The Best Self Defense Product - What Is It?
Like any opinionated subject- so close to the heart for many people- the best self defense product is a debate with some contention.
At this point in time, the number of choices for self defense products can confuse a person as easily as the workings of a jet engine.
First off, let's distinguish between lethal and non-lethal self defense weapons.
Make no mistake, if you feel most comfortable carrying a knife, gun, or some other form of potentially lethal self defense weapon, then this is what you should carry.
Your safety is the most important thing.
However, I am a believer and proponent for people using non-lethal forms, so to simplify things right off the bat, let's take a look at the main types of self defense weapons: These are Pepper Spray, Stun Guns, Tasers, and Personal Alarms.
Pepper Spray Pepper spray (often confused with Mace, which is actually a brand of pepper spray) comes in many shapes and sizes.
How pepper spray works is to spray a stream or fog of pepper extracts (usually chili) into your attacker's eyes.
This causes the eyes to burn, face to swell, and the individual to feel nauseated.
The result is your attacker's complete inability to see or want to do anything in the short-term, with no permanent damage.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because it comes in concealable forms, can stop the attacker at a distance, and is inexpensive.
Some people don't like that you have to aim the stream at the assailant's face.
Cost: Low - Medium Convenience: Medium - High Ease-of-use: Medium Range: Medium Stopping Power: High Stun Guns Stun Guns (often confused with Tasers, which are discussed below) are point-of-contact products that dump large amounts of energy into your attacker by completing a high voltage circuit with his body.
This causes the muscles to work very hard very fast; this turns blood sugar into lactic acid.
The result is your attacker's complete inability to move for a number of minutes, with no permanent damage.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because it is easy to use, comes in concealable forms, and even someone drugged up can't ignore the physics of what it does to his body.
Some people don't like that you have to make contact with your assailant.
Cost: Medium Convenience: Medium - High Ease-of-use: High Range: Low Stopping Power: Very High Tasers TASER is actually a brand, and Tasers work very similarly to stun guns.
The main difference is that the method of delivering the high voltage stun is through 2 metal prongs that can be shot up to 15 feet at 180 ft/sec.
If the shot misses, the cartridge can be ejected and the Taser can be used as a point-of-contact stun gun.
Also, if the shot connects, the Taser can be placed on the ground and remain active while you get to safety.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because, in addition to the benefits of a stun gun, it has the ability to stop your assailant at a distance.
Some people don't like that every Taser is obviously a Taser (there are no disguised forms).
Cost: High Convenience: High Ease-of-use: High Range: Medium Stopping Power: Very High Personal Alarms Personal alarms come in many different forms, and emit a noise in the realm of 130 decibels when activated.
Some are activated with buttons, some with pull-strings.
Many people like how convenient personal alarms are, especially because they often come with secondary features such as flashlights, that they give a huge deterrent to the attacker and alert others in the area.
Some people don't like that it has a very low ability to actually stop the assailant.
Cost: Low Convenience: High Ease-of-use: High Range: High Stopping Power: Low
At this point in time, the number of choices for self defense products can confuse a person as easily as the workings of a jet engine.
First off, let's distinguish between lethal and non-lethal self defense weapons.
Make no mistake, if you feel most comfortable carrying a knife, gun, or some other form of potentially lethal self defense weapon, then this is what you should carry.
Your safety is the most important thing.
However, I am a believer and proponent for people using non-lethal forms, so to simplify things right off the bat, let's take a look at the main types of self defense weapons: These are Pepper Spray, Stun Guns, Tasers, and Personal Alarms.
Pepper Spray Pepper spray (often confused with Mace, which is actually a brand of pepper spray) comes in many shapes and sizes.
How pepper spray works is to spray a stream or fog of pepper extracts (usually chili) into your attacker's eyes.
This causes the eyes to burn, face to swell, and the individual to feel nauseated.
The result is your attacker's complete inability to see or want to do anything in the short-term, with no permanent damage.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because it comes in concealable forms, can stop the attacker at a distance, and is inexpensive.
Some people don't like that you have to aim the stream at the assailant's face.
Cost: Low - Medium Convenience: Medium - High Ease-of-use: Medium Range: Medium Stopping Power: High Stun Guns Stun Guns (often confused with Tasers, which are discussed below) are point-of-contact products that dump large amounts of energy into your attacker by completing a high voltage circuit with his body.
This causes the muscles to work very hard very fast; this turns blood sugar into lactic acid.
The result is your attacker's complete inability to move for a number of minutes, with no permanent damage.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because it is easy to use, comes in concealable forms, and even someone drugged up can't ignore the physics of what it does to his body.
Some people don't like that you have to make contact with your assailant.
Cost: Medium Convenience: Medium - High Ease-of-use: High Range: Low Stopping Power: Very High Tasers TASER is actually a brand, and Tasers work very similarly to stun guns.
The main difference is that the method of delivering the high voltage stun is through 2 metal prongs that can be shot up to 15 feet at 180 ft/sec.
If the shot misses, the cartridge can be ejected and the Taser can be used as a point-of-contact stun gun.
Also, if the shot connects, the Taser can be placed on the ground and remain active while you get to safety.
Many people believe this is the best self defense product because, in addition to the benefits of a stun gun, it has the ability to stop your assailant at a distance.
Some people don't like that every Taser is obviously a Taser (there are no disguised forms).
Cost: High Convenience: High Ease-of-use: High Range: Medium Stopping Power: Very High Personal Alarms Personal alarms come in many different forms, and emit a noise in the realm of 130 decibels when activated.
Some are activated with buttons, some with pull-strings.
Many people like how convenient personal alarms are, especially because they often come with secondary features such as flashlights, that they give a huge deterrent to the attacker and alert others in the area.
Some people don't like that it has a very low ability to actually stop the assailant.
Cost: Low Convenience: High Ease-of-use: High Range: High Stopping Power: Low