Hi Sandman, thanks for the video! I recently discovered your videos and decided to pick up lockpicking. Your previous videos saved me from grabbing Sparrows and instead I got the FNG from CI and I'm loving it so far
My Sparrows picks bent so easily, and I thought it was just me! Luckily I found Covert Instruments and TOOOL since then and those things are absolute tanks. I haven’t been able to even bend one yet with hundreds more hours on them.
Me to my friend.. I have to occasionally buy monkey paws from them. I usually bend them after a while, but I don't think many other places offer notched picks. That I have seen at least.
Great video. This is one area many new lock sport enthusiasts aren't certain of and ask about frequently, so your video here is extremely helpful for folks.
Nice review and information. That cheapest one from CI really seems like a good gift set too, if you don't know if the person will be interested yet. My only other plug for TOOOL would be that it's a nonprofit promoting locksport if that factors in for some people. I'm a TOOOL necessary 9 biased viewer, but those all look like great sets that will get you far.
I picked up the CI Genesis set to replace my small Sparrows set this week. Holy cow a good tool makes a ton of difference. I'm keeping the tensioning tools, but the rest of the Sparrows set is going in a drawer and probably not seeing the light of day again.
Great video, Just an FYI, Covert Instruments shipping to the UK is approx. $21 (Unless it's changed in the last few weeks).Multipick's shipping to the UK is approx. $19.
Nice overview. Being in Europe AND outside the EU, and not in the UK, my options, my cheap options are a bit limited. I can certainly get a lot of different brands, but of the recommendations the only brand I've found so far was Multipick, and even a beginner set ends up costing $50-70. Import costs are nuts. There are only a handful of stores in my country selling picks, and the cheapest option out of those had SouthOrd (it's as if the stores compete on being most expensive). The 5-piece C500 set cost basically as much as the 9-piece C801, so I went with that, and it's very nice. I wish there were more snakey rakes, but it does have a city rake. I have no shortage of padlocks that one opens :)
Great video. Before hearing of CI I opted for a set from Amazon, "not black," mostly to see if I could hold the picks as I'm handicapped. I successfully picked a D3 and M5. I've since moved on to CI's Genesis and am awaiting the Echelon set. I like CI for the handles, they just feel right.
As an Aussie that owns the CI Genesis and Echelon, and going to buy the Arbiter, I find this to be a great review. I'd love Jimy Longs but can never get them. It just makes sense to me going forward to look at Barebones.
I had looked at trying lockpicking before and had seen the CI website, but I didn’t pull the trigger until after seeing you talk about their beginner kits in earlier videos. My first order was an FNG and a Genesis kit (the FNG was cheaper than just an acrylic lock on Amazon), and now my Genesis/Echelon(just came in) kit stays in my backpack(with 4-5 practice locks hooked onto the backpack), and the FNG kit stays on my desk at home. Those three basic tools have been enough for me to open every lock I’ve tried so far(9 so far, which doesn’t seem bad for someone less than 30 days into all of this). What would be really helpful to folks new to lockpicking would be a video about good beginner locks. I started of with the standard MasterLock 3 and 141d, along with a couple of random locks I had that were not being used, but I didn’t really find a lock that really clicked (no pun intended)with me until I picked up a 40mm 4 pin brass body Brinks. It gave all the feedback that can be heard on RUclips videos, and the springs feel a lot stiffer, and pin binding is more solid, so it’s a lot easier to know what’s going on inside there. Have a great day, and thanks for all the awesome videos!
Hey Sandman...excellent review/recommendations. Question: are the 3 tools in the FNG also in the Genesis set? Then..one video recording recommendation. You had the Jimmie Longs and the Genesis set in the background (black) when reviewing the other sets, so I had a hard time seeing the detail.
The FNG tools are in the Genesis kit, the only difference is that in the Genesis kit they are marked for thickness(.025) and they aren’t in the FNG. Oddly enough, the .025 tools in the Echelon kit aren’t marked for thickness, but the .020 tools are. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Great video as always. I'd have to agree with your list 100% including that the FNG is very hard to beat for new pickers wanting to just dip a toe into the hobby. It's a real shame that we no longer have a UK distributor for some of these sets. I also wish Lawlock would do a beginner set that was budget friendly for new pickers. I'm sure that'd make your list too 😎👍🏻
Hi, Sandman! Really useful video! Particularly the fact how big Moki picks really are : ) I have a question: Would you recommend buying Sparrows Sidewinder as a training lock along European picks? As a European, I just bought a set of European picks, but I could only find a solid long-term training lock from Sparrows (another one was the CI Practice lock from Covert Instruments, but they don't deliver to my country). So now I wonder if American locks would be less useful to train on than just plain ones from nearby stores.
