9.0
The Bowring Tool
Site Score
7.0 Good: Numerous uses and virtually indistructable
Bad: Heavy and might require training to fully understand its uses
User Score
7.2 (37 votes)
Click to vote
This is a product review for the Bowring Tool dubbed “The Ultimate Firefighter’s Tool”. I have had the tool for several months now and have had a chance to try it out in many of its uses. This tool is made out of 17-4 steel, 8.3″ tall, 5.9″ wide, .375″ thick and weighs 22 ounces. The tool has no welds.
The Bowring is a universal tool. I first heard about it at FDIC last year. I wasn’t able to catch up with the tool or the guys who created it and finally caught up with them via email. They immediately sent me a tool to try out and do a product review on. Since then, I have enjoyed several telephone calls about the tool.
The Bowring is a unique tool. It is one of those tools that some firefighters have found out they don’t like it nor have a use for it. However, there have been many firefighters who have found the Bowring to be very useful around the fireground. I have heard from several firefighters who continue to find new uses for this tool.
As I said before, the Bowring is a universal tool, or a tool with many purposes built into it. It is a little heavy at 22 ounces. When I got it, I put it in the pocket of my turnout coat. It didn’t stay there long…it added weight, too much weight with the other stuff I carry and as a Lieutenant (engineer) I wasn’t using it regularly. I carry a backpack with several extra tools I personally own which we don’t normally carry on the engine. I added the Bowring to my bag of tricks.
The major disadvantage of using the Bowring tool is that in order to fully understand how to use and get the most out of the tool is to attend training on its uses. I was told this by the guys at Bowring. They want to ensure that firefighters are getting the fullest use out of the tool, and feel that this can be accomplished through training. The guys at Bowring are available to help with training. They have offered many videos which show how to use the Bowring on their Youtube page.
The uses for the tool are below:
- Hose advancement - fits six different size hoses
- Emergency bailout descender - two different options
- RIT Firefighter drag - hook and drag
- The Ultimate High-rise tool - cheaterbar,stand pipe wheel, spanner wrench, hose advancement, emergency bailout descender
- Gas shut off - two different options
- Auto extrication - windshield removal, glass ripper
- O2 wrench
- Door wedge - just hang it on the hinge
- Water shut off
- Mattress hook - hook the wire frame and pull it out
- Forcible entry tool
- Spanner Wrench - fits pin lugs,rockerlugs,storz lugs
- Sheet rock ripper - cleanly rips through while looking for hot spots
- Nance drill - absolutely the fastest most efficient technique ever
- Denver drill - great for that second story rescue
I was not able to do a complete test of all of these uses.
I will say that it is perfect for creating a handle on 2 1/2″ hose. I have never been a fan of putting a strap around the hose and put it on my shoulder. This tool does that, it enables you hold onto it like a handle.
The Bowring really has a laundry list of uses. There are probably many other uses that firefighters will figure out and improvise with in the future. The guys at Bowring love to hear about how firefighters have used it!
Feel free to read testimonials about the Bowring here.
Cost: $124.95 with add-on customized engraving for $12. (current pricing at the time of this article)
The video below is an interesting (and a bit humorous) look at the uses of the Bowring.
The Bowring Tool,
I have had a Bowring for about 4 months. I have used 4 times during training. 3 live fire burn evolutions and 1 extrication. It does have a lot of uses, unfortunately I don’t feel it does anyone of those great! I carry a few tools that do the same things the Bowring does and for the cost and versatility I will stick with those. I do carry more tools then the majority of the guys on my department, so I can see the value in having this 1 tool vs. a tool bag like mine.
I equate this tool to the pistol grip on a nozzle….useless and it facilitates poor mechanics. One more “tool” that accommodates firefighters with poor skills…save the 125.00 bucks and instead spend a few hours perfecting the skills of hose handling…just my two cents.
Brandon, I’d beg to differ. First, hose handling is just one of the things it does, so if all you’re buying it for is to advance line, then yeah, it’s a pretty expensive hose strap. I can’t tell if you’ve actually gotten hands on with one yet, but it’s much more useful than a pistol grip and it’s quickly adjustable, unlike a hose strap. I have always preferred to advance hose with a “straight arm” method, with my back arm extended behind me, hand clamped on the hose. The Bowring is a perfect handle for that method (which I’ve used & “perfected” for 6 years). Using a tool doesn’t automatically equal a lazy or poorly skilled firefighter. You could smash a door down with a battering ram ( or your foot) or you could use a little technique and finesse by using the irons.
When it comes to the mechanics, the pistol grip is only so useful since the force of the hose is trying to buck the grip up and out of your hands. Using the Bowring as a grip positioned on the top of the hose (or the “forward position” as they like to call it), I feel like I’m better able to control the nozzle reaction.
I drank the cool-aid and I like what I’ve tasted so far.
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I have used the Bowring multiple times. As an engine operator I have used the tool to not only tighten couplings, I have advanced 21/2 inch handlines by myself on muliple occasions. I am also a rope instructor and the Bowring proves useful in repelling as well as in firefighter self rescue.
As a veteran, it’s my understanding that we train with all tools to better ourselves as firefighters, whether its hose advancement or pulling ceiling. The bowring is no different, the more you use the bowring and train with it, the better. It will always be in my bunker gear.
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