INTRODUCTION
Most people set their suitcase lock exactly once — right before their first trip, and never think about it again until something goes wrong. That moment usually arrives at 5 AM in an airport departure hall or at a hotel check-in desk, when the combination they were certain they remembered stops working.
This guide covers how to set suitcase lock combinations across every bag in the Escape Plan range: HRX, Snitch, and Rare Rabbit, with separate step-by-step instructions for each lock type. It also covers what to do when things go wrong: stiff dials, forgotten codes, and the TSA keyhole that confuses almost everyone the first time they see it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- All new HRX, Snitch, and Rare Rabbit bags ship with the factory default combination set to 0-0-0
- Three different lock types are used across the Escape Plan range — the steps differ meaningfully between them
- Rare Rabbit Tony and Gallardo bags have TSA-approved locks with a keyhole — no physical key comes with your bag, and none should
- If you forget your combination, a physical notch-alignment method can recover it without damaging the lock or zipper
- Never use WD-40 or machine oil on stiff dials — dry silicone spray or graphite powder only
STEP ONE: IDENTIFY YOUR LOCK TYPE
Before following any steps, identify which lock system your bag uses. There are three distinct types across the Escape Plan range, and the setup process is different for each.
Type A — Easy Access Lock: The reset button is a small, circular button recessed into the lock housing, next to the number dials. Pressing it with a pen tip or paperclip initiates the reset.
Type B — Lever-Hold Slide Release: No external reset button. Instead, the zipper release lever or slide bar doubles as the reset mechanism; you hold it depressed while turning the dials to set the new code.
Type C — Integrated TSA Latch Lock: A combined latch-and-combination lock with a recessed TSA keyway visible on the side or face of the lock. Includes a separate small reset pin button. TSA-approved.
Used on: Rare Rabbit Gallardo (all sizes), Rare Rabbit Tony (all sizes), Rare Rabbit Gallardo Laptop Cabin
HOW TO SET THE COMBINATION: TYPE A (RECESSED BUTTON)
Video tutorial for lock access: here
Applies to: HRX Zanzibar, Madrid, Helium, Kyoto, Brute, Force, Glide | Snitch Loop, Layer, Vector
Factory default: 0-0-0
- Align the dials to 0-0-0 (the factory default on a new bag).
- Locate the small recessed reset button on the side or face of the lock housing, adjacent to the number wheels.
- Press the reset button firmly with a pen tip, paperclip, or safety pin until you feel it click and stay depressed. Do not release it yet.
- While holding the button depressed, rotate the three dials to your chosen combination.
- Slide the main zipper release lever outward.This releases the reset button and locks in your new code.
- Test immediately: scramble the dials, then re-enter your combination and slide the release. The zipper tabs should disengage.
If the button does not stay depressed: The dials may not be fully aligned to 0-0-0. Confirm the starting position and try again. A partially misaligned dial is the most common cause of reset failure.
HOW TO SET THE COMBINATION: TYPE B (LEVER-HOLD SLIDE)
Applies to: HRX Transit, HRX Force Urban 2.0, HRX Force Commute, Snitch Commute, Snitch Rubik
Factory default: 0-0-0
- Align the dials to 0-0-0.
- Push the main zipper release lever or slide bar fully toward the dial wheels and hold it there. Do not release until the process is complete.
- While keeping the lever held, rotate all three dials to your chosen combination.
- Release the lever. It will snap back into the locked position, securing the new code.
- Test: scramble the dials, re-enter your combination, and slide the lever. The zipper tabs should release cleanly.
Common mistake: Releasing the lever before completing the dial rotation. If this happens, the lock defaults back to the previous code. Return to step one and repeat.
HOW TO SET THE COMBINATION: TYPE C (TSA LATCH LOCK)
Applies to: Rare Rabbit Gallardo, Rare Rabbit Tony, Rare Rabbit Gallardo Laptop Cabin
Factory default: 0-0-0
- Align the dials to 0-0-0.
- Press the main latch button to confirm the lock is in the open position.
- Locate the small reset pin; typically recessed into the base or side of the lock housing, separate from the TSA keyway.
- Press the reset pin firmly with a pen tip until it clicks and stays depressed.
- Rotate the three dials to your chosen combination.
- Press the main latch button once. The reset pin will release automatically, locking in the new code.
- Test: close the latch, scramble the dials, re-enter your combination, and press the latch button. It should open cleanly.
THE TSA KEYHOLE: WHY YOUR BAG HAS ONE AND WHY NO KEY CAME WITH IT
If you own a Rare Rabbit Gallardo or Tony, you will have noticed a small keyway on the lock body alongside the number dials. Your bag did not come with a physical key. It was not left out of the packaging. None will be sent to you.
The TSA keyway is exclusively for airport security personnel. In countries where the Transportation Security Administration or equivalent authorities operate, security agents carry a set of master keys that can open TSA-approved locks for bag inspection. This means they can open and re-lock your bag without cutting the lock or damaging the zipper; which is what happens to non-TSA bags that require inspection.
As the owner, your only access mechanism is the three-digit combination. The keyhole is not for you. This is by design, not omission.
TSA-approved locks are identified globally by a red diamond logo on the lock body. All Rare Rabbit locks in the Escape Plan range carry this certification.
IF YOU FORGET YOUR COMBINATION: THE NOTCH-ALIGNMENT METHOD
Do not attempt to force the lock open or cut the zipper. The physical notch-alignment method recovers most standard 3-dial combination locks without tools and without damage.
What you need: A flashlight or phone torch.
- Shine the torch directly into the narrow gap beside each number wheel, looking at the internal gear mechanism from the side.
- Slowly rotate the first dial, watching the internal gear. You are looking for a small notch or flat spot where the gear surface changes.
- When you find the notch, note the number showing on the dial at that position. Repeat for dials two and three.
- With all three notches aligned, try sliding the release lever or pressing the reset button. In many cases, this is the combination.
- If the lock does not open, rotate each dial back by one digit and test again. Most locks open within five to ten attempts using this method.
This method works on Type A and Type B locks. For Type C TSA latch locks on Rare Rabbit bags, contact Escape Plan support directly; the latch mechanism requires a different approach.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR COMBINATION
When to change: After lending your bag to someone else, after a trip where you felt the combination may have been observed, or simply when switching to a more memorable code.
The process for changing a set combination is identical to the initial setup; return the dials to your current code first (not 0-0-0), then follow the same steps for your lock type above. The reset process works from any known starting combination, not only from the factory default.
Choosing a new combination: Avoid sequential numbers (1-2-3, 4-5-6), repeated digits (1-1-1), and obvious personal data like birth years. A random three-digit sequence stored in a phone notes app is more secure than any memorable pattern.
MAINTENANCE: KEEPING DIALS SMOOTH
Stiff or sticky dials are usually caused by dust or grit in the wheel housing (common after travel through dusty environments, railway stations, or monsoon conditions.
What to use: Dry silicone-based lubricant spray or graphite powder. Rub a soft pencil tip lightly across the dial faces and into the gaps between wheels, then rotate the dials several times to distribute it.
What not to use: WD-40, machine oil, or any wet lubricant. These attract dust and eventually consolidate into a paste that binds the internal gears. A stiff lock today becomes jammed within a few months of oil treatment.
