PlanetMace Blog

Pepper Spray: What You Need To Know

Laws that regulate pepper spray and mace products vary from state to state, and may even be restricted on the County or City level of government. Before you buy any self defense sprays, make sure to look up the laws in your state for carrying, owning, and purchasing pepper spray and mace products.

Some other elements to consider when choosing a personal defense spray are the concentration of the pepper spray, the method of deploying the defense mechanism, and the firing action of the spray trajectory itself.

The concentration of the pepper spray must be high enough to be effectively affect an assailant and you should make sure to get a concentration of at least 2 Million SHU (Scoville Heat Units) to ensure a high enough concentration for practical needs. Any less than that, and there is a chance that an attacker will not be totally disabled by even a direct application of the solvent.

When it comes to choosing the right method of deployment for the defense mechanism, and you can choose between standard police issue flip-tops, twist-tops, and the bulkier thumb trigger designs: each with it’s own effectiveness for certain situations. If you’re carrying this in your purse or a backback, then the bulkier thumb trigger design may be practical, though for a more discrete approach, the twist-tops might work better for you: though make sure you get one with a sturdy cap. Flip tops are very reliable and can be found in a variety of sizes.

Understanding the importance of spray trajectory is important for deciding where and under what circumstances you’re likely to encounter an attacker. The standard ‘stream’ trajectory is a great solution for disabling a single attacker with a direct hit right to the face, while the cone and fog trajectories make it easier to take out multiple assailants without worrying so much about aiming; though there is a chance some of the gas will blow in your direction. Foam is the final method, which is both messy and annoying for attackers, and has the consistency of shaving cream with all the effects of a chemical defense spray.