Self defense is a growing problem for women, in an ever more violent world, especially since the majority of women actually know their attackers. This will put women at an even greater disadvantage because they may not suspect that they are in danger. The four most common self defense products for women are pepper spray, mace, stun guns, and tasers.

All women live with a certain level of a violent crime occurring, as studies show that a woman 21 years old has a 1 in 4 chance of being a victim of a violent crime in her lifetime. For women, much information is available about how to reduce their risks, by staying alert, and how to respond if something happens, by fighting back. The following self defense products for women will be of great assistance to any damsel in distress, especially as it begins to get darker earlier.

Pepper spray is a chemical compound that irritates the eyes causing pain, tears and even temporary blindness. There are a variety of pepper sprays for use as self-defense products for women, with the ones that are easily disguised yielding the best results. An example is the popular Pepper Pen, which is designed to repel attackers while having a subtle way to carry the protection needed. Containing 5 one-second bursts, and spraying up to 6 feet, the effects can leave an attacker disoriented for up to 45 minutes.

Mace is often referred to as pepper spray and the terms are frequently used interchangeably, although they are very different substances. The effect of Mace varies on humans, though most common is a burning sensation, which is why it is one of the best self defense products for women. Mace Pepper foam is a popular product, containing 10% pepper and a foam to produce an extremely powerful deterrent against an attacker. Containing 5 one second bursts and coming in a convenient size for carrying, the pepper will be ground into the eyes and face if an assailant attempts to wipe away the foam.

A stun gun is a used for stunning people for a short period of time without causing serious or permanent injury. It is a weapon that uses high voltage to stop an attacker, as touching a person for only a half second with the prongs on the gun will quickly immobilize them. The 928 stun gun is popular for the 3 million volts it can unleash, while making an intimidating and loud noise. It’s rechargeable and the strips down the side add extra stunning power. Coming with a quick release carrying belt, it is one of the top selling self defense products for women.

A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical currents to disrupt voluntary control of the muscles. Called neuromuscular incapacitation, someone struck by a Taser will experience stimulation of their motor and sensory nerves, resulting in severe involuntary muscle contraction. The Taser C2 is most popular as a non-lethal protection device for civilian use. Delivering 30 seconds of electrical shock, while being up to 15 feet away, the probes can penetrate up to two inches of clothing and will completely shut down an attacker’s ability to move.

Often times, violence will come despite the best possible measures taken to avoid it. When this happens, there is often no opportunity to summon help, and a woman is forced to face her attacker alone. The above mentioned self defense products for women will help them be confident in their ability to protect themselves.