Best Car Escape Tools | Tested & Reviewed
Cars are dangerous. You’re in a tin can filled with flammable gas right behind a chunk of metal, trying to control thousands of explosions per minute. It’s safe to say that when something goes wrong, you need to get clear of the vehicle. Sometimes doors and seatbelts get stuck, but you don’t want that trapping you inside. There are many types of car escape tools out there, but some models are much more effective than others.
This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best car escape tools, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, an everyday carry option, and a knife option. If you need a seatbelt cutter that you can trust, one of our suggestions will break through.
Contents (Jump to a Section)
Our latest update of the best car escape tools includes more pictures, pros vs cons, and adjusted prices. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Disclosure»
Best Car Escape Tool
Resqme Escape Tool
Lightweight, Easy to Use, and Compact
The versatile car escape tool slices through seatbelts with ease and punches glass with minimal effort.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The Resqme tool is well-known at this point, being a convenient, compact escape tool that everyone should have in their vehicles. Remove the safety cap, and you can slice through seatbelts easily, or use the spring-loaded punch end to quickly shatter windows.
Specifications
- Wide range of colors, including high-vis options
- ABS plastic, stainless steel
- Seatbelt cutter
- Tempered glass punch
- 3″ x 1.25″ x 0.6″
- 0.7 ounces
If you need a car escape tool, the Resqme Escape Tool is a great choice that is the easiest to use.
Hammer Escape Tool
Husfunov 2-Pack
Effective, Inexpensive, and Easy to Use
Swing the hammer at glass and it’ll break, flip to the strap cutter to slice seat belts easily.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Strap cutters aren’t just for firefighters. They are cheap enough to go in every car out there, at less than $4 each with this two-pack. You don’t need much experience to use them- it’s impossible to poke yourself with the strap cutting knife.
Specifications
- Stainless steel rescue hook
- Glass breaker hammer
- 4.25″ long
- 3.6 ounces (each)
If you are looking for a fast-working seatbelt cutter cheap enough for any budget, this Husfunov Car Safety Hammer 2-Pack is the best option.
Fixed Knife Escape Tool
Gerber StrongArm
Tactical, Escape-Oriented, and Effective
Slice the seatbelt, bust a window, and cut down the airbags all with one trustworthy tool that’s battle-proven.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at Amazon and BladeHQ.
The StrongArm has been around for a while. It continues to be one of Gerber’s most popular knives and is the top pick from our survival knife review.
Specifications
- 4.875″ drop point 420HC blade
- Ceramic-coated striking pommel
- Polymer sheath with nylon webbing strap
- 9.75″ Length
- 7.2 ounces
The knife is a no-brainer if you need a quality fixed blade with a striking pommel.
With proven reliability, it’s easy to see why the Gerber StrongArm Survival Knife tops the rest.
Comparison Table
| Car Escape Tool | Recommendation | Price* | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resqme | Best Overall | $10 | Spring | 0.7 oz |
| Husfunov | Best for Budgets | $7 | Hammer | 3.6 oz |
| Gerber StrongArm | Best Survival Knife Escape Tool | $100 | Fixed Knife | 7.2 oz |
How I Tested
We considered a wide range of strap cutters with plenty of different models across many different manufacturers. We previously reviewed window breakers, focusing on glass breaking alone. So this time around, we evaluated the effectiveness of seatbelt cutting with tests in this review for a better look at an entire vehicle escape tool solution.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have an escape tool that’s versatile and effective, let us know in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually so we can try to get it in the next roundup and see if it will beat out our top picks.
Why Trust TruePrepper
Getting out of a car fast isn’t something anyone leaves the house planning on doing, but it’s something everyone in a vehicle should be prepared for. Collisions and accidents can be messy and are far too common not to have a basic escape tool on hand. To get out of the car, you may need to cut your seatbelt, which is where my review focused.
I’m Sean Gold, and I created TruePrepper in 2016 to share preparedness advice. I have degrees in emergency management and engineering, plus I served in the Air Force as an Emergency Manager (3E9X1). All of this experience helps me dive deeper into these reviews, combining practical use with data collection to find the gear truly worth staking your life on.
What to Look For
The best car escape tools have a few features to look for:
- Value
- Breaking Power
- Durability
- Size & Weight
- Versatility
When you get the right blend of these, you can find the perfect tool to escape being trapped in your car. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the escape tools that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a strap cutter shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. Most of them are inexpensive, and you can often find improvised tools to do a similar job (like a knife) if you have a tough time justifying it with a tight budget.
You never want to spend too much money on one resource, even when it comes to safety supplies. It’s better to diversify your spending to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Cutting Effectiveness
The main consideration in our testing was whether the strap cutter cut seatbelts effectively. The entire point of a strap cutter is to safely and easily cut straps.
To test this, I bought actual seat belts and webbing straps to test the tools on to see how well they performed. Many of the tools I tested had accumulated over the years, so
Breaking Power
We reviewed window breakers separately, but when combined with a seatbelt cutter into a car escape tool, they can make a life-or-death difference. The same criteria apply with the force required affecting how many times you may need to use a glass breaker and its effectiveness.
Storage Options
Having smart and accessible storage options for car escape tools is a priority. You don’t need to rummage through your center console or glovebox to find it. It should be in a predictable spot close to the seatbelt you would need to cut.
Weight and size matter less than the ability to position it where it won’t jostle free during a wreck and where you can reliably find it in a stressful situation.
Versatility
Some escape tools do more than just cut seatbelts and break glass. While versatility is always nice, it’s not especially necessary with such a niche tool.
The exception is when you carry it as part of your everyday carry loadout, where size, weight, and versatility all matter much more.
How to Use a Seatbelt Cutter
Many seatbelt cutters have a safety measure on them to prevent accidental cutting- whether it’s your seatbelt or your fingers. The design of the holster, a safety cap, or just a sheath will cover the cutter.
Because of that, the steps are simple:
- Check your positioning- will cutting the belt cause you to fall? Adjust accordingly.
- Remove the safety cap.
- Hook the belt with the cutter and pull.
- Assist other passengers.
- Exit through a door or window.
If you can’t get through a door, you may need to use the glass-breaker tip by either hammering or using the spring-loaded punch.
The Urban Prepper ( from our top prepper YouTube channels) put together a great video on our upgrade pick a while ago:
Who Needs a Vehicle Escape Tool?
A car escape tool is an essential item for any kit involving a car. Whenever you get a new car, you should position an escape tool in a known and predictable spot:
The versatility of a strap cutter is useful on the go as well. Some people consider one for their daily loadout:
If you find yourself with extras, they are useful as gifts for new car owners.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best car escape tools are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Goudey, C., et al. (1982). A quick-release hook for lifeboats and offshore rigging. IEEE. OCEANS 82 Conference. (Source)
Moffat, C., et al. (1984). Diagnosis of Seat Belt Usage in Accidents. SAE Transactions. Volume 93. Section 2. Pages 1065 – 1079. (Source)
Jaggi, S., et al. (2020). Crash Sensing Seat Belt Release System. Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering. Pages 607 – 613. (Source)
Conclusion
A well-placed strap cutter can make a difference if you have one at the right place at the right time. When life closes a door on you and keeps you from opening it, go through a window. If you can’t get it open, use a glass breaker.
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