Pepper has been around for a long time…. like, since the creation of the world. People have used it as medicine, seasoning, and also a weapon for only a slightly shorter period of time. Fortunately for many, the weaponized form of pepper has become very accessible and also very effective. Now I should clarify, that I am not actually referring to little bags of freshly ground black pepper. While those were very effective when they were first used centuries ago, science and human ingenuity have provided us with a better option, namely “pepper spray”.
Pepper spray is actually not derived from the table seasoning. Instead, it is either harvested from the fruit of various chili pepper plants (think jalapenos and the like), or it is synthesized. There is a chemical compound known as capsaicin which is the basis for pepper spray. I won’t go into the details of how it works, but essentially, this chemical causes a violent burning sensation when applied to the tissues of humans and many other mammals. So how do we use it for self-defense?
Pepper spray is designed as a convenient way to both remove the will of the attacker to continue, and to give the victim a chance to escape. Since these are two of the best ways to avoid injury in a violent situation, it is a really great tool to have at your disposal. However, just like any other tool, you get exactly what you pay for. It seems like almost every gas station and chain store has little displays where they sell key chains attached to small bottles of pepper spray. Please do not fall prey to thinking that these cheap little devices will be your magic “safe button”. Many of these containers require you to repeatedly depress an actuator to send a tiny stream of fluid about 6 inches from your hand…well, as self-defense tools go, that sounds pretty terrible. I might rather have one of those small bags of powdered pepper corns from the 1700’s. When you purchase pepper spray, you need to consider three things: Potency, Projection, and Accessibility.
1. Potency: Depending on your location in the world, there are various laws limiting the potency of the pepper spray that can be purchased by civilians. Potency is generally listed as a percentage of MC (major capsaicinoids) in the container. The maximum possible percentage is between 2 and 3% depending on your location. In my humble opinion, you should purchase the most potent variety legally available to you. This may sound cruel, but I have seen guys who could fight through police grade pepper spray even without stimulants. It just makes sense to have the most powerful tool available.
2. Projection: There are three main formulations of spray that each have pros and cons. The first variety shoots a stream of liquid to a distance between 10 and 15 feet. This works well because it gives you a significant distance at which to apply the weapon. It also reduces the chance of the spray being blown back on you and causing you to be in the same pain as your attacker. A second variety is the mist style. This sprays more like a focused stream of hair spray and is only effective between about 6-8 feet. People sometimes prefer this formulation because it requires less accuracy on the part of the defender. The down side is that you really want to be upwind of your attacker when you deploy the spray. It has a significant tendency to blow back on the defender. Finally, there is the foaming variety. This is very common in pepper sprays designed as animal repellant because it sticks to the face of the offending animal or person. The down side to foam is that it has a comparatively short range of 4-6 feet.
3. Accessibility: As I have mentioned in a previous post, any weapon is useless unless you can get to it at the time of crisis. If you decide to purchase a 4oz can of pepper spray to defend yourself with, but the only time you want it is when you are running, you will probably leave it at home the second time you go for a jog. Why? Because it is cumbersome. A 4oz canister of pepper spray is about 4-1/2” to 6” tall depending on the manufacturer. Canisters of this size are usually carried by security and law enforcement in a special holster attached to their belt. If you plan on wearing a heavy leather or nylon belt when you run, then this option should work perfectly for you. However, if you would like to be less encumbered, a smaller 2oz or even a key chain canister will be more useful to you. In fact, there is at least one company that makes a small, wrist mounted canister that is designed with runners in mind! If you plan on carrying your spray in your purse or backpack, you may decide to opt for a larger canister. Particularly if you live in an area where multiple attacker situations are common.
I know that was a lot of information, but it boils down to this: shop around a bit before picking up a can of pepper spray. See what options are out there, read some reviews, and most importantly, learn how to properly apply pepper spray in an attack. A defensive tool is only as effective as the person wielding it can make it. Finally, I urge you not to think of pepper spray as an “easy button” for dealing with an attack. You never know when you might be forced to use your hands and feet to defend yourself, take some time to attend a seminar or local martial arts school and learn the basics of hand-to-hand personal defense combat. Stay safe out there!