Pepper Spray is a great weapon to use in disarming an attacker, but how do you know what kind to buy?  Are there any differences?  What kind is better and why?

Pepper Spray comes in concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10%, but a higher concentration is not always better.  The effectiveness of a pepper spray depends on a combination of the heat rating, the type of carrier agent, and the spray density.  

Pepper Sprays are rated in Scoville Heat Units (SHU's).   Since the main ingredient in most pepper sprays, OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) comes from hot peppers, a 0% SHU is comparable to a green bell pepper, a 5,000 SHU rating is about the same as a jalapeno pepper, and a Habanero pepper can rate up to 250,000 to 300,00  SHUs.   As a rule, the hotter the SHU rating, the more effective the pepper spray.   The carrier agent of a pepper spray holds the OC in solution and helps in dispersal once it leaves the container.  Some common agents are alcohol, ketone, other solvents and oils, and HCF 134A.  Pepper Shot (TM) Pepper Sprays are rated at 2 million SHUs and made with a very fine grain that is more effective than the coarser grain of most other pepper sprays.

The spray pattern and density of dispersal is the final factor affecting Pepper Spray effectiveness.  The smaller the droplet size, the more effective the spray.  Sprays are usually manufactured in spray patterns of a thin stream, a cone shapped mist, or a fog.  The fogger spray is usually the most effective, cone spray next, and thin stream third.   The thin stream sprays do have a greater range,  and may be more effective in windy conditions, which makes up a bit for the need to aim better.  Fogger sprays and cone sprays create more of a barrier between you and an assailant,  but their range may be less than a stream spray.  Also, spraying a fogger or cone spray into a good wind can result in the spray blowing back in your own face, so move away quickly after you spray.  A couple of new products are now starting to use gels and foams, which make the pepper spray easier to spread and cause more problems when someone tries to wipe it off their face.   

For more information - please visit the Security Products - Pepper Sprays section of my ebay store:

Millionaire Mart - Security Products - Pepper Sprays