I stay in hostels which offer lockers of some sort. I take my own lock as many do not provide. Most have lockers, take a lock with you, so you don't have to rent one. If they don't stay elsewhere, or carry your valuables with you which should be your ID, cards and cash, and phone.

Yes, bringing your own high-quality padlock is considered an essential requirement for staying in a hostel in 2026. While most modern hostels provide individual lockers for guests to store their valuables, they rarely provide the actual lock for free. You will usually have the option to buy or rent one at the front desk, but these are often overpriced or of lower quality. Carrying your own combination lock is preferred over a keyed lock to avoid the risk of losing a tiny key in a foreign city. Many travelers actually carry two locks: a larger one for the main dormitory locker and a smaller, TSA-approved cable lock for their backpack or "day bag." Even in high-end "boutique" hostels that use electronic key-card lockers, having a backup manual lock is a wise safety precaution for when you are using luggage storage rooms after check-out or for locking your bag while traveling on trains and buses between destinations.