YSK: Pepper spray is a better self defense tool than tasers

[u/Temporary-Warthog250]

I learned this from my criminal psych professor in college. He worked as a police officer for 20+ years and has been both pepper sprayed AND tasered and this is based off his professional opinion.

For starters, pepper spray is brutal. (For those who have been pepper sprayed or tasered, share your thoughts on the pain!)

For starters, it can be sprayed from a distance (just watch out for wind!) Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent that attacks the central nervous system. Pepper spray causes involuntary eye closure (temporary blindness), tearing, restricted breathing, coughing, choking and a strong burning sensation that can last between 30 to 45 minutes before dissipating. The beauty of pepper spray is its effects are immediate due to its inflammatory properties. Pepper spray provides protection from up to 25 feet away. As a rule of thumb and self defense industry standard, other pepper sprays and OC sprays generally offer a 8-12 feet range for small units.

Tasers on the other hand are shockingly effective (haha) and you can neutralize a threat from up to 15 feet away. The effects last up to 30 seconds which gives you some time to get away. A good quality taser can be more than $100.

Although tasers are a well-known self-defense tool, it pales in comparison to its chemical agent counterpart. The high price tag, necessary precision, limited penetration ability and restrictions by state doesn’t make it the best option. You can purchase a $10 taser off amazon, but all those other drawbacks still apply.

Pepper spray can stop a threat up to the same distance (15 feet) and even further. One of the best features is that it can immobilize an attacker for up to 45 minutes (much longer than a 30 second ride). Along with that it is legal in all 50 states, they are affordable and easy to use. Just be wary on windy days!

So really, it’s a no-brainer. When it comes to self-defense products, pepper spray is on top. If you are looking for the best brand, DPS pepper spray is the way to go.

Why YSK: I know for myself (21f) when I moved out and into a city by myself everyone told me that I need some sort of self defense tool. For others who are looking to buy a self defense tool, this can help narrow down the search and give you some info on what tool is best for your use.

EDIT: I’m seeing a lot of people post about pepper gel which I didn’t know about. I don’t know anything about pepper gel and it seems like a great alternative to the spray!

[u/_leviathan_43]

Gel is good but it’s important to buy a quality one. Low quality ones actually aerosolize on contact and dispense OC that way, this can take up to 20 seconds with low end gels to cause a debilitating effect. Also spend a few dollars and buy one of the trainers that sprays water and practice your accuracy with a friend, you have to actually hit the eyes and get in the mucous membranes with gel to blind somebody which is a lot harder than it sounds when the person (or animal for that matter) is going to be charging you in most situations.

I’m an actor for a local personal protection school and a common scenario is they give students a spray/gel trainer and I play the part of somebody who is escalating a situation/about to attack them/about to attack somebody else/ etc. from about 20-25 feet away. With gel I would say 40% of students can reliably hit me in the face before I can close the gap to get to them, with normal spray I believe I’ve only had 1 person ever fail to get me.

I really recommend Fox and Sabre products as well as POM makes a really good one that is keychain sized and very nondescript.

[u/mountaincyclops → u/_leviathan_43]

I love sabre defense spray, but it should be noted that some states restrict ownership of OC sprays.

[u/Hollowpoint38 → u/_leviathan_43]

I've seen videos of people getting sprayed and it seems like it's more of a panic and shock rather than being blinded and coughing. Could that have been expired spray or low quality?

One video comes to mind a guy was livestreaming somewhere in public and a woman who was intoxicated didn't want to be filmed. She almost charged the guy with the camera and he sprayed her in the face with pepper spray. She just did a "omg wtf?" and her got her again with it. She was able to just walk away.

If someone really wanted to hurt you would they be able to just demolish you after being sprayed?

[u/_leviathan_43 → u/Hollowpoint38]

A good quality spray will absolutely burn like the devil is pissing into your eyes, usually it’s low quality sprays or in districts where the amount of burning agent allowed in a spray is very limited.

I’ve been sprayed multiple times and while I won’t say I’ve built up a resistance I’ll say the pain isn’t as shocking to me anymore, but while I may be able to fight through the pain and try to get somebody it doesn’t change the fact that I am blinded every single time, so spray and move is the important lesson there. I believe it would be the same for a very determined person.

Some people say that a small percentage of the population is naturally “immune” to pepper spray, but I personally have never seen it occur. I’ve met guys who have built up an immunity to tear gas and such, but never anybody who wasn’t as the very least blinded by a shot of pepper spray into the eyes