To aid his crime-fighting career, Batman has one of the best tools to make sure he has everything he needs on hand. Bruce Wayne’s utility belt is one of the biggest staples of the Batman franchise, and the hero is well known for the many useful tools he keeps inside of it.
The weapons in Batman’s belt have changed over the years, and Bruce is constantly switching out his tools for newer and better items. But only a few objects are worth mentioning, and the following ten items are some of the best things in Batman’s belt.
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10 Smoke Bombs
It’s one of Batman’s classic gadgets to get him out of a quick jam. Trained in the art of stealth by some of the world’s best fighters, Batman routinely uses smoke bombs to confuse his enemies and hide his presence while he makes with his attack. Smoke pellets also provide Bruce cover when he’s in need of an escape or help him while rescuing hostages. Whatever the reason, Batman has almost always kept a couple of smoke bombs in his belt, making them one of the few mainstays of Batman’s crime-fighting tools.
9 Rebreather
Speaking of smoke, Batman’s utility belt usually includes something to help him out when the tables are turned. The World’s Greatest Detective is known to have a rebreather on hand whenever he faces off against villains who specialize in poisons. Joker, Scarecrow, and Poison Ivy are just some of the villains who show no fear of using toxic aerosols in hopes of controlling or otherwise throwing Batman off his game. Using the rebreather allows Bruce to filter whatever conditions he encounters and easily fight back. He also keeps spares on him for his allies and any civilians in danger.
8 Cash
Batman’s money helped him finance his one-man war on crime, but he can’t use his funds as Bruce Wayne when he’s dressed up incognito. Instead of a Bat-credit card, the Dark Knight carries an assortment of bills he may need on his nightly patrols. And don’t just go thinking the cash is for Batman to get a late-night snack. Bruce has given the money he keeps in his belt to people in need, such as a thief he attempted to apprehend until Batman realized the man was just trying to feed his children.
7 Grapple Gun
Another iconic gadget that has helped Batman cement his status as a hero to be reckoned with. The grapple gun is what helps Bruce Wayne scale Gotham City’s many tall buildings and skyscrapers. It’s a tool that he’s refined over the years and for good reason. Unlike many of the other weapons in his belt, the grapple gun provides a literal lifeline to solid ground when he’s free-falling through the air. Batman is only a man after all, and having a tool that help him survive the urban jungle makes this one of the best items in his arsenal.
6 Crayons
While far from one of the most necessary, the inclusions of crayons in Batman’s utility belt is something that demonstrates incredible foresight in the hero. Batman #149 revealed Bruce keeps the colorful tools in his possession when he goes up against a couple of seemingly time-displaced knights. After the criminals decouple a moving train, the Dynamic Duo fashion a sign to inform the people below, using the crayons they keep in their utility belts. Not the most conventional item, but it certainly helped the Caped Crusader save the day.
5 Ultrasonic Bat Beacon
Batman obviously takes his name from the flying rodent, so why shouldn’t he have a weapon that puts them to work? During the seminal “Year One” storyline in Batman #406, Batman is cornered by a SWAT team and needs to make an escape, so he uses his last-ditch effort: A high frequency signal to attract a swarm of bats to distract his opponents and make an escape. Far more effective than smoke bombs and gives off quite the thematic flair. It also makes fine use of the symbol that inspired Bruce to become Batman in the first place.
4 Lollipops
Weapons are a fine thing to have in his belt, but some of the best items Batman has aren’t weapons at all. Whenever he encounters an upset child, Batman has lollipops at the ready to put them at ease. Nightwing even revealed that Batman keeps them right next to his smoke bombs when the two were helping Superman track down a wayward Superboy. Other items in the utility belt may go a long way in keeping Bruce alive, but the stash of suckers is a great reminder that Batman is doing what he does for the most vulnerable.
3 Batarangs
More iconic than smoke bombs or his grapple gun and arguably the most well-known item Bruce has ever conceived of is undoubtedly the batarang. Whether facing down everyday crooks or Killer Croc, Batman’s batarangs are the perfect tool for nearly any situation he faces. The tools in Batman’s belt may change over the years, but this tool is easily Batman’s preferred weapon of choice. It’s perfect for long-range, allowing him to strike from the shadows and non-lethal, gelling with Batman’s moral code. They can also be easily electrified, helping Batman take down some more resilient foes.
2 Kryptonite Ring
Of course, there’s one item in the belt that Batman rarely uses, but keeps it there for a worst-case scenario. Batman’s belt contains a ring that holds a sliver of kryptonite, the same radioactive material that could easily harm Superman. The ring was once in the possession of Lex Luthor, but after a series of events, wound up back in possession of Clark Kent, who gave it to Bruce as a means of stopping him should it become necessary. While it serves as a powerful contingency, it also represents the strong trust between the World’s Finest.
1 Shark Repellent
Yes indeed. The iconic Shark Repellent Bat Spray infamously used in the 1966 Batman movie featuring Adam West is a canonical item Batman has kept inside his utility belt. Several years before the movie was released, Batman #117 featured the hero using shark repellent against a sea beast the Dynamic Duo encounter during an undersea adventure. Surprisingly it works, giving Batman and Robin the chance to get away from the creature. Shark repellent might have been a big joke in the Batman film, but it helped Batman from becoming an ocean monster’s lunch.
Batman’s utility belt may be home to numerous items, but these ten tools remain some of his most iconic (and quite interesting) additions to his crime-fighting collection.