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The logic goes something like this: you can protect yourself better with a fist than a finger, and better with a firearm than a fist. That’s true, but you don’t have to make a direct leap from unarmed to packing heat. Pepper spray can be an extremely effective means of self-defense. It opens you up to fewer legal implications than carrying a firearm or knife, and creates an opportunity for you to escape dangerous situations without escalating to the use of deadly force. In the case of animal attacks, it can actually be more effective than a firearm. Encounters with large predators like bears can typically be resolved better by deterring them than forcing them to commit to a fight to the death (which, spoiler alert, you probably aren’t going to win).
Pepper spray comes in many forms, so read up on some of the best options out there to find one that works for you.
Sabre Red pepper gel
Armadillo Defense spray and alarm kit
Counter Assault bear spray
Pom pepper spray
Mace pepper spray gun
PepperBall LifeLite
Related: The 6 best pocket knives for your everyday carry
Types of pepper sprays
- Self-defense pepper spray: Pepper spray designed for self-defense typically comes in small, single-use containers that can be carried on a keychain or in your pocket. This style of pepper spray is inexpensive, easy to use, and extremely effective. Chemical irritants impede a would-be attacker’s vision and cause intense temporary pain. Those of you who have trained in a gas chamber know the feeling. If you’re looking for a portable, discrete self-defense option, it doesn’t get much better than this.
- Wildlife-deterrent pepper spray: Firearms have long been the gold standard in wilderness self-defense. That makes sense, especially for hunters who are armed anyway. Surprisingly, though, many predator attacks can be stopped more effectively with pepper spray than with a firearm. First of all, animals like bears and mountain lions are tough targets. They’re big, fast, and relentless fighters. No matter how good of a shot you are or what you’re armed with, that’s not a good situation to be in. You’re better off using the skunk’s strategy and just making them want to leave on their own terms.
- Aerosolized pepper spray: The most common form of pepper spray is the aerosolized variety. These products come in handheld cans with compressed air that creates a strong, directional mist of chemical irritants. You don’t have to worry too much about aim, and there’s very little skill required. High winds can affect this kind of pepper spray, so some manufacturers have switched to gel alternatives that are less likely to be blown off-target or affect you as you defend yourself. Both are mainstays of nonlethal self-defense, and should be among the first things you consider when shopping for personal protection measures.
- Pepper ball launchers: Self-defense chemical irritants can also be delivered as a fragile ball that breaks on impact, releasing a concentrated dose of pepper spray on and around the target itself. Launchers are small, handheld devices that are powered by compressed air. Some are effective at ranges of more than 50 feet, giving you plenty of standoff distance. This delivery method is less susceptible to wind than traditional pepper spray and allows you to refill the launcher after use.
Key Features of pepper sprays
- Portability: When your means of self-defense can fit in your pocket, there’s almost nowhere you can’t take it. Aside from areas where pepper spray is restricted by law, you’ll rarely have to leave it behind. Pepper spray is far more compact than firearms and offers respectable range. They’re also so inexpensive that you can attach one to your keychain, throw one in your camping pack, and keep one at the house without blowing the budget.
- Ease of use: Pepper spray requires almost no skill to employ effectively. The simplest options have no sights and simple safety mechanisms so you can simply point and spray. Forget about martial art gym membership and expensive range days, pepper spray has to be one of the most accessible means of self-defense available.
- Potency: Don’t be fooled by the small size and low cost of entry; pepper spray is extremely effective. Think back to the last time you trained in the gas chamber; but instead of cooking up gas in an enclosed room, imagine the instructor just splashed the agent directly into your open eyes. No, it’s not the same as a magazine of .45 ACP hollow points, but in some situations that’s a good thing.
Benefits of pepper sprays
Escalation of force exists for a reason. The less force you have to use to successfully escape danger, the better. Even lawful self-defense with a firearm can be financially crippling, so give yourself a chance to resolve conflict without deadly force. Many places that do not allow firearms do permit pepper spray. Carrying a handheld dose of pepper spray provides an extra layer of defense in situations where other means aren’t permissible. There’s also the added benefit of portability: Pepper spray can be as small as a roll of breath mints. Throw some in your pocket or glove box and have it with you at all times. Smaller sizes aren’t necessarily less potent than larger ones, either; they just don’t contain as much volume.
In addition, it’s affordable: We found quality pepper spray for less than $15. Good luck finding a firearm or monthly gym membership for that amount of money. For what you’d pay to eat dinner at a restaurant, you can give everyone in your family a self-defense tool that could save their life. That’s more than we can say for loaded nachos.
Pepper spray pricing
The least expensive pepper spray will cost you less than a tank of gas. For $20, you’ll get a small dose that you can carry almost everywhere. Priced between $20 and $50, midlevel pepper spray offers more advanced formulas and more powerful delivery systems. At more than $50, Premium options include reusable pepper ball launchers that offer increased range, precision, and durability.