The 5 Best Pepper Sprays for Self Defense

When it comes to non-lethal self defense, pepper spray is hard to beat. And try as we might to discover otherwise, there’s no denying that Sabre is the king of pepper sprays.

The company doesn’t stray from the traditional design of a pepper spray canister, which helps its products dominate the market. Sabre is also affordable with many of its best products in a sweet spot between $10 and $20 that won’t stretch your budget. Even our top pick, the Sabre Red Pepper Gel, costs around $20.

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While we hope you never need to use them, here’s a rundown of the best pepper sprays.

Sabre Red Pepper Gel has one of the longest ranges on the market at 18 feet. The long range means you can protect yourself long before an assailant gets close. This self-defense weapon has a high OC concentration of 10%, which is the highest you can get in many states.

Some pepper sprays include a practice canister so you can get used to firing your pepper spray without using the actual product, but Sabre sells these separately from most of its products. While the canister doesn’t have a clip or keychain option, we like that it includes a holster.

Some users report that their canisters dripped after the first use—a common complaint with many pepper sprays. Keeping the canister in the holster can help with this.

With 35 bursts per canister, the Sabre Red Pepper Gel Spray for Runners has the most bursts available on the market. While the number of bursts doesn’t make it much better than other products, it’s nice to have more flexibility. You can afford a couple of practice sprays before making it your running buddy.

Many people prefer gel because it has less blowback, and it’s more accurate—and we think these attributes are ideal for runners. The gel also has a range of 12 feet to help you keep your distance if an aggressive animal comes your way.

Because the palm strap keeps the spray in your hand, it could be slightly awkward to hold if you’re on a particularly long jog. You can rotate the canister to the back of your hand (or put it on your wrist) if you want to keep your hands free. While it’s less accessible in these spots, you still have better access than a spray you carry in a pocket or holster.

Despite its small size, this canister holds up to 25 bursts and has a decent 10-foot range to keep you farther from approaching attackers. We like the small size because you can throw it on a keychain for easy access using the quick-release clip.

Because this pepper spray costs around $10, it’s easy on the wallet and easy to replace when the expiration date rolls around. Sabre suggests replacing the unit every three years for maximum effectiveness, even though it has a rated shelf life of four years.

As an aerosol spray, the Sabre 3-in-1 is a bit more vulnerable to blowback than gel sprays, but you can always buy a practice spray to familiarize yourself. There’s a safety switch on top of the canister that you twist before use, so the unit doesn’t accidentally go off in your purse or backpack.

Mean Green’s flip-top safety is a basic, high-quality option for a non-lethal weapon. It’s great for pockets and purses because there’s no exposed trigger. It’s a little more intuitive than the sliding safety on Sabre’s products. Still, you shouldn’t have problems using either brand in an emergency.

As a gel-based spray, Mean Green’s easy to aim and has an effective range of up to 15 feet. While Fox Labs doesn’t spray as far as the Sabre Red Pepper Gel, it’s still quite capable of helping you maintain a safe distance to stay out of reach and cut down on blowback.

The biggest drawback is that this canister does not come with any carrying options—no clip, holster, or keychain attachment. You’ll have to buy one separately.

Oddly enough, Fox Labs has a lower OC concentration than most brands at 6%, but the company claims it’s still useful for incapacitating an assailant. Lower concentrations can also be a safer option if you have a dog with you on a walk. If you want something stronger, consider a brand with more potency.

This is the smallest pepper spray on our list in both physical size and volume of spray. It has a flip-top design that keeps it secure in pockets and backpacks. We also like that it has a small keychain so you can put it on your car keys. The small size comes with fewer bursts than our other top picks, but it’s not unexpected.

Like the 3-in-1 from Sabre, this triple-action defensive spray also includes UV dyes for tagging attackers and tear gas to add more discomfort so you can escape. One reservation we have is that it uses CN tear gas, which is more toxic than CS gas. You don’t want to breathe the blowback from this stuff if you can help it.

The ASP Key Defender is one of the sleekest pepper sprays, and it comes in a lot of fun colors. It looks like a penlight but doesn’t weigh down your keyring. With an OC rating of 10%, it’s one of the more potent sprays on the market. It doesn’t easily detach from your keys, so you need to pull the key out of the lock or car ignition first during a potential attack. It also has only six bursts, so you probably want extra defensive spray inserts or test inserts before you start practicing.

The Kimber Pepper Blaster II discards a traditional canister in favor of a design that fires like a small handgun. Not only is it easier to aim, but it’s also more intimidating to attackers. Many users say there’s less blowback and scatter with a pepper spray gun. But this is only a single-use gun that fires two bursts of 10% OC pepper spray, but after that, you’ll need a new one. They’re also pricey—retailing for around $40.

The Plegium Smart Pepper Spray 5-in-1 connects to a smartphone app and automatically calls up to five emergency contacts when discharged. It also sends them a text with your GPS coordinates on Google maps. You'll be able to spray perpetrators with pepper spray, red dye, and UV dye in a continuous stream for 10 to 15 seconds. The Plegium has a 10-foot range, a flashing LED light, and 130-decibel siren. At around $40, the Plegium Smart Pepper Spray 5-in-1 is one of the most expensive pepper sprays on the market.

The Mace Brand KeyGuard is absolutely tiny—one of the smallest pepper sprays we found. This keychain pepper spray is only three inches long, not much larger than a stick of lip balm. Unfortunately, it has a short five-foot range and a limited capacity of six bursts, which is a little less than we’d like. Still, it’s a good option for a compact pepper spray.

Another wrist-strap option we considered was the Wrist Saver. While we initially liked that you have quick access to a canister with a 12-foot range, we couldn’t find any information about the number of bursts or the OC rating of the spray itself. Some reviewers also point out that the canister can slip out of the wristband during particularly vigorous runs.

All 50 states legally permit the use of pepper spray for self defense. However, some states have restrictions on how you can use it, how much you can carry, and the minimum age when you can use it.

On a federal level, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) says you can’t put pepper spray in carry-on luggage when you fly (checked luggage is fine, with some restrictions), or you could face a $25,000 fine. It’s also a good idea to leave your pepper spray at home before entering a federal building.

Not all of the products we recommend fit every state’s guidelines, so it’s good to know what to expect. Take a look at state pepper spray laws below to learn the requirements in your state.

Pepper spray is an affordable option for personal protection that’s easy to carry in a pocket, backpack, or purse. Even though it’s a painful sensation for attackers, it’s also an excellent non-lethal alternative to carrying a firearm.

While there are many defensive spray brands, we think that Sabre stands above the competition for its wide variety of products, including our pick for the best pepper spray: Sabre Red Pepper Gel. We like the gel-based solution because it sprays farther and has less blowback than aerosol sprays. Because it’s easy to aim, you have a lot of breathing room to take action during an attack.

As useful as pepper spray is, it’s only a small part of your self-defense strategy. You can also improve your safety by being aware of your surroundings while outside, especially in unfamiliar parts of town. Or consider taking a self-defense class at your local community center. While we hope you never need to defend yourself, we also hope you’ll be ready for whatever life throws at you.

Whether you need to fend off an assailant or frighten an animal, we researched the best pepper spray brands so you can buy and carry with confidence.

To find the best pepper spray, we talked with people who were in the market for pepper spray and read multiple online forums and reviews. We also looked at technical specifications and recommendations for pepper sprays.

For more information on our research practices, see our methodology.

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