Quick Take
The best bat for home defense depends on the type of threat and defender, with options ranging from the indestructible Cold Steel Brooklyn Crusher to the versatile Streetwise Baton Light. While bats offer practicality and versatility in close encounters, considerations like weight, durability, and swing speed make choosing the right one crucial.
Best Bat for Home Defense
After hundreds of hours of testing, our group of professional and amateur hitters has an opinion on the best bat for home defense. The right stick, we conclude, depends on the type of apocalypse and the type of defender. We walk through those options below.
Our Pick
The 29-inch Cold Steel Brooklyn Crusher is the best pick for the one-swing defense. The bat’s durable yet heavy construction will last longer than you do. And, if you can get solid contact in the dark, expect no less than one dead zombie. Price check: Amazon.com.
1. Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher
We should note that the Crusher is not a BBCOR bat. However, it’s composed of a material that looks and feels a lot like the indestructible Baum Bat. Keep swinging and stay safe!
Warning: this video is funny in the sense that fake blood and zombie heads getting destroyed are funny. If that is not your humor, this video may not be for you.
2. Lucille

The wood bat laced with barbed wire, popularized in culture as Lucille, is impressive but less practical due to its durability concerns and the challenges of consistent contact.
3. Boat Bat

The Boat Bat is a lightweight option made for knocking out fish but doubles as a great home defense tool. Its lighter weight makes it ideal for strategic swings or dual wielding.
4. Streetwise Baton Light

This option includes a 2000-lumen flashlight inside a metal baton. Its compact design and high visibility make it an excellent choice for nighttime encounters.
5. Slugger Bachman Shoppe Z4

The Z4 is perfect for both gameplay and survival scenarios. Its end-loaded design and lightweight make it a versatile choice for a wide range of situations.
Practical Problems of Home Defense
Using a bat for home defense has its challenges. The proximity required for impact increases risk, and the weight of some bats can make extended use difficult. While bats are practical for one or two swings, they are less effective against multiple threats.