All of the training locks are just gimmicks. They are toys. You have to start buying and collecting real locks. Go to lpubeltsdotcom for an idea of what level of difficulty of locks you should be looking for
@@sandman_locksport huh.. well, dang. That's a bummer. But I guess I got the anwer I expected, just for the reason I did not expect. Thank you for the direction. I will look more into it.
@@arti6okk law of specificity. its a scientific law. which means, if you want to get better at running, there isnt enough pullups and pushups in the world that will help you. You just have to run. You want to get better at picking locks? Buy all the locks you can get your hands on and practice 1-3 hours every day.
@@sandman_locksport yeah, I get what you mean. It's the same with playing guitar. You can do exercises to become better, but if you'll only do exercises you'll become the best in the world at doing exercises and not the greatest guitar player.
I really like the look of the LLT duplex set, decent price for a beginner set plus it's double sided giving you more options/bang for your buck. But anyway, I'd love to see you review those. Great vid as always 👍
@@sandman_locksport Ah fair enough, I suppose I'd then have to look at either wrapping them or 3d printing some handles for it, I'll probably just go for some pro handle LLT in that case, thanks for the advice.
@@sandman_locksport I made a quick unboxing video and gave you a shout out, but I’m not a content creator so it probably won’t help you any lol. Thanks for the info in vid as always
@@IsamuSushi that was a good unboxing. I’ll be getting red handles once I get paid. Looks great! Don’t forget, if you bend one of the tips, you can just remove the handles and flip the pick around as there is a second tip on all of the picks. So don’t be afraid of use them.
I got an FNG for free from the company that first made them. Pretty basic but my medium hook (from any set) is my most go to pick. I am not educated enough to know when I need to use other pick profiles. lol I do use a rake now and then.
Timecodes
0:00 Intro
0:23 List of Manufacturers
1:27 Tiers
1:35 Budget
2:48 Tool Steels
4:25 Region
5:05 Covert Instruments FNG
6:32 Jimy Long Basics
7:45 Covert Instruments Genesis
9:30 TOOOL Necessary Nine V2
11:28 Mok-Workshop Gold Digger
13:30 Multipick ELITE Beginner Pick Set 13 Pcs.
15:42 Conclusion
Covert Instruments FNG
covertinstruments.com/collections/lockpicks/products/the-fng
Jimy Longs Basics
jimylongs.com/products/0-018-Basics-Set-V4-p624875260
Covert Instruments Genesis
covertinstruments.com/collections/best-in-class-products/products/genesis-lock-pick
TOOOL Necessary Nine Pickset V2
www.toool.us/equipment/Necessary-Nine-Pickset-v2-p579851580/
Mok-Workshop Gold Digger Set
mok-workshop.de/en/products/gold-digger-set
Multipick ELITE Beginner Pick Set 13 Pcs.
shop.multipick.com/en/lock-picking-lock-manipulation/multipick-elite-lockpicking-world/multipick-elite-lock-pick-sets/multipick-elite-beginner-pickset-13-pieces.-christina-palmer-0.6
Perfect timing, been wanting to get into lock picking and wasn’t sure which set to buy
So which did you buy? I'm now thinking of eitehr genesis or moki
Hi Sandman, thanks for the video! I recently discovered your videos and decided to pick up lockpicking. Your previous videos saved me from grabbing Sparrows and instead I got the FNG from CI and I'm loving it so far
Oh this is gonna be a good one for sure! Can't wait!
My Sparrows picks bent so easily, and I thought it was just me! Luckily I found Covert Instruments and TOOOL since then and those things are absolute tanks. I haven’t been able to even bend one yet with hundreds more hours on them.
Me to my friend.. I have to occasionally buy monkey paws from them. I usually bend them after a while, but I don't think many other places offer notched picks. That I have seen at least.
