What Are The Best Self-Defence Gadgets? Pro Tips

In an increasingly unpredictable world, self-defence gadgets have become a popular choice for people seeking to enhance their personal safety.

These tools range from personal alarms to high-tech safety apps, and while they can be valuable, it’s essential to approach them with the right mindset. Gadgets are only part of the solution; a comprehensive approach to safety also includes awareness, preparation, and self defence skills.

 
best self defence gadgets, woman with phone app
 

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most popular self defence gadgets and personal safety tools, their pros and cons, their legality in the UK, and how to incorporate them into a broader safety plan.

Most importantly, we’ll explain why relying solely on gadgets isn’t enough and how developing a proactive, empowered mindset is the real key to staying safe.

 

*Please note: this blog contains affiliate links. We were asked for specific recommendations for self defence gadgets so we picked the most affordable, reliable products with the best reviews that have the features we recommend. However, please do your own research before purchasing.

 

Why Consider Self-Defence Gadgets?

The appeal of self-defence gadgets lies in their promise of a ‘quick-fix’ to personal safety. From alarms that might deter attackers to apps that intend to keep loved ones informed of your whereabouts, these tools offer a sense of security. However, they also come with limitations:

  1. Dependence on Technology: Batteries can die, there are gaps in phone signal, apps can glitch, and gadgets can fail in high-pressure situations.

  2. Accessibility: Gadgets are only helpful if they’re within reach and used correctly. A tool buried at the bottom of your bag won’t help when you need it most.

  3. False Sense of Security: Relying solely on gadgets can lead to complacency in other essential areas, such as situational awareness and preparation.

While self-defence gadgets can play a role in your safety strategy, they should always be supplemented with practical self defence knowledge, confidence, and awareness.

 

Top Self-Defence Gadgets

1. Personal Safety Alarms

Overview

Personal safety alarms are compact devices designed to emit a loud, piercing sound—often exceeding 120 decibels—to draw attention and deter attackers.

Some models also include strobing lights for added visibility.

They generally come on a keyring so you can attach them to your bag or keys.

 
 
Vantamo personal safety alarm

Click to view on Amazon (affiliate link)

 

Pros

  • Ease of Use: Activating an alarm is as