The Best Self-Defense Weapons for Men

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Self-defense weapons can help you stay safe. We researched the best self-defense weapons, including knives, pens, and tactical flashlights.
An oil-based capsaicinoid spray, the BGR MAX's stream will leave any assailant struggling for breath and rubbing their eyes. The spray squeezes airways through both constriction and mucus production, obscures visions, and also – for good measure – graffitis any attacker with a UV dye that can last for two days, a boon to law enforcement. This is not your mother's pepper spray. This stuff might legitimately stop a bear in its tracks (though no one has yet volunteered to run that test). Note: The BGR Max can't be shipped to NY, AK, HI, WI, MI, NJ, or D.C.
For those who might want something a bit more low-profile than the deadly-looking karambit, there are a wide range of small, assisted-opening blades on the market. I personally recommend the Kershaw Leek, a sleek folding option that won’t break the bank. The Leek is a simple, no-frills folding knife — it has a stainless steel grip and a 3-inch blade that comes in serrated or non-serrated versions. It also has a button on the back of the blade that allows for quick deployment, as well as a safety notch at the bottom that will keep it from coming open if it’s packed away. Personally, I’ve carried the Leek around the world in some pretty rough places — it’s served me well in plenty of less dire circumstances and seems up to the challenge should anything more dangerous come to pass.
The tactical pen is what Fontana recommends for anyone who doesn’t want to carry a weapon openly — which means it's perfect for travelers. While you might still need to keep a tactical pen in your checked baggage, it’s far less obtrusive than a blade, and has plenty of other uses, as well. Crucially, tactical pens usually feature an ultra-hard pointed “glass-breaker” point on one end, which could save your life in an automobile accident or a fire when you have to force your way through a closed window. With that in mind, Smith and Wesson’s pen packs all that and more in a sleek package. The pen end is capped with a stylus attachment, which works on all touchscreens, making this ideal for cold-weather work where you need to use a device wearing heavy gloves. But for those with sunnier destinations in mind, the pen is still up to the task: its opposite end has a heavy-duty glass-breaker, and the entire shaft can be used as a weapon to target pressure points and more.
This weapon is a kind of everything-in-one tool. It’s not a knife or a pen, but it is optimized for self-defense and self-preservation in a variety of common but extreme situations. It offers a variety of grips that can deliver blunt force in a precise area, either with a non-lethal rounded ball or a deadly tip. It’s also designed with a glass-breaking attachment, a seat belt-cutting blade, and can even be used as the crank to a tourniquet in order to stop a severe bleed. Its size and shape make it perhaps not the most practical carry if you’re in casual clothes, but it would fit easily in a bag or on a utility belt.
Tactical flashlights are far more on the “tool” end of the spectrum when it comes to self-defense weapons, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do damage when needed. Most tactical flashlights will come with all-metal construction and a “strike face” on the front of the light, allowing them to be used as a weapon in a pinch. The Fenix PD35 does all these things, and also incorporates six different lighting modes, including a bright strobe function that could temporarily blind or disorient. Its sturdy construction means it’s well up to the task of striking an attacker, typically when held overhand in your fist. After consulting a wide variety of sources, the Fenix appears to be the best option both for everyday use as a flashlight and for striking in a combat scenario — it’s not overly weaponized, but nor is it toothless. The rugged construction doesn’t come cheap, however. Many of these lights will run you more than $50, though less expensive options are available. But when it comes down to something that could save your life, spending a little extra is probably worth it.