@@joeyfoor5436 - I do the same thing. I still use their Monkey Paws for Medeco locks and their City Rakes for low-security stuff.
Great video. This is one area many new lock sport enthusiasts aren't certain of and ask about frequently, so your video here is extremely helpful for folks.
Nice review and information. That cheapest one from CI really seems like a good gift set too, if you don't know if the person will be interested yet. My only other plug for TOOOL would be that it's a nonprofit promoting locksport if that factors in for some people. I'm a TOOOL necessary 9 biased viewer, but those all look like great sets that will get you far.
I picked up the CI Genesis set to replace my small Sparrows set this week. Holy cow a good tool makes a ton of difference. I'm keeping the tensioning tools, but the rest of the Sparrows set is going in a drawer and probably not seeing the light of day again.
Great video, Just an FYI, Covert Instruments shipping to the UK is approx. $21 (Unless it's changed in the last few weeks).Multipick's shipping to the UK is approx. $19.
A fantastic overview that is succinct and well-informed. Thank you!
Nice overview. Being in Europe AND outside the EU, and not in the UK, my options, my cheap options are a bit limited. I can certainly get a lot of different brands, but of the recommendations the only brand I've found so far was Multipick, and even a beginner set ends up costing $50-70. Import costs are nuts.
There are only a handful of stores in my country selling picks, and the cheapest option out of those had SouthOrd (it's as if the stores compete on being most expensive). The 5-piece C500 set cost basically as much as the 9-piece C801, so I went with that, and it's very nice. I wish there were more snakey rakes, but it does have a city rake. I have no shortage of padlocks that one opens :)
Thanks, Sandman 👍
I wish everyone made videos like this lol. Very informative. Thank you
Can't believe I wasn't subscribed already... See and watch your stuff so much I guess I assumed! Great video 🔓
Great video. Before hearing of CI I opted for a set from Amazon, "not black," mostly to see if I could hold the picks as I'm handicapped. I successfully picked a D3 and M5. I've since moved on to CI's Genesis and am awaiting the Echelon set. I like CI for the handles, they just feel right.
As an Aussie that owns the CI Genesis and Echelon, and going to buy the Arbiter, I find this to be a great review. I'd love Jimy Longs but can never get them. It just makes sense to me going forward to look at Barebones.
Thank you for making videos like this.
I had looked at trying lockpicking before and had seen the CI website, but I didn’t pull the trigger until after seeing you talk about their beginner kits in earlier videos. My first order was an FNG and a Genesis kit (the FNG was cheaper than just an acrylic lock on Amazon), and now my Genesis/Echelon(just came in) kit stays in my backpack(with 4-5 practice locks hooked onto the backpack), and the FNG kit stays on my desk at home. Those three basic tools have been enough for me to open every lock I’ve tried so far(9 so far, which doesn’t seem bad for someone less than 30 days into all of this).
What would be really helpful to folks new to lockpicking would be a video about good beginner locks. I started of with the standard MasterLock 3 and 141d, along with a couple of random locks I had that were not being used, but I didn’t really find a lock that really clicked (no pun intended)with me until I picked up a 40mm 4 pin brass body Brinks. It gave all the feedback that can be heard on RUclips videos, and the springs feel a lot stiffer, and pin binding is more solid, so it’s a lot easier to know what’s going on inside there.
Have a great day, and thanks for all the awesome videos!
Go to lpulocksdotcom
I have bought Moki Gold Digger set and it is very nice. I would recommend it to some one for sure.
Thank you , very helpful, yea i have a sparrows shallow hook , i feel in love with & it started bending , almost usable , thank , moe
Hi Sandman. What is your most used pick and why? And what is the difference between a gem hook vs a rounded hook profile? Thx.
Hey Sandman...excellent review/recommendations. Question: are the 3 tools in the FNG also in the Genesis set? Then..one video recording recommendation. You had the Jimmie Longs and the Genesis set in the background (black) when reviewing the other sets, so I had a hard time seeing the detail.
