When you want to buy self defense equipment, there are three important features to look for:

• Size
• Ease of use
• Effectiveness
  
  

Size

When talking about size, there are two considerations. The first is how are you going to carry it? Will it fit into your pants pocket? How about a purse or fanny pack? Can it be carried in a jacket or coat, inside or outside pocket? Will it go on your belt, in a holster, or clipped on? Is it something for your car, bike, or other vehicle? Do you care if it is inconspicuous or would you prefer it to be concealed?

The second consideration with size is how does it fit into your hand and how will you use it? You want something that is comfortable and easy to use.

Ease of Use

This has to be one of the most important features of any self defense item. You want something that is very easy to use because in the heat of a moment, it needs to be simple. The last thing you want is to be fumbling around with a complex device that requires you to click, snap, push awkward buttons, or in some other way prepare before you can use it. Yes, in some cases, for instance with sprays, there needs to be a safety mechanism, but you need to make sure that it is easy to use with one hand. 

Ease of use is also a function of your training. With anything, the more prepared you are, the better results you are going to get. For any piece of personal protection equipment you should get the proper training and then practice! Self defense training is one of the best things you can give yourself as a person living in this world. You do not have to be a master or a black belt but you will benefit from learning the fundamentals. Owning and carrying protection equipment will do you no good if you do not know how to use it. And this can be very simple. Familiarize yourself with the basic functions of your tool, practice, and be prepared.

Any scenario where you need to use a self defense device is going to be extremely hostile, tense, and most likely out of control. Your equipment needs to be easy to use, easy to access, and effective.

Effectiveness

Effectiveness is simply one thing: did it accomplish the objective? Were you able to escape a hostile situation? Did you protect yourself, your family, your friends? If the answer is yes, then you did well and you should be content. There will always be better and worse self defense equipment but the bottom line has to be your ability to defend yourself no matter what else is going on around you and no matter what anyone else says or does.

Other Factors

There are two other factors to consider when you are shopping for personal defense equipment. These are important, but they do not speak to the practicality of your tools. If your goal is to defend yourself against those who would do you harm, because there is nothing more important than your life and the lives of your loved ones, then you must decide how best to do that, as only you can.

• Cost
• Legality
  
  

Cost

Everyone has a different budget and everyone has different priorities on where they spend their money. This is the reality that we all live in. There will always be more expensive and cheaper items that you can buy. In general, most things that cost more money are worth it but that is a huge generalization that simply does not apply to everything. As mentioned, the bottom line for you, is how effective is your personal defense equipment? If you spend $200 on a high tech defense flashlight is that better than a $20 flashlight? Maybe. Maybe not. That all depends on how effective the tool is in a given situation. The $200+ flashlight may have other options on it that makes it extremely useful such as different kinds of lights, patterns, intensities, grips, etc. See the articles on personal defense flashlights for more information. On the other hand, that $20 flashlight will probably do the job that you need it to do. You don’t get style points when it comes to self defense. Only you know what makes sense for you and you should always do what you feel is right.

Legality

Always know and follow the law in your jurisdiction. The reality is that this website is read by people all over the world and that means very different laws will apply to your self defense scenario. It is your responsibility as a citizen or resident or visitor of your country / state / province / territory / city to know what you are allowed to do when it comes to personal self defense. Know your rights and responsibilities because your life and your long term happiness depends on it. 

The reality of self preservation is that it is better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6. The Use of Force is a large body of law and there are always mitigating circumstances that need to be fully weighed. We hold it self evident that any person will do only what is necessary to protect them self, no more and no less.

As required by our legal team, please see the following disclaimer…

DISCLAIMER: No video, blog, article, virtual instruction or content, no matter how well crafted or presented, can substitute for professional hands-on instruction. Self-defense training, especially training that includes knives, sticks, firearms, and other potentially deadly weapons, should always be undertaken responsibly and ethically, ensuring every available precaution for safety and injury prevention. Information presented herein inevitably reflects the authors, owners and instructors beliefs and experiences under specific circumstances. Any content, instruction, or coaching provided through this website should be used for educational purposes only.

Readers and viewers are responsible for knowing and understanding all appropriate local, national and international laws relating to self-defense, reasonable force, and the use of any and all weaponry, acting in accordance with all applicable laws, at all times. None of the following people, places or identities assume any responsibility whatsoever, for the use or misuse of information or instruction obtained from our company, our website, our coaches, instructors, writers or publishers.