I found the solution: but two back up hydrometers and they stop breaking.
no joke, I was cleaning my brew closet and looked at my back up hydrometer that I haven’t used or touched in months, it was broken. I see the brewmometer that is a thermometer/hydrometer combo that you keep in the fermenter and it tracks temp and gravity. I am thinking about pulling the trigger.
Yes, even better than the straps they sell. The only time I ever came close to breaking a carboy after moving them hundreds of time is the first time I tried the strap thingy.
If I remember, I’ll take a picture later. It reads 1.003 in plain water at 60 F, so I’ve had to subtract that for many many years. I did drop the thing at least twice, but it didn’t break. 
I’ll still never be as awesome as Denny though. ;D
I kept all my glass in crates, before I cracked one while cleaning it (outside of the crate). I got rid of the glass, but still use my crates for better bottles.
If you’re using glass carboys, crates are the best way to go. Protects them on the sides and gives convenient handles for lifting/moving.
I broke a glass carboy about 25 years ago when I still brewed extract batches on the stove, by pouring in too warm of wort. Since then, I have never drained wort into a carboy unless it is under 75°F. 25 years later, I am still using the same 6 or so glass carboys, with the exception of one that I dropped (empty) 4 years ago. Knock on wood.
Right. I used mine for many many years. They can be used safely.
Having them around my kids though made the risk analysis a bit different for me.
I’d rather not worry about it.
I did the same - I moved carboys with milk crates but broke one while cleaning it out of the crate. The other one I broke - here’s a good brain fart - by picking it up by one of those handles they sold with the wing nut. I knew not to trust it to support the load. I think it was my second batch ('93ish). Stitches. Glad I kept on brewing anyway.
Edit - Kids were the X factor for me as well.
I would move to stainless steel. I would try some of the Ss Brewtech brew buckets.
I know the answer to this, since someone would have done it already, but is there a reason a hydrometer couldn’t be made out of plastic?
It is possible. I still have the first one purchased in 1987. Though it reads 0.004 high now.
Sure you could. However, glass is easier to clean and sanitize and will not harbor wild beasts – ha!
true, but I’m not dipping my hydrometer into my fermenting beer, I’m pulling a sample and testing it in a beaker, then either drinking the sample or dumping it.
Me too – I’s just making a funny.
Already done. Herculometer® - Triple Scale Hydrometer
Best practices call for measuring gravity of a sample and not adding the sample back to the batch. Considering this has lead me to only rinse my hydrometer and test flask with warm water after use.
you rock! This will be my next purchase.
Gravity samples are for tasting, not for pouring back in.
My first one broke when I slid it back in to the plastic tube it comes in after using it one day. No joke, it hit the thin plastic on the bottom of the tube and shattered. I bought my dual-scale refractometer shortly after that. 
So you’re already looking for another?