13 Days to Escape Tools Guide: Buy Smart, Hide Smarter
Tools are the engine of every escape: they open the tunnel, keep it open and get you through the last night. This guide covers the shop loop — earning cash, buying at OJ's Deals, hiding items and using them without tripping the suspicion system.
The core rule: you do not need a big inventory, you need the right two or three items and a safe place to keep them.
Shopping at OJ's Deals
OJ's Deals is the discount shop inside the prison and your main source of escape equipment. Prices move with discount cycles, so the same item can cost very different amounts on different days.
Plan purchases around the discounts instead of impulse-buying. A day spent waiting for a price drop is usually cheaper than a hasty full-price purchase.
Tools worth buying
- Digging tools — the non-negotiable core of the tunnel plan
- A second digging tool as backup in case the first is lost or confiscated
- Small utility items that help with hiding or timing
- Anything that lets you move at night with less exposure
Where to hide your tools
Split your tools between at least two hiding spots and never keep your whole kit in your cell. During the day, verify each spot has no camera coverage and no routine patrol passing close by.
Move tools only at night, only one at a time, and only when you can reach your bunk before headcount.
Using tools without getting caught
Time tool use to patrol gaps you have already observed. Keep sessions short, put every item away immediately after use, and never leave dirt or damage visible in the morning.
What not to waste money on
- Buying duplicates of the same tool type early
- Cosmetic or fun items while your tunnel budget is short
- Stockpiling more than you can hide safely
- Anything that encourages daytime risk-taking