Web / strap cutters to keep in the car.

[rabid wombat]

Looking for suggestions on webbing / strap cutters for keeping in the car. I never expect to use it, but it has to work when needed. The one I am most familiar with is Benchmade, but I am not married to a brand. Open to ideas and suggestions.

https://www.benchmade.com/8-blkw.html

Thanks

 

[JShirley]

That's the one I was issued

 

[The Glockodile]

https://www.amazon.com/LEATHERMAN-Emergency-Response-Breaker-Utility/dp/B07RJZH39J/

https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-RescueTool-Yellow-Rescue/dp/B000NHZW6M

The first one’s used by many EMS people - they also make nice gift items

 

[herrwalther]

The ResQme tools are pretty popular with my counties' law enforcement and EMS personnel. I know many people who work those jobs that use them in personnel as well as professional vehicles.

https://lapolicegear.com/resqme-car-escape-tool.html

My personal favorite that I have carried on my combined LE and MIL career, and I have actually saved lives with, is a discontinued item called Leatherman Z-Rex. If you can find one of these, better than ResQMe.

https://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-Z...008069ZB6/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

 

[rabid wombat]

they also make nice gift items

Yeppers…Three cars to do…wife, daughter, and mine. I already have a variety of ‘stuff’ for me, but with the kid starting to drive - I need to up the game. Separately, I have well over a million miles driving and have never had the need for a web cutter or glass breaker, but that does not say what tomorrow brings….

 

[The Glockodile]

Yeppers…Three cars to do…wife, daughter, and mine. I already have a variety of ‘stuff’ for me, but with the kid starting to drive...

I think those’d be perfect.

These tools don’t give any tacticulowarriery vibes!

 

[Spats McGee]

I'll point out on the front end that the Choates are friends of mine. With that said, we have these in our cars, usually tied to something so they don't get lost in the event of an accident: https://www.riflestock.com/store/product/car-rescue-tool/

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Why not just use a good pocket knife? I keep a swiss army knife in my verhicles.

 

[JShirley]

Why not just use a good pocket knife? I keep a swiss army knife in my verhicles.

Swiss Army Knives are great, but you need something that can be used with one hand, in case the other is pinned or injured. In an emergency, you need something simple and intuitive.

John

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Good point John.

 

[The Night Rider]

I always have a knife and a Multitool on me. I won't carry a knife I can't open one handed.

If I was going to get a dedicated rescue tool I'd go with Spats' suggestion and it would stay in the car.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I keep a dive knife on the driver's side and a set of paramedic's shears in the console.
I always have at least two other knives on me and each of my vehicles always has an array of other cutting tools within reach.
These strap cutter tools look awkward to me.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The ones that look like a letter opener work well and are inexpensive. You can get a 3 pack for about 5 bucks.

 

[CapnMac]

Why not just use a good pocket knife?

You may need to use the thing in a "stabbing" sort of style, so a blunted end is wanted.
As John astutely points out, this is likely going to be used with only one hand, probably in an awkward way--and equally awkward if on one's self as for rescuing another.

SAK can make sense, but for my 2¢, it will want a locking blade.

I have a preference for belt cutters with a glass breaker, for getting either in, or out.

 

[hso]

The ones that look like a letter opener work well and are inexpensive.

You ever cut seat belt webbing with one of those?

 

[hso]

Why not just use a good pocket knife? I keep a swiss army knife in my verhicles.

To expand, everyone needs to think about hanging upside down with one arm out of action. How are you opening a slip joint traditional folder? Now try handling it without it folding up on your fingers while hanging upside down in that seat belt. Try getting that blade under the belt without injuring yourself with it. Now, think about your wife or child beside you hanging in their seat belt. Victorinox makes a rescue version of the SAK designed for this application, but I'm betting it isn't the SAK most of us are carrying. A purpose designed and built instrument intended to not injure you or the person you're trying to free while being sturdy and simple enough to rely upon is a small price to pay.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Good points guys.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

You ever cut seat belt webbing with one of those?

Yes

 

[Armored farmer]

We have inexpensive lockblades clipped to the visor in all of our vehicles.
Bad things always happen fast. A family friend flipped her suv on an icy Illinois country road. No serious injuries, but she and her young son both stuck in their seat belts until someone came along and cut the belts.
We have been prepared since hearing their story.

 

[Spats McGee]

We have inexpensive lockblades clipped to the visor in all of our vehicles.
Bad things always happen fast. A family friend flipped her suv on an icy Illinois country road. No serious injuries, but she and her young son both stuck in their seat belts until someone came along and cut the belts.
We have been prepared since hearing their story.

Glad to hear that nobody was hurt. This story precisely illustrates why we keep our rescue tools tied to something. It may go flying during an accident, but if I can find the string, I can find the tool. It's at the end of the string.

 

[jmr40]

I'm sure they work, but there is always a folder in my pocket. And 99% of the time it can be opened with one hand. In addition, there is a fixed blade, usually a cheap Mora in every vehicle and an inexpensive folding knife in the console. Those folders are primarily for my wife, she won't carry one, but is always asking to use mine. If I'm not in the car she has one in the console.

After a crash where I'm trying to self-extricate the knife in my pocket is the one that is most likely to still be where it was. I see the biggest benefit as a tool for those times I may need to extricate someone else. I'm sure it is a much safer way to cut a seatbelt than a standard knife.

Overall I like it and may get one. That, or something similar should be in every 1st responder vehicle

 

[theotherwaldo]

I have found myself hanging upside down from my seat belts several times, but I didn't have to cut myself free.
I was flat-tracking and I had the required five-point safety belt system.
A flick of the wrist and I was laying on the roll cage.
I never finished a race... .

I wish that regular seat belts released as easily as the five-point system.

 

[rabid wombat]

Thanks all! Going to start with some of these….

https://knifeworks.com/benchmade-bm8blkwadc-strap-cutter-440c-ss-soft-adc-sheath/

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Worth a look,
EXITOOL® (crkt.com)

 

[FL-NC]

While they work well for the task, the problem I have with them is that they are only good for 1 task. A 1/2 serated knife like a spyderco or even trauma shears can cut a strap just fine, plus a lot more.