Introduction
This page has a list of common tools that can be used to defend oneself and a few pro's and con's for each.
Pepper Spray or Mace
A temporarily disabling aerosol that is composed partly of capsicum oleoresin and causes irritation and blinding of the eyes and inflammation of the nose, throat, and skin.
Pro's:
- Can be very effective in disabling or blinding an attacker
- Inexpensive and easy to conceal
Con's:
- It is a very familiar tool and can easily be turned on you if you happen to drop it
- The odds of not getting some on you are very slim, even if you maintain control of it
That last con is the main reason why we usually recommend that you not use or even carry pepper spray. Even if you use it properly and spray it in the direction of the attacker, all it takes is the wind blowing toward you and you are disabling yourself and not them.
Kebong
This short wooden or metal stick that you can attach to your keyring is one of the more versatile and useful tools you can carry to defend yourself with. They are legal to carry (to the best of our knowledge) nearly everywhere.