Which window breaker to choose for your car? Our 6 criteria
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Emergency hammer, spring-loaded model, keyring, kit with seatbelt cutter: there are many models. Here is how to choose a window breaker for your car, in 6 simple criteria.
The 3 main types of window breaker
- The emergency hammer: a pointed head that you strike against the window. Effective, but you need a little swing, which is harder in a tight space or under water.
- The spring-loaded window breaker: you press it against the window and a spring releases the tip. It needs little force and almost no swing.
- The keyring window breaker: very compact, always with your keys. Handy, as long as the keys stay reachable while driving.
Criterion 1: a built-in seatbelt cutter
After a crash, a seatbelt can stay jammed. A window breaker without a seatbelt cutter only solves half the problem. Choose a model with a protected blade, into which you slide the strap without any risk of cutting yourself.
Criterion 2: the type of window
All window breakers are designed for tempered-glass side windows. None lets you get out through the windshield, which is laminated glass. If your car has laminated side windows (it is etched in the corner of the window), locate a tempered-glass window, often at the rear.
Criterion 3: accessibility
The best window breaker is the one you can grab without looking, seatbelt fastened. A compact format that fits in the console, a storage tray or the door pocket beats a big tool kept in the boot.
Criterion 4: grip under stress
In an emergency, the moves must be simple. Prefer a tool that sits well in the hand, with clear instructions, and read them in advance.
Criterion 5: no battery, no maintenance
A mechanical tool has no battery to check: it stays ready for years.
Criterion 6: one per car
A window breaker only helps in the car it is in. For a family with several vehicles or a new driver, a kit or pack of several window breakers costs less per unit.
Our choice
SafeCore Pro combines a window breaker and a seatbelt cutter with a protected blade in one compact tool with no battery, available individually or in packs to equip the whole family. To use it well, also read how to break a car window in an emergency.
