Halligan Bar
Wielded by fire and rescue workers everywhere, the Halligan Bar is the best door-smashing, get-me-the-heck-into/outta-here, zombie-fightin’ tool in the world. The deluxe 30-inch one I have (pic above) is made of high tensile strength titanium, so it will never rust and, despite its imposing appearance, weighs just 5.25 lbs. It even has eyelets for a strap! (note: less exorbitant Halligans are available in alloy steel; my titanium bar was a gift).
So far I've only used mine to do three things: hook one end over a bathroom stall to do pull ups, carry it as a hobo's bindle stick and impress people on my walk home from work. Nevertheless, I live in a 17-story apartment building (technically 16). Simply knowing I own one puts my mind at ease. Did you ever hear the story of the maintenance guy on 9/11 who hacked his way through a wall using a squeegee? With something as obscenely strong and useful as a Halligan Bar, he'd have been out in seconds.
I keep mine leaning against the wall in the corner, where it waits for the day when I need to smash into or out of something... or I hear screams of "He's trapped inside!" or "The Zombies are here!"
Favorite (15)
airship
You spent $555 for an awesome titanium tool you have never used. You are my new hero.
Craig C
You are crazy. $550 for a zombie killer? In Shawn of the Dead, old LPs seem to do the trick, and they are a lot cheaper. In all seriousness, what are the odds that you will have this when you really need it, assuming you ever really need such a tool?
Stercutius
You wasted $350 buying the titanium one when the steel one would have worked just as well (especially since you never use it)! This blog is really starting to irk me...
Tim
Folks--read the description--Mr. Nash got his as a gift, so someone else paid the $550.
If I had a need for this tool, I would try for the titanium as it is half the weight of the alloy steel. That way, I will not get tired too quickly when the zombies come...
Jimbob
I need to find someone willing to give me a $550 nearly useless gift. Titanium's kinda cool, though. Must be amazingly light in the hands at just over 5 lbs. Cool gift. I need some rich friends.
Steven Leckart
Please note that I added this info to Jackson's review after we initially published:
"my titanium bar was a gift"
Whether he or someone else paid for the Halligan bar, yes, the titanium version is very expensive (as the review states), which is why we have also listed the alloy steel bar.
Best,
Steven
Bill S
In some jurisdictions, a Halligan bar is considered a burglary tool. Best to check with you police department before buying or borrowing one.
Doug Faunt
I think Jackson has awesome friends since one of them gave him this as a gift.
That being said, the steel one is probably more useful, since the extra weight would make it more effective in many situations.
Hal Egan
Cop: Why do you have this (cool) tool in your possession?
Owner: For pull-ups done in bathroom stalls, of course!
Cop: Come with me.
Stephen Young
As a former firefighter, I have used this tool often. Unless you have a specific use for this tool, it is not worth the money; Halligans are fairly specialized. As often as not, the fire axe was nearly as useful in those same circumstances, and is useful for other things as well. I do not consider this multipurpose enough to justify the cost.
Michael
Anyone know where I can get a titanium squeegee?
Jackson Nash
Hello Everyone,
550 is definitely a lot of coin. But it is so worth it. The Halligan bars usefulness as an object, (for pull ups or otherwise) is unmatched, and its beyond-rugged construction means that my grandchildren's grandchildren could use it to tone and strengthen.
What cost an item that will last potentially thousands of years?
If the price still prickles, get a used one. They don't go bad.
Love,
Jackson
p.s.
If you'd like something that insanely expensive and you'll never have to use it, try a missile defense system. :)
jjohnjj
I recall a heart breaking story from the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake about a group of neighbors who struggled to get a woman out of a collapsed apartment before it caught fire... and failed.
If you live in earthquake country, you ought to be equipped to rescue yourself and your neighbors. I keep a 36" wrecking bar with my "bug-out" bag. If I lived in a high-rise, I'd want a Halligan.
Notary Sojac
This is the most expensive pull-up bar I've ever seen. Do you use diamonds to peel your vegetables?
Tetsubo
While this is an incredibly Cool Tool, I surmise that a standard crowbar would work for most people. I believe you can even buy titanium crowbars if you so choose. I carry a folding saw with a carbide blade in my 'possibles bag' everyday. So no 'squegee' issues for me...
Andrew Pollack
Hold on a minute. I'm a firefighter. I have a few of these on available to me on the Engine, Ladder, or Heavy Rescue I ride on. I've trained with this tool.
Impressive as it looks, I don't know any firefighters who routinely carry a halligan tool by itself (without the flat headed axe) as their tool of choice. It makes little sense by itself.
Some things to note:
#1. I'm sure the 5.25 pound version he has is lovely to carry around, but then, it doesn't really have the weight to really do the job he thinks its for, does it? It can be light and strong, because it isn't meant to be used as a battering, bashing, or breaking tool. Its a prying tool -- and it goes together with another tool to make an effective unit.
#2. Usually, one of these is mated to a flat headed axe. They fit together and can be carried joined like that. In combination they are called "commercial irons" and used properly can get you through most locked doors fairly quickly.
The adz end is not for chopping, it is for prying doors. Used correctly it is very effective. The forked end is obviously a prying tool. None of the ends are meant for "battering" or "Chopping" anything.
For getting out of his apartment, an escape rope and a little training would work much more effectively. Baring that, a "TNT" tool or a pick headed axe would be smarter carries from the tool bin on a fire truck.
c-dub
I visit this site because it is, like (most of) the products it reviews, a useful tool. This review, though, is so useless as to be genuinely irritating.
Julian Cullen
A Metrowuss tool review- worthless
...has never tried to use it in the way it's intended-
17th floor of an apartment??
I'll take a good static rope and belay line set up anyday over this.
A 48" wizard bar will do everything you could need for getting through an interior door.
Bill
I bout one of these after reading about it on gCaptain.com. That guy is a ship captain who's dad was a firefighter in the bronx, he sears by it so I ordered one asap.
Can't say I used it yet, but it's in my car and if I'm ever stuck on a burning ship in the bronx, I'll be ready!!
Pendrift
So, the nice thing about Cool Tools used to be that "All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it." That sentence on the front page will presumably be replaced soon with "All reviews are written by people who like to impress their friends with really awesome sweet stuff, and don't mind paying top dollar for it".
Z
Pendrift, let me tell you about my collection of Leica gear... oh, wait, nevermind. A good axe would probably be almost as useful without the added cost.
Too Tall Paul
Andrew Pollack beat me to the punch. The Halligan really needs a matching fire ax. And Bill - I hope that Halligan in your car is properly anchored so no one gets hurt in an accident.
Skip Mendler
With the right grip and footpad attachments, that could also be used as a walking stick/cane- so you could actually keep it with you all the time. The next thing, of course, is for some martial artist to design some really impressive/deadly kata featuring this tool -- and then work it into a Jackie Chan movie.