The best defense is being able to run.

I saw a show about self defense for women in NY city. The instructor said to always carry a sucker. One of those tootsie pops or the like. If in trouble, hold the ball in your hand, turn the stick outward, between your middle and ring finger and punch at something soft and fleshy like stomach or face (eyes, mouth). It’s nice because it works everywhere. Even the TSA will let you board a plane with a sucker.

Umbrella. No one looks twice at someone carrying an umbrella, but it can still give you a reach advantage or be used as a weapon in extreme circumstances.

For the record, carrying a gun for self defense is illegal in most countries.

Most countries treat gun ownership as a privilege, not a right.

Self-defense is rarely accepted as a justification outside the U.S. and a few other exceptions.

What’s your threat model?

A ring on your keys, big enough to use them as a type of brass knuckles/ flail. Slide your finger in, make a fist and swing away.

Black hard rubber dildo exceeding 12" in length.

Shoes you can run in.

Yourself, along with some martial arts training.

You won’t be doing any Bruce Lee moves with basic training, but even basic training can make a big difference.

One of the first things you learnt in most martial arts is how to balance and move. This, combined with some basic blocks, is often enough to disengage and retreat quickly. It also helps train your brain to drop into defence/combat mode when required. This stops you freezing up for a critical few seconds.

Any weapon is mostly useless without the training to use it in the heat of an encounter. If you’re going to train with something, it might as well be a weapon you will always have available.

My preference is Tae Kwon Do, but any general martial art will be hugely beneficial.

Oh, and as a side effect, martial arts often help train a mindset change. You know you can defend yourself, and so subconsciously project confidence. It makes you less of a target to begin with.

pocket sand

Best weapon is brains; don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation.

Any weapon you have to pull out is useless. Either they are already hitting you or will take it from you.

Best weapon is steel toed boots. Can’t be pulled out of your hand and your thighs are usually your strongest muscles.

so here’s the thing about self defense: it’s only a last resort. Don’t try to actually defend yourself unless it’s the only thing left to do. Reaching for a self defense tool at the first sign is cop shit.

As for defense tools, they’re all good and viable. You just need to know how to use them. There’s no such thing as a no-effort defense tool. Buying a pepper spray and sticking it onto your keychain without a second thought does not make it a self defense tool. You need to practice to the point where it’s second nature to use it. That means knowing the effective range, knowing the shortfalls and limitations, and continual practice.

No knifes - but something blunt and small. Like a flashlight or mace. Made of metal, wood or even hard plastic. Could be retractable.

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Wasp spray. If you’re being attacked, 9 times out of 10 it’s probably a wasp or a wasp ally. I imagine wasp spray also works pretty well on animals with eyes or other exposed mucus membranes.