The FNG tools are in the Genesis kit, the only difference is that in the Genesis kit they are marked for thickness(.025) and they aren’t in the FNG. Oddly enough, the .025 tools in the Echelon kit aren’t marked for thickness, but the .020 tools are.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Great video as always. I'd have to agree with your list 100% including that the FNG is very hard to beat for new pickers wanting to just dip a toe into the hobby. It's a real shame that we no longer have a UK distributor for some of these sets. I also wish Lawlock would do a beginner set that was budget friendly for new pickers. I'm sure that'd make your list too 😎👍🏻
100% agree. Thank you for watching.
Sandman, quick question; will something be size of the Moki tools/Law Lock tools fit in the CI garrison case, or are they too long?
Too long. Get the moki case for moki picks. You won’t regret it. The garrison holds jimy Longs, but only 3 of them.
Hi, Sandman! Really useful video! Particularly the fact how big Moki picks really are : )
I have a question: Would you recommend buying Sparrows Sidewinder as a training lock along European picks?
As a European, I just bought a set of European picks, but I could only find a solid long-term training lock from Sparrows (another one was the CI Practice lock from Covert Instruments, but they don't deliver to my country). So now I wonder if American locks would be less useful to train on than just plain ones from nearby stores.
All of the training locks are just gimmicks. They are toys. You have to start buying and collecting real locks. Go to lpubeltsdotcom for an idea of what level of difficulty of locks you should be looking for
@@sandman_locksport huh.. well, dang. That's a bummer. But I guess I got the anwer I expected, just for the reason I did not expect. Thank you for the direction. I will look more into it.
@@arti6okk law of specificity. its a scientific law. which means, if you want to get better at running, there isnt enough pullups and pushups in the world that will help you. You just have to run. You want to get better at picking locks? Buy all the locks you can get your hands on and practice 1-3 hours every day.
@@sandman_locksport yeah, I get what you mean. It's the same with playing guitar. You can do exercises to become better, but if you'll only do exercises you'll become the best in the world at doing exercises and not the greatest guitar player.
I really like the look of the LLT duplex set, decent price for a beginner set plus it's double sided giving you more options/bang for your buck. But anyway, I'd love to see you review those. Great vid as always 👍
I used to have it, but I gave it away because it doesn’t have handles. If you can’t put handles on it, it’s not worth your time.
@@sandman_locksport Ah fair enough, I suppose I'd then have to look at either wrapping them or 3d printing some handles for it, I'll probably just go for some pro handle LLT in that case, thanks for the advice.
Would you consider the CI slim pickings a decent beginner set? Really like the multi tool look.
No, it’s the best jackknife tool, but not a beginner pick set. Use a real set of lockpicks to learn on.
Hey Sandman is bare bones case can fit Moki picks?
I wouldn’t recommend it. Buy the Moki case.
@@sandman_locksport Thank you for the information you are the best RUclipsr ever doing videos on lock picking.
Nice video Sandman! The red handled moki picks showed up yesterday, I’m still drooling! Not on the picks and case of course.
Awesome
@@sandman_locksport I made a quick unboxing video and gave you a shout out, but I’m not a content creator so it probably won’t help you any lol. Thanks for the info in vid as always
@@IsamuSushi that was a good unboxing. I’ll be getting red handles once I get paid. Looks great! Don’t forget, if you bend one of the tips, you can just remove the handles and flip the pick around as there is a second tip on all of the picks. So don’t be afraid of use them.
@@sandman_locksport Thank You 🙏🏼 Yeah I’ll definitely have to remember that one. They really are awesome picks!
Who's here before this goes live?
👇 👇
Nice vid. -Go Army
I got an FNG for free from the company that first made them. Pretty basic but my medium hook (from any set) is my most go to pick. I am not educated enough to know when I need to use other pick profiles. lol I do use a rake now and then.
I was looking at the CI "Learn Lockpicking Bundle" that comes with the CI practice lock and the genesis. Is that a good value? It is $65
I did a review on it.
@@sandman_locksport I don't see it, could you link it?
@@sandman_locksport I don't see it, could you link the video?
Only one way to solve this debate…. Buy them all 😂. I like them all. Jimy probably my favorite
No I like them all….
Don’t listen to me I have a horrible addiction to lock picks and tools.
southord C2010 ;)
I’ll be reviewing the C500 in the coming weeks
@@sandman_locksport interesting! Love your content, ur a cool guy.
Love love love
/Sweden