lot of companies ship internationally for reasonable rates.

USA
EU/UK
Australia

USA

The US has a multitude of options to choose from when it comes to vendors and pick sets, here are a few that many people either start with or are highly recommended by top-tier pickers

Top community choices

JimyLongs (Jimmypicks)- US Based. New to the field, but making a big splash. The owner was a co-head of TOOOL and regularly hangs out in LPU. Prices are very good and shipping is cheap. Picks are top quality and have very comfy “scalpel” style handles. The flat and round options don’t really serve a functional difference, but I prefer the flat options.

• 0.023/.6mm starter set (1 short flat hook, 1 rake, 1 BOK, 10$) US
  

• 0.019/.5mm basics set (2 hooks of various heights and tips, 1 rake, 3 BOK, 20$) US
  

• 0.019/.5mm “intermediate” set (4 hooks of various heights and tips, 1 rake, 3 TOK bars, 30$) US

Hooligan Keys - US-based, carries pinning trays and tweezers, plug followers, and tools for impressioning keys, as well as plenty of “hooligan” keys.

Moki Picks - EU based but has a vendor in the US now, made by another member of the LPU, the black belt picker Moki, these are incredibly high-quality picks, he has several sets which will serve new pickers well, as the picks are double-sided in case the tip breaks. The picks in these sets are sold without handles so be sure to also buy handles for them.

• Gold digger set (.019, 38$, 3 hooks, 1 rake, 4 BOK/TOK) US
  

• Minimalist set (.019, 65$, 3 hooks, 3 rakes, 3 TOK, 4 BOK/TOK) US

Commercial options

Covert Instruments - US Based. Controversial within LPU. Picks used to be rebranded Southern Specialty picks but allegedly no longer are. Owned by LockPickingLawyer, the picks and tensioners seem to be good quality, but the site has a fair amount of gimmicky mall-ninja items, overpriced.

• Covert Instruments Genesis Set (.025, 28$, 2 hooks, 2 rakes, 3 BOK) US

Law Lock Tools - UK-based. Great quality picks and tensioners, good finishing, expensive but some sets have a great quality-to-cost ratio, and include everything you may need throughout most of your locksport journey. Flat-rate 10.50 GBP international shipping.

• LLT Valyrian Set (.023, 65$, 9 hooks, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 3 TOK wrenches) US
  

• LLT Valyrian Euro Set (.019, 80$, 8 hooks, 3 “curve” profiles, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 4 TOK wrenches ) US
  

• LLT Valyrian Dual Gauge set (.023 and .019, 85$, 8 hooks of each thickness, 3 BOK, 4 TOK wrenches) US

Multipick - German. One of the best quality pick producers, making professional quality picks with good profiles and steel. Very small and lightweight, may be difficult to hold for those with larger hands. Picks can get quite expensive like with Peterson and LLT. Flat rate 7.55 EUR international shipping on orders below .3kg, though this option has a longer shipping time

• Christina Palmer Beginner Set (.025, 77.59$, 3 hooks, 1 diamond, 1 curve, 2 rakes, 6 BOK ) EUR
  

• Multipick Champion Set (by decoder) (.023 and .015, 121$, 8 hooks, 1 diamond, 2 rakes, 8 BOK ) EUR
  

• Multipick Minimum Set (by decoder) (.023, 35.94$, 2 hooks, 1 rake, 2 TOK, 1 BOK) EUR

They work with LPU black belt members like CaptainHookNumber1 and decoder to improve their picks and other tools constantly.

Southern Specialties - US Based. Covert Instruments but cheaper. Not a great variety of tools but enough for the basics, expensive outside of the US. Decent quality and prices. The TOOOL set is also rebranded picks from here.

• Southern Specialties Civvy Set (.025, 21.95$, 1 hook, 1 diamond, 2 rakes, 3 BOK) US

Southord - US Based. Good quality, low prices. Shipping is reasonable within the US. Good quality cheap starter sets for noobs, but that’s why you’re here!

• Nine Piece Slimline Lock Pick Set (.022, 34.25$, 3 hooks, 3 rakes, 1 diamond, 2 BOK) - US

Sparrows - Meh quality picks and mixed reviews for tensioners but good gutting/pinning tools. Great prices. Cheap shipping, especially within Canada. They collaborate with the locksport community, and those items tend to be much better quality than the Sparrows original designs. Tons of Mall-Ninja crap on their website to sift through.

