I Want to Buy Pepper Spray, But What Type Should I Get?

We often hear this question from people looking to buy pepper spray, and though we cannot give you all of the answers specific to your needs, the following will help to get you pointed in the right direction.

It is important to decide which products will best fit your needs and there are multiple factors to consider. There are differences in size, spray pattern, active ingredients, and effective distance. First off, please be sure of what local pepper spray laws may affect your purchase. Though there are many online sources that list these laws, if you would like to be most certain, your best bet is to call your local Prosecuting Attorney's office; they will be able to reference the appropriate statutes directly. Next it is important to decide how the products will be used. Will the pepper spray you buy be carried with you, or will it be used for home security? Models that are designed for personal defense will typically be around 10-17 grams, or about 1/2 ounce. These pepper sprays will most often contain 5 one second bursts and be rated as effective at a distance of 10 feet. You will find that most of them will be complete with a small carrying case or a keyring attachment (don't worry they'll have a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge). These are great to carry with your keys while you're walking across a parking lot, in an easily accessible spot in a purse or wallet, or on a waistband while walking or jogging. The larger pepper sprays, typically 45-120 grams, or about 2-4 ounces, are not designed to be carried with you. These are intended for home defense and are to be kept in a nightstand, on a shelf by the front door (out of plain sight), or anywhere that could be a point of confrontation with an intruder. Pepper sprays in this category will not only have a larger volume, but will more importantly, be effective at a much further distance, up to 18 feet.

Another important difference is the spray pattern, which is typically either a stream or a fogging action. The stream will deliver more of the pepper spray to a concentrated area and can be effective over a longer distance, but requires a direct hit to the face. A fogger will cover a larger area and can allow you to contaminate an entire hallway or partial room in your home for example. This fogging action can be a double edged sword though; it can cause some collateral damage by actually contaminating the area you are currently in, or an area that you need to pass through. We typically recommend that you carry a stream, keychain pepper spray model with you, and have a larger fogger for home defense. The choice is obviously yours; if you feel that you can aim correctly over a further distance in your residence, and would feel more comfortable with a more concise spray, then go for the stream pattern. Ultimately, it is truly what you will feel the most comfortable using.

There are also numerous unique types of pepper sprays. Some are easily concealed such as both lipstick pepper spray and pepper spray pen models, and some are designed for specific situations such as walking hand weights with built in pepper spray. There are also unique sprays such as gels and foams which are also worthy of mention.

As you can see, there are multiple different products that fit multiple uses. We recommend that you have, at a minimum, both carry along, and home defense units. Please keep in mind that one of the most important factors to consider is your willingness to use the product. Buy pepper spray products that you are confident in, and will not hesitate to use. This is the key to effective self defense.