Self defense device recommendations?

Go to a gun shop and ask them about non-lethal defense devices. They can advise you, and would probably have something to offer in their store. My multi-use spray device came straight from a gun shop and is legal for defense in my state.

Some people are actually immune to pepper spray (a former police officer told me this), so I would recommend a taser if you're looking for non-lethal methods. I would prefer a gun personally. I'm hardly a firearms expert (I'm non-American), but I heard .22 caliber firearms tend to be the least deadly and can damage without causing a fatality. For general self defense, athletic pursuits such as weightlifting, judo, muay thai & brazilian jiu-jitsu will not only improve her physical strength but offer you the tools to defend yourself in case you're attacked without a weapon handy. I recommended the above arts in particular as they're suitable for attacks on the ground (a likely possibility for women) and are suited for smaller individuals to use their flexibility, agility and understanding on weight placement for self-defence. I hope this helps! I can also link some videos a female former police officer made on self-defence if you're interested? She even demonstrates how to make effective (legal) weapons from common household items!

Hi, credentialed firearms and self-defense instructor here who specializes in teaching women and beginners. I hold multiple instructor certifications from several highly regarded rigorous schools and trainers, and am also an avid shooter (because shooting is a really fun sport and a great stress-reliever!). So--

Civilian tasers are less than worthless; they are likely to get you badly hurt or killed by a very angry assailant. Even police-grade tasers fail much of the time; if you don't believe me, go on YouTube and search for "cop taser fail" to see it in action. When they work, they are great. But you aren't going to get access to a police taser unless you're a police officer or similar. Stun guns are even worse, because they require you to be in close contact with your assailant. See also: those cat ear keychains, little stick keychains that you're supposed to jab into soft tissues, etc. You would be better off learning jiu jitsu so that you can grapple and escape. Movie fantasy aside, most women are physically no match for even an average or small man in a real fight.

Your goal is to maintain situational awareness at all times, trust your gut, and above all, keep your distance.

Pepper spray varies tremendously by quality and the sprays aimed at women in particular tend to be absolutely inconsistent. You are looking for a major capsaicinoid (MC) content of at least 1% but ideally at least 1.3%. The best sprays are made by POM and Sabre, and I usually recommend POM for carrying on keychains and in pockets because the safety mechanism on the trigger is better. Sabre's sprays have a little turning safety that can be disengaged very easily in a pocket or purse, while POM's sprays require you to get your thumb under a cap on top of the trigger, which makes them much harder to accidentally discharge. POM's sprays are also 1.4% MC, which I believe is the strongest that is legal to carry in all 50 states (but check your local laws to be sure!).

OC stands for oleoresin capsicum; it is essentially just hot sauce but exponentially stronger. Sprays come in cones, single streams, foggers, foams, and gels. Most keychain-sized sprays are the single stream types, while prisons use the foggers for riot control, and hospital guards use the foams and gels because there is no aerosolized cross-contamination. Cops use the cone sprays because they are more interested in hosing down suspects for immediate compliance, as a cop's job is to arrest, not run away. Unless you work in law enforcement or similar, your goal is to safely run away.

Having been sprayed with police-grade Sabre OC spray as part of my training, I can confidently promise you that it is very effective! The eyes slam shut involuntarily and immediately fill uncontrollably with tears, and your skin feels like it's melting off. Water reactivates it and rubbing it makes it worse (which is why if you are sprayed, you must never rub your eyes or skin). I was affected for about 30 minutes, during which time I had to physically hold my eyelids open so that I could see to walk. When I washed it off, it felt good as long as the water was on my skin. But as soon as I took the water away, it was like I had thrown a lit match on gasoline. It is very painful, very disabling for at least 20 minutes, and very good at stopping an attack. Statistically, OC spray is more effective at stopping bear attacks than guns are, so imagine what it can do to a human.

Still, for the full effect you need to make good contact with the eyes for it to work properly. You should practice with inert training cartridges so that you know how to use your sprays and can shoot them accurately from 10-12 feet away. Keep your distance, tell them loudly to back off or stop or get away, and when they do not, spray their eyes. Do not wait to see what happens next; your next move is to get the hell out of there and find a safe place to call 911 and report what happened.

Please know the law where you live. A quick consultation with a defense attorney is a good idea, and if you carry a firearm, you would be wise to get carry insurance from someone like USCCA. But do not carry without proper training, and vet your instructors carefully. Anyone can get an NRA instructor certification in a weekend and hang a shingle as an instructor; they are likely to give you wildly bad, dangerous advice that will get you killed or locked up. If you need to find a good one in your area, ask around at gun clubs and competitive shooting meetups like IDPA and USPSA. You may also message me privately here and I might be able to help you find someone in your area.

Generally speaking, knives are as bad of an idea as stun guns and kubotan-type keychains because they require proximity to your attacker. But if you must have one, learn to use it. Find a self-defense instructor who can teach you how to work a blade. I carry one for the most extreme emergencies but would always much rather avoid getting that close to anyone I don't know well.

I don't advocate that all women should carry guns, because they are not appropriate tools for all situations and the topic is emotionally fraught enough that rational discussions about them can be difficult to achieve. If you are unwilling or unable to carry a gun (which is just a fairly simple machine that allows you to strike an attacker without letting him get close enough to harm you), then OC spray is a must-have. I carry both, because I always want the option of having an intermediate step between a harsh word and a shooting. There are lots of great resources for staying safe but sift through them with caution, because there are also tons of grifters who are looking to take your hard-earned money in exchange for worthless products and bad, dangerous advice.

Note: I am not affiliated with POM in any way, but I trust their products and carry them myself. The important thing is that the MC content is higher than 1%, and that the spray is *just* OC, and does not contain other chemicals such as CS (tear gas) or other chemical irritants that are proven carcinogens/teratogens and require significantly better decontamination procedures for no real extra deterrent benefit.

Stay safe out there, ladies!

I was going to say gun but then read "TSA compliant" lol

Not a device, per se, but refusing to let a man push me around has made them back down tenfold when compared to when I met male aggression with meek acquiescence. Look them in the eye, wipe all trace of pleasantry off your face, and give them a piece of your mind. I am not a confrontational person, however that has actually made me a target in the past, and I've learned to rise to the occasion for my own safety. I won't be easily pushed around or assaulted again.

Shrill alarm. A lot of what was mentioned can be illegal in other countries. Pepper spray is illegal in where I live. You can be jailed if you carry that.

I bought a dog spray (pepper spray is illegal in Canada) and also bought the safety key chains that are so so loud with a tiny pin you can click on if you are in danger.

These are called "monkey fists". I bought the pair for $11 and change off eBay. They are large solid steel ball bearings (at least an inch in diameter. Bigger is better.

Mine are only an inch so I moved them both to the same key ring. If you swung this at someone's head, you'd make a dent. You can fly with them.

With all self defense tools ease of access is critical, so buy multiples. I have about a half dozen cannisters of cheap Cobra brand mace (I think I paid $20 for three on Amazon).

I always keep spares where I can see them as I walk out the door so they are ready to slip into a pocket.

The other place to stick them if you drive is in the molded plastic pocket in the lower drivers side door -- easier access than the glove box. You have to be able to reach and deploy a weapon in less than a sec for it to be really practical.

I test each pepper spray after I buy it by releasing a short burst outdoors.

I have thought about stunners but buying one that is powerful enough and knowing where on the attackers body to use it takes research I haven't done.

The pistol type tasers that can be shot from a distance look promising but so far as I've read a decent one is $400. They require a bit of maintenance too, I think. Too much of an investment to justify with my current lifestyle of rarely going anyplace I might be at risk.