1 Aquatic “sound recorder” (Batman #117). While on another planet for a mission, Batman uses a “sound recorder” to listen to footsteps on the bottom of the ocean while tracking an undersea creature.
2 Bat-freeze pill (Detective Comics #362). When the Riddler creates a bomb that is set off by body heat, Batman conveniently pulls out a “Bat-freeze pill” from his utility belt that lowers his body temperature enough to deactivate the bomb.
3 Batman balloon (Batman #115). Batman is transported back in time, where he must save a village from some dastardly bad guys. He inflates a giant Batman balloon, which convinces them that he’s a huge, all-powerful genie, and scares them off.
4 Batman costume (Batman #71). Always prepared for emergencies (fashion or otherwise), Batman carries a special lightweight version of his costume inside his utility belt. It comes in handy during this issue, when he disguises a bad guy as Batman to fool the rest of his crew.
5 A crayon (Batman #149). While riding aboard a runaway train, Batman remarks how lucky it is that both he and Robin carry crayons with them at all times, as it allows them to draw a (surely very convincing) stop sign that they throw into the street to prevent traffic from being struck by the train.
6 Geiger counter (Batman #117). While on a mission to another planet, Batman conveniently has a miniature Geiger counter that allows him to track a radioactive monster.
7 Makeup kit (Batman #4). Batman uses a makeup kit from his utility belt to make himself look exactly like a professional football quarterback who has been kidnapped by a gambling ring in an effort to throw the “big game.” Not only is he a convincing doppelgänger but he is also, unsurprisingly, great at football and wins the big game.
8 Marble (Detective Comics #173). Batman and Robin have some pretty unique uses for an ordinary marble. If you roll it down steps, it simulates footsteps, and if you place it under your arm, it stops your pulse so that you can feign death. Don’t question the logic of it—if Batman says it stops the pulse, it must!
9 Secret identity disc (Detective Comics #185). In this issue, Batman debuts a new addition to the belt—a small disc that, when treated with a special chemical, reveals Batman’s true identity. Batman’s theory is that if he is ever in a situation where he is near certain death, he would use the chemicals to let everyone know who Batman really was, to ward off anyone trying to take advantage of his death to impersonate him.
10 Shark repellent. Shark repellent has made not one, but two appearances in the world of Batman. In the 1966 Batman film, Batman uses “shark-repellent Bat-Spray” to dislodge a shark that attached itself to his leg while he was climbing down the Bat Ladder (yes, it is actually labeled “Bat Ladder”) from the Bat-Copter to a yacht, after getting a tip that the owner of the yacht was in danger. Interestingly enough, the shark-repellent Bat-Spray did not come from Batman’s utility belt: Robin tosses it to Batman, with excellent timing, too. Unbeknownst to Batman, the shark had a time bomb inside of it designed to blow up when Batman was nearby.
