The Best Pepper Spray and Pepper Gel for Self-Defense

Many people value personal safety and reliable self-defense tools to keep themselves and their families safe. Selecting the right solutions for your personal use is the first step on your journey to better safety. 

SABRE is one of the most trusted brands on the market and its products are used by tactical teams and police forces across the country and around the world. Our efficacy is further proven by the millions of individuals who have purchased our products. In this article, we’ll break down what sets us apart from competitors like Mace, POM, Fox Labs and others.

Let’s compare

*What is HPLC and why does it matter? HPLC stands for high-performance liquid chromatography. This technology is the only way to ensure there are minimal  pepper spray failures due to heat inconsistency. The process eliminates the possibility of bad batches and guarantees the maximum strength of SABRE pepper spray. SABRE is proud to provide the most consistent level of pungency possible to further increase our users’ safety.

SABRE leads the industry in pepper gel 

SABRE led the industry with its pepper spray and was among the first to bring pepper gel to the mass market. When selecting the right brand and product, it is important to understand the difference between pepper gel and pepper spray. 

Both sprays are a deterrent against threats with the active ingredient oleoresin capsicum (OC), a compound derived from hot peppers that causes intense burning sensations. The difference between the two is their delivery method – gel versus spray. Unlike pepper spray, pepper gel sticks to the target upon contact. It has a much lower risk of affecting bystanders or the person using it, and both sprays leave behind a UV mark on the attacker for identification later. 

SABRE offers both personal safety tool options, allowing users to choose the one that best fits their needs and specific use case.

SABRE pepper spray and pepper gel are safe and reliable 

SABRE pepper spray and pepper gel offer police-strength protection with the strongest available single product on the market. It outperforms the competition: SABRE pepper spray with a quick release key ring provides protection with its 3 times longer spray time than competitive brands—giving you more time to escape safely in high-stress situations and the ability to defend yourself against multiple attackers.

In addition to SABRE being the number one brand for public safety officers worldwide. SABRE is known for its in-house HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatograph) lab, which guarantees maximum strength formulation in each pepper spray and pepper gel. 

According to an independent study from the University of Utah, variability rates in the concentration of active ingredients in pepper spray mean the effectiveness across all brands is only 70% – that leaves a 30% failure rate. However, with SABRE’s industry-exclusive HPLC laboratory, you can feel confident and protected, knowing their formula will deliver when you need it most.

SABRE offers dozens of product designs and carry options

The best way to carry pepper spray or pepper gel is what works for you. SABRE pepper spray and pepper gel formulas are proudly made in the U.S., ensuring consumers consistency in heat in every canister. 

Each device has an ergonomic design meant to fit comfortably into a woman's or a man’s hands; they are compact and portable. Both SABRE pepper spray and pepper gel have flip-top safety caps and offer numerous carrying methods, including holsters, belt clips, quick release key chains, hand straps (great for runners!), bike straps and with alarms.

If you’re purchasing pepper spray or pepper gel for the first time—or haven’t used it in a while—we recommend purchasing a practice canister. A practice spray helps you get comfortable with aiming and deploying, so when it matters most, you’ll be prepared to use your pepper spray safely and effectively.

Other, lesser-known products include Bluetooth-enabled SMART Pepper Spray with live GPS and travel kits if you need to take your pepper spray or pepper gel on a plane. For more information regarding TSA-approved safety devices, be sure to check the airline regulations.

Pro tip: The most popular SABRE style is the small but powerful twist-top pepper spray or fast flip-top pepper gel keychain with 0.54 ounces. 

SABRE products lead customer and industry reviews

We don’t have anything to hide. SABRE publishes honest customer reviews on its website to help you select the product that is best for your needs. Our most popular pepper gel has 115 five-star ratings and the comparable pepper spray has 375 five-star ratings. On partner websites like Amazon, the average SABRE product review is 4.75 and across millions of buyers!

In its 2025 review of best pepper sprays for self defense, the Concealed Carry Society named SABRE advanced pepper spray (3-in-1 formula) its first pick and four of the five selections were SABRE products. 

SABRE provides industry-leading training and resources

From hundreds of blogs and hundreds more videos on our YouTube channel, we want users to be informed and confident when selecting and using self defense sprays. 

Our most popular video is “How to Use Pepper Spray – 4 Easy Steps.”

At SABRE, protecting what matters is more than a mission – it is our very reason for being and a responsibility we take seriously. That’s why our pepper sprays and gels are trusted by professionals and individuals around the globe, and why we’ll never stop innovating for your safety.