Best Window Breakers | Tested & Reviewed
If you can’t get through a door, there is always a window. Windows aren’t always easy to break, and breaking them bare-handed or without the correct tool can be both dangerous and nearly impossible, depending on how they are made. There are many types of window breakers out there, but some models are much more effective than others.
This is where we come in. We’ve researched the best window breakers, tested them, and now the results are in: the overall best, an everyday carry option, and an upgrade option. If you need a glass breaker that you can trust, one of our suggestions will break through.
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Best Window Breaker
Resqme Escape Tool
Lightweight, Easy to Use, and Compact
The versatile car escape tool packs enough power to break glass both in and out of vehicles.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at Walmart.
The Resqme tool is well-known at this point, being a convenient, compact escape tool that everyone should have in their vehicles. It turns out that it also works pretty well outside the car!
Specifications
- Wide range of colors, including high-vis options
- ABS plastic, stainless steel
- Tempered glass punch
- Seatbelt cutter
- 3″ x 1.25″ x 0.6″
- 0.7 ounces
The Resqme is versatile and performed great during testing, popping thick glass with the smallest amount of force. If you are in a tight space, you can easily use it with one hand and without needing to swing your arm.
Although they come in a wide range of colors, I like to get the bright colors so they can be easily found in an emergency. Putting them on your keychain or in a reliably reachable spot in your vehicle is smart- don’t let them get buried in your center console.
If you need a glass breaker for vehicle use, the Resqme Escape Tool is a great choice, as it is convenient and easy to use.
EDC Glass Breaker
GTFO Bracelet
Covert, Effective, and Versatile
A discrete glass breaker that goes where you go, so you’ll never be without one in an emergency.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Also available to buy at Amazon.
This solution is simple: an elastic bracelet with a tungsten carbide bead laced onto it. It’s also pretty discreet, as far as wearable tool-type jewelry goes. You can have a glass breaker on you at all times, even if your pockets are empty.
Specifications
- Tungsten striker bead with elastic band for window-breaking
- Universal AHK3 key that works on key-blocking blades and large keyhole pins
- 0.1 ounces
You won’t always end up in your own car with an escape tool, so this can extend your preparedness to everyday life. It also has a handcuff key laced onto it, further improving its versatility, and it shows up in our handcuff key review as well.
The largest downside to this (besides the higher cost compared to other glass breakers) is that you have to position the elastic strap against the window with one hand while you pull the bead back to strike with the other. This makes it require two hands to operate, which might not be possible if you end up in a poor position during a vehicle wreck.
If you are looking for a versatile glass breaker that you can covertly wear, this GTFO Handcuff Key and Glass Breaker Bracelet is the best option.
Budget Window Breaker
Automatic Center Punch
Two-pack, Simple, and Powerful
Break glass, scrape notes, and create detents for project work with one powerful tool that packs a punch.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Oftentimes, people say ‘use the right tool for the job,’ but they probably didn’t have using a center punch as a glass breaker in mind. In a world cluttered with multi-function tools, a simple center punch is the most reliable and cheapest glass breaker you can get without swinging a hammer or crowbar, or adding tungsten or carbide.
Specifications
- 2-pack
- Dual spring, adjustable tension
- 5″ L x 0.4″ D
- 2.2 ounces (each)
It has a knurled grip, which is great because you don’t want to slip or drop it around broken glass. Adjustable tension lets you adjust the punch force for other applications, like precisely starting a screw or nail hole.
The downside is that they are heavier than options designed for EDC. They also don’t have any integrated storage solutions since they are designed to live in a toolbox rather than on a keychain or in your car.
Still, it smashed glass with the best of them while I used very little force- allowing the spring to do the work for me. If you use a stabbing motion while you use it, you have less accuracy, but I found it to be even more reliable when breaking thicker glass.
With rugged durability paired with a powerful, adjustable punch, it’s easy to see why the Automatic Center Punch 2-Pack is an unbeatable value.
Comparison Table
| Window Breaker | Recommendation | Price* | Type | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resqme Escape Tool | Best Overall | $10 | Steel punch | 0.7 oz |
| GTFO Bracelet | Best for Everyday Carry | $20 | Tungsten bead | 0.1 oz |
| Automatic Center Punch | Best for Budget Kits | $4 | Steel punch | 2.2 oz |
How I Tested
To test glass breakers, I used them to break glass. It seems straightforward, but with a few glass types and thicknesses to consider, here is exactly how I conducted my testing:
- Glass Breaking: I bought glass from my local hardware store to try the various glass breakers on, noting the technique, force needed, and positioning to break each pane. I did not test every single model on tempered glass, which is more durable.
