Nowadays there are so many devices and accessories to help keep us all safe in our day to day activities, and cars in particular have seen a huge advancement in technology over the last few decades. Most of us don’t even bat an eyelid getting in the car with friends or family; I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a week road trip spending glorious hours singing along to your favorite playlist pumping out of the
car stereo. We all have our own personal favorites when it comes to travel gadgets, some couldn’t be without their
Bluetooth car kit to make a call on-the-go, whereas others love a
tire air pressure gauge to make life so much easier, but a car escape tool is one gadget that you might not have thought about before.
It is not easy to get of a vehicle when trapped, and there is generally a very short period of time to do so. Car escape tools are designed for exactly these emergency situations. The best car escape tools have multiple tools and functions that are useful in various emergency scenarios. They are compact, lightweight, and made with sturdy materials. Car escape tools come in different shapes and sizes, as well as different combinations of tools. They have multiple certifications to show that they are well tested and trusted to perform in life-threatening situations.
Read on to get a good understanding of how to choose the best car escape tool for you.
Price
A car escape tool is not an expensive item, especially when you consider how critical they are when necessary. The materials used and the number of tools packed into it is the primary determinant of its pricing. A high-end car escape tool will cost less than $80 while the less expensive variants can cost around $15. It is necessary that we call your attention to the cheap car escape tools. This is because we advise you stay away from them as they are made with inferior materials that are not standard enough for what they are meant for. How much would saving a few ill-advised dollars be worth compared to keep you and your loved ones safe?
Features
Getting trapped in a car in a deserted area can be dangerous. It can easily become a life or death situation if time is of the essence. Such situations can prove fatal if one does not have access to a suitable tool. Car escape tools are especially made for situations like this and just might make the difference in saving your life. When shopping, here are some features to consider:
- Type
- Tools
- Materials
- Certifications
- Size
- Extras
This list is meant to guide your decision on the combination of features you think is critical to the best car escape tool for you.
Construction and Design
Car escape tools are available in various types for your convenience. Most weigh less than one pound, are hand-held, and are small enough to keep in your pocket. Some come as keychains you can put on your keyring so you know you’ll always have them with you in the car. Like the Swiss army knife, car escape tools are packed with multiple tools in their compact size, which are helpful in accidents and other emergencies.
Common escape tools include:
Window Breaker – In accidents, it may not be safe or possible to exit through the car door, which leaves you with the option of getting out through the window. In most cases, you will have to break the window to get out. Some window breakers require you to swing, for force, against the window to break it. In underwater situations where you can’t garner enough force, some car escape tools use a spring-loaded system to shoot out a hardened tip to break the window. All you have to do is push the tool against the glass to break it.
Seatbelt Cutter – Car escape tools are fitted with a sharp blade that is recessed for safety reasons. Seatbelts are designed to release quickly when unfastened, but there are cases in which the seatbelt becomes locked after the mechanism has been damaged. In these cases, the seatbelt needs to be cut and this tool becomes a life saver.
Beacon and LED Flashlight – Some car escape tools have a red flashing beacon to attract attention in cases when you can’t call out for help. Some also have bright LED flashlight to aid visibility in the dark. The best ones have both!
Sound – Emergency situations are never predictable, so it is best to prepare for anything. You might not be able to call out loud enough, and a flashing light might not be a suitable option in that situation. A siren or a whistle just might be the only way you can attract attention. Having a car escape tool with sound producing capability goes a long way to improve its versatility.
Most car escape tools have a lightweight plastic body, with individual emergency tools inside made from tougher materials. For example, the hammer tip of window breakers is made with different variants of steel, as are the blades of the seatbelt cutter.
Performance and Ease of Use
To prove their authenticity and effectiveness, car escape tool brands subject their products to independent, rigorous tests of all kinds. As lifesaving tools in cases of emergency, it is essential to know that they will not fail or even underperform. It is therefore critical that you check for the certifications and approvals of the tool set you choose. The more certifications it has, the more it has proven to be reliable. Certifications are an excellent way of knowing that the tools that might save your life have been tried and tested in every conceivable condition.
Even though escape tool sets have plastic shells, they are all quite sturdy. They often come in bright, highly-visible colors. One brand even has a crank-powered battery for its LED flashlight and a USB port that can charge any device.
Most car escape tools are waterproof and are reinforced for impact and repeated use. Some have a dual window breaker that can be swung with maximum force by either hand. Car escape tool makers pay particularly close attention to the grip. Most have a contoured body designed to provide a non-slip grip, while others are fitted with silicone grips to ensure a tight clinch in any situation.
Now that you have been informed about car escape tools, we hope you have an idea of the features you want in your ideal choice.
We hope the knowledge you acquired from our buying guide on car escape tools has helped you decide on your desired features. Keep them in mind as you proceed to our review of individual brands and products. We hope this approach will make it easy for you to decide on the the best car escape tools for you.
Now that you have gone through our reviews of the best car escape tools, we hope you have the information you need to make your purchase. Stay safe!
