Self defense: it’s a subject most of us would rather not think about. Nobody wants to imagine being in danger, and potentially having to hurt someone else to get out of it.

Even so, situations like that do happen, and it helps to be prepared. But, what does preparedness mean in this context? Should you be learning martial arts? Should you carry a rape whistle? A gun?

We don’t have all the answers, but we can give you some good advice on some tools that will definitely help. Read on to find out more.

Tactical Knife

Let’s get this one out of the way first, because many people are reluctant to use potentially lethal force on an attacker. However, tactical knives are also incredibly versatile.

After all, knives have been around for thousands of years, and have been used for everything from cutting meat to carving wood. This is especially true for a tactical Knife because, deriving from military design, they were intended as a multi-purpose tool.

The risk you take carrying a knife is that knives are thought of as being more dangerous than they are. It’s actually pretty easy to defend against a knife, so it’s best to aim for bare skin if you can.

Taser

An old classic, a taser is a self defense tool that is designed to deliver a non-lethal shock to attackers. This is also known as a stun gun, and boy, are there a lot of stun guns out there.

They don’t necessarily have the same distance issues as the gun, since stun guns have been hidden in everything from pens, to 3-foot-long walking sticks.

The big downside to a taser is that you have to hit exposed skin.

Tactical Rings

Another potential idea for defense, these metallic, sometimes spiked, rings can make for a great tool when attacking an unarmored opponent. Please note that ‘unarmored’ in this instance, means thick clothing or layers.

Being so small and with only the force of your fist behind them, they can be stopped fairly easily. It’s best to go for bare skin.

Multi-tools

As the name implies, multi-tools are hand-held metal devices designed to carry out several different tasks, from bottle-opening to stripping wires and screw-driving. So, why are they so often thought of as defensive tools?

Simple, being made of pure metal and having several oddly-shaped protrusions means that being hit with one often hurts. Again, these are often small, so you will need to aim for exposed skin.

Pepper Spray

Particularly effective as a self defense tool, pepper spray doesn’t suffer from the same issues as some of the others on this list. It’s longer range, non-lethal, and as many have learned, you would actually need a full-on gas mask to defend against it.

The big problem with pepper spray is that it doesn’t work in windy conditions. In fact, if the wind is against you, pepper spray is basically useless, unless you are wearing a full gas mask for some reason.

If you want to learn more about pepper spray and other self defense tools, please visit this website.

Loose or Thick Clothing

Remember when we said that knives aren’t as dangerous as people think? There’s a reason for this. People have actually done tests and shown that loose and layered clothing can actually stop knife slashes.

In fact, ancient armor, in many places, was little more than thick cotton or leather. If you’re interested, you might want to browse through Youtube and look up gambeson testing.

Thick clothing may give you better odds of surviving a knife attack.

Loud Noise and Bright Light

This one is a bit more complex, because a lot of potential noisemakers, such as air horns and flare guns, have complex laws surrounding them. For instance, a flare gun could technically kill someone if used on someone rather than fired in the air to scare them away.

One common noisemaker people often use is a whistle, but the big flaw of this is that whistles can only be heard over short distances, whereas the others make a bit more noise and can generally alert more people to your situation.

Some companies have also designed bright flashlights to temporarily blind attackers. The big downside to all of these is that they were designed as a distraction and won’t actually defend you should the need arise.

Club

So, we’re not suggesting carrying an actual club, but there are a lot of inconspicuous items that work as self-defense clubs. For instance, one company has designed an umbrella that doubles as a club.

More dangerous than most self-defense measures, a club is a great way to distract or defend against attackers if they have to.

Company

This may seem like an obvious, non-defensive suggestion, not being alone is a great way to deter potential attackers. Most attackers are opportunists and won’t go after a target they don’t think they can handle, which includes multiple people.

Whether it’s a dog or a person you trust, company might help.

Steel-Toed Boots

The greatest solution that nobody ever thinks of, steel-toed boots can be thought of as the ultimate defense tool. Unlike a gun, it’s not lethal.

Unlike a light, it’s more than a cry for help. Unlike a knife, it can’t be taken away from you. Unlike rings, you don’t have to worry about armor. It doesn’t occur to most people to wear layers on their legs, so a swift blow to the shin or knee can put your opponent at a disadvantage, if not end the fight entirely.

Defense and Practicality

There a lot of dangers in this world and a lot of ways to defend yourself against them. Whether you would prefer pepper spray or a tactical knife or just wearing thick clothes, there are options for everyone.

However, if you’re more interested in just finding odd facts, please visit our site. Whether you want to know about really out-there insurance claims, or explore safety signs that get right to the point.