Aggravated assaults accounted for a whopping 64.3% of all violent crime in the US in 2016, according to the FBI. That number’s not meant to scare you. It’s just an unfortunate fact of life in today’s world.
One of the easiest ways to stay safe is with self defense spray. These simple, handheld sprays stop would-be attackers in their tracks. They make sure you stay protected and unharmed.
Now, you may be asking yourself, “sure that sounds good…but do self defense sprays really work?”
The answer’s a resounding YES!
Not only are self defense sprays effective, but they’re also inexpensive and easy to carry. Read on to learn more and find out exactly how and why self defense sprays work.
WHAT IS SELF DEFENSE SPRAY?
First, it’s important to lay out just what a self defense spray is. They may go by many names – pepper spray, mace, eye-dynamite – but they all share similar characteristics.
Self defense spray is any non-lethal combination of oleoresin capsaicin (OC) and a dilatant. Normally this is a mixture of water and propylene glycol.
There are different versions, mixtures, strengths, and brands. There are different pressures and spray distances. There are self defense sprays which are primarily used for humans and sprays strong enough to be used on bears.
We don’t recommend starting with a bear strength self defense spray. A good old can of, say, Heatwave should be more than enough to keep yourself protected.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SELF DEFENSE SPRAYS
While there are many different types of self defense spray, most fall into one of three categories: traditional, pepper gel, and pepper foam.
Traditional is what you probably think of when someone mentions pepper spray. These are the cans that shoot either a stream, mist, or cone of high powered OC at a would-be attacker. Your aim with traditional pepper spray’s important. After all, you don’t want a mist blowing back into your face and disabling you too.
Heatwave is a perfect example of traditional self defense spray. Conveniently held in a small canister (they even have some sprays which can be clipped onto your keychain!), Heatwave varies in strength, but is generally around 23% OC and has a range of twelve to fifteen feet. More importantly, it’s exactly what you need to stay safe and protected.
Pepper gel is similar to traditional self defense spray, but has a slightly heavier spray. This means it will travel further and isn’t as likely to be blown back into your face. Pepper gel also requires you to have slightly better aim, since the area of effect is smaller than traditional spray.
Pepper foam is similar to pepper gel, but foams once it makes contact with skin. Think of it as pepper gel’s older, angrier brother.
These differences make each type of spray suited for specific situations. Traditional self defense spray’s best for taking with you on a nightly jog or if you’re going to a concert in a park. Pepper gel and foam are ideal to be kept in your house, since they don’t fill rooms and you’re less likely to incapacitate yourself.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT SELF DEFENSE SPRAYS
Now that we’ve explored the different types of self defense sprays, the questions becomes just how effective are they? Will they keep your safe in the face of a home invasion or a mugger?
The answer’s once again a resounding YES! Self defense sprays are incredibly effective at stopping any attack dead in their tracks. Not only that, but the different types of spray are all well-suited for unique situations.
This all means that self defense sprays aren’t only effective – they’re a necessity of staying safe in today’s world.
That’s where we can help. Our selection of different sprays is unmatched, and we have plenty of self defense guides to help you become an expert at using them.