- Non-Laminated: I tested each breaker at 3 points on 3/32″ glass (2.5 mm)
- Filmed: Although it’s not the same as vehicle laminated, I tested the tools at 3 points on 4mm film applied to 5/32″ glass (4 mm).
- Measuring: I measured each tool on a measuring board to compare profiles.
- Weight: I weighed each tool on a digital scale.
The glass film was sourced from the testing in our window security film review.
We’re always looking for new and better gear, so if you have a window breaker 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
Glass breakers, especially to escape disabled vehicles, can be the difference between life and death. That’s why I approach testing them so thoroughly and with attention to detail.
I’m Sean Gold, and I created TruePrepper to share the importance of preparedness with more people. I have a degree in Emergency Management and Engineering, which I have found puts me in a unique position to test and review preparedness gear with the detail it deserves.
You’ll get my advice based on my real-world practical experience combined with the data and measurements I collected from testing.
What to Look For
The best window breakers 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 glass breaker to escape or enter windows. Below, we break down what each of these features means for the breakers that truly set themselves apart.
Value: Cost vs. Benefit
The amount of money you spend on something like a window breaker shouldn’t blow out your entire budget. Most of them are inexpensive, and you can often find improvised tools to do a similar job (although it’ll take some more swinging and be much less effective).
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.
Breaking Power
The main consideration in our testing was whether a window breaker actually breaks windows easily. The entire point of a window breaker is to shatter glass with minimum effort. Swinging requires effort and space, so hammers can have plenty of power if you have the swing to back them up.
Punches transfer energy quickly with less external motion, allowing them to work in confined spaces, like cars, and to work inconspicuously.
The power of a snap-type window breaker relies on the pull and elasticity, much like a bow.
Durability
Material plays a big role in the durability of glass breakers. Spring-loaded punch-style breakers were very durable in our tests, and our all-metal budget pick really stood out as a tool you can trust.
Size & Weight
Glass breakers have a wide variety of sizes and weights based on their design. Hammers tend to be on the heavier side, even when they are small, making them less ideal for kits and everyday carry.
Our picks all fall under a few ounces, so they give you versatility without adding too much weight.
Versatility
Some glass breakers do more, like vehicle escape tools. They often come with seatbelt cutters, clips for storage, keychain rings, and more. Other glass breakers can be used as functional tools for precision marking.
We also compared many window breakers that could be worn or concealed on your body. This gives you a covert option for survival situations where SERE equipment can come in handy.
How to Use a Window Breaker
Most window breakers are straightforward to use regardless of style:
- Hammer-style: swing a hammer to hit the glass with the pointed tip.
- Punch-style: press the punch end against the glass with increasing force until the punch ‘clicks’ forward.
- Snap-style: pull back the elastic band until the breaking bead or shard is several inches from the glass, then release, impacting the glass.
Sometimes, you’ll need multiple hits to drop a pane of glass or create a hole big enough for your needs. Tempered glass, double-pane, and laminated glass can be more difficult to break as well. Windshields are typically both tempered and laminated, while side and back windows are just tempered. This is not always the case, though, so you may need to be able to improvise.
Check your vehicle beforehand and avoid trying to break through laminated glass.
Caution: Broken glass is very sharp and is something you need to be aware of, even in a survival emergency. PPE like eye protection and gloves is ideal if you have them at the ready.
Lech does a lot of DIY on his survival YouTube channel, and this is one of his most helpful videos:
Who Needs a Window Breaker?
Not many people consider window breakers beyond their vehicles, but they are obviously an essential item for any kit involving a car (or you can use a vehicle escape tool). We also have it as an essential item in an urban kit:
The versatility of the tool means many of them can be with you on the go. We also suggest that you consider one for your daily loadout:
If you find yourself with extras, they are useful in tool kits to use as detent punches and to make markings.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best window breakers 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:
Daniels, J. (2013). Breaking and Entering. Agni. Volume 78. Pages 32 – 41. (Source)
Singh, U. (1994). Effect of Tool Geometry on Punching Performance. Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering. Volume 116. Issue 4. Pages 508 – 513. (Source)
Wala, K. (2023). Breaking a Car Window to Rescue a Child or Animal Locked Inside: A Dogmatic Analysis of the Legal Grounds for Excluding Criminal Liability. Ios Novum. Volume 17. Issue 1. Pages 24 – 38. (Source)
Conclusion
A window breaker can make a difference if you have one at the right place at the right time. When life closes a door and keeps you from opening, go through a window. If you can’t get it open, use a glass breaker.
Here are a few other gear reviews and guides our subscribers have found helpful:
- Best Window Security Film to Harden Your Home
- Best Lock Pick Sets for Survival
- Everyday Carry List | 25 EDC Essentials
See more of our expert-written guides, resources, and reviews in your search results – add TruePrepper as a preferred source.
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