• Sparrows Kick Start Set (.025, 20$, 1 hook, 1 diamond, 2 rakes, 6 BOK) US
  

• Sparrows hooker set (.025, 21$, 4 hooks, 6 BOK wrenches) US
  

• Sparrows Spirit Set (.025, 32$, 4 hooks, 2 rakes, 6 BOK) US
  

• Sparrows Tuxedo Set (.025, 32$, 2 hooks, 2 diamonds, 2 rakes, 6 BOK) US

EU/UK

https://mok-workshop.de/en The official website for Moki, an LPU member based in Germany. His picks and tensioners are some of the best quality on the market. Finished to the highest degree, but does not ship to most parts of the world outside of the EU or the USA. Hooligan keys is the US retailer for these picks as well

• Gold digger set (.019, 3 hooks and 1 triple peak rake, 4 BOK, 32.90 EUR) EUR
  

• Minimalist set (.19, 3 hooks, 1 triple peak rake, 1 half diamond, 1 offset hybrid, 4 BOK wrenches, 3 TOK wrenches. 59.90 EUR) EUR

Law Lock Tools - UK-based. Great quality picks and tensioners, good finishing, expensive but some sets have a great quality-to-cost ratio, and include everything you may need throughout most of your locksport journey. Flat-rate 10.50 GBP international shipping, domestic shipping is 3.95 GBP.

• LLT Valyrian Set (.025, 44GBP, 9 hooks, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 3 TOK wrenches) UK
  

• LLT Valyrian Euro Set (.019, 55GBP, 8 hooks, 3 “curve” profiles, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 4 TOK wrenches) UK
  

• LLT Valyrian Dual Gauge set (.023 and .019, 65GBP, 8 hooks of each thickness, 3 BOK, 4 TOK wrenches) UK

Multipick - German. One of the best quality pick producers, making professional quality picks with good profiles and steel. Very small and lightweight, may be difficult to hold for those with larger hands. Picks are quite expensive, alongside Peterson and LLT. Flat rate 7.55 EUR international shipping on orders below .3kg, though this option has a longer shipping time

• Christina Palmer Beginner Set (.025, 77.59$, 3 hooks, 1 diamond, 1 curve, 2 rakes, 6 BOK) EUR
  

• Multipick Champion Set by Decoder (.23 and .15, 121$, 8 hooks, 1 diamond, 2 rakes, 8 BOK) EUR
  

• Multipick Minimum Set (by Decoder) (.023, 35.94$, 2 hooks, 1 rake, 2 TOK, 1 BOK) EUR

They work with LPU black belt members like CaptainHookNumber1 and decoder to improve their picks and other tools constantly.

Lockpickwebwinkel.nl - Netherlands Based. This is not a brand but a good vendor for many of the above brands inside of Europe, with free shipping by meeting these requirements. The website is not in English so it will need to be translated. They also have a German website which is located here

Zieh-Fix.com - Based in Germany, the owner is also a member of LPU, they carry popular brands like Southord, jimmylongs, Peterson, and law lock tools. They also have their own brand of picks named Lockmaster, developed with lockpicker input and feedback.

Serrurerie Équipement Formation - Based in France, the owner is the founder of the ACF (Association des crocheteurs de France). They sell locksmithing and lockpicking tools like Southord. The website is in French.

Australia/New Zealand

Bare Bones - Australian. Good steel and profiles with solid finishing, minimalistic sets with hooks, rakes, and TOK bars. Extremely cheap for what it is.

• Bare Bones Expanded Lockpicking kit (0.023 and 0.020, 98.95A$, 2 hooks, 2 diamonds, 4 rakes of each thickness, 3 BOK, 7 TOK) AUS
  

• Bare Bones Beginner set (0.023 or 0.020, 74.75 A$ without handles, 98.95 A$ with handles, 2 hooks, 2 diamonds and 4 rakes, 2 BOK wrenches, 6 TOK wrenches) AUS

Law Lock Tools - UK based. Great quality picks and tensioners, good finishing, expensive. Flat-rate 10.50 GBP international shipping.

• LLT Valyrian Set (.025, 44GBP, 9 hooks, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 3 TOK wrenches) UK
  

• LLT Valyrian Euro Set (.019, 55GBP, 8 hooks, 3 “curve” profiles, 4 rakes, 3 BOK and 4 TOK wrenches) UK
  

• LLT Valyrian Dual Gauge set (.023 and .019, 65GBP, 8 hooks of each thickness, 3 BOK, 4 TOK wrenches) UK

Resources (stuff for learning about picking)

Lockpicking detail overkill - This is a classic for learning the basics of picking

MIT Guide to Lock Picking Another good introduction into the theory of lock picking

"Jiggle Test" and the Four Fundamental Pin States Great for learning how pin states work and the “jiggle test,” which is a fundamental skill for picking

lockwiki.com A great resource for information on various locks, including security mechanisms and vulnerabilities

LPU Reddit Belt Ranking Page Useful for selecting locks

Guide to basic picking by Lock Noob

lockpicking.chat The LPU Discord Server