This is part of a continuing series that we are producing about the different options that we have, as Americans, to be able to defend ourselves. In this month’s article, we are going to be looking at several options that you, the consumer, have when you are looking for pepper spray. To keep this issue relatively short, we are limiting ourselves to reviewing only four different types of pepper spray and pepper spray gel. The subjects this month are: Pepper Shot pepper spray, Wildfire pepper spray, Guard Dog pepper spray and Wildfire pepper spray gel.
First up is Pepper Shot pepper spray. Pepper Shot pepper spray is a 10% Oleoresin Capsaicin concentration pepper spray that is rated as a derivative of two million scoville heat units. It touts the fact that it uses an extremely fine grain pepper in the spray mixture which increases the speed of its effectiveness. Pepper Shot comes in four sizes and several types of spray patterns. The sizes that it comes in are: one-half ounce, two ounce, four ounce and nine ounce models. You can get the four ounce products in either a stream spray or a fogger spray model.
Pepper Shot is a veteran in the pepper spray field and has been around for over a decade. Pepper Shot has been dependable, effective defense for many years for many people.
We liked the fact that we were not limited in our choices to just one size with any of the brands we tested this month. Our overall impression of Pepper Shot pepper sprays was quite favorable.
The second brand of sprays that we tried out was Guard Dog pepper spray. Guard Dog’s pepper spray formula is a 17% Oleoresin Capsaicin mix. At 17% OC concentration, the effectiveness and intensity of the pain caused by the pepper spray is increased over most 10% OC sprays. Guard Dog’s actuators were easy, but not too easy to swivel into their unlocked position for spraying purposes.
Guard Dog is a relative newcomer to the pepper spray field with their entry coming in the last couple of years. They have made great strides though and produce a fine product. The sizes that you can find Guard Dog 17% OC pepper spray in are: one-half ounce, two ounce, three ounce, four ounce and nine ounce models.
While their one-half ounce keychain models felt like they were a lesser quality make compared to the Pepper Shot dispensers, the rest of the models were comparable to any of the others that we have tested here. Once again, we received a favorable impression of most of Guard Dog’s pepper spray products.
Wildfire pepper spray is the third brand of pepper spray that we are featuring this month. Wildfire pepper spray is an 18% OC concentration and is a derivative of two to three million scoville heat units. Out of the three sprays that we tried, Wildfire pepper spray had the most intense mix and the hottest rating. Spray distance was between ten and twelve feet and our subject was overcome almost instantaneously by this spray! In his words, “This is the worst feeling that I have ever had. Ever…” I should say that those words weren’t calmly spoken. That quote was taken after he had been writhing around on the ground screaming, crying, choking and basically blind for close to an hour. The spray says that its effects wear off in around forty five minutes. I was more than impressed with the effectiveness of Wildfire pepper spray over the others that we tried.
Like the other brands, Wildfire pepper spray comes in various sizes. A one-half ounce, two ounce, four ounce, nine ounce and one pound model are all available. They also have a stream and fogger option in the four and nine ounce products. The nine ounce and the one pound model come with a pistol grip for easier handling and higher accuracy.
The canisters that the Wildfire pepper spray came in were all solid. There was nothing “cheap” feeling with any of them. With the highest percentage of OC mix at 18%, Wildfire delivered the goods and knocked us off of our feet.
I do want to add something else here. Wildfire pepper spray has another product that they sent along for our test group. It is their newest item in the pepper spray family, Wildfire pepper spray gel. It is just as hot as their standard pepper sprays at 18% OC but comes in a gel suspension formula. When this gel is sprayed in an assailants face, it sticks like glue! There is no extra overspray to hit someone else accidently or to blow back in the wind towards your face. The extra bonus is that when your assailant goes to wipe the gel off of his face or out of his eyes, it actually grinds the pepper grains into the skin and eyes intensifying the effect and pain!
Wildfire pepper spray gel comes in three sizes: two ounce, four ounce and nine ounce canisters. The nine ounce canister comes with a pistol grip trigger mechanism.
All in all, we found that all of the options that we tested this week were effective in their own ways. The Pepper Shot pepper sprays, with their finer grain pepper, were the most easily inhaled and the fogger model makes it extremely difficult to get around it. The medium sized Guard Dog models are a great value for an exceptional spray. Wildfire seems to reign supreme as the best pepper spray though.
We thank you for checking in with us this month. See you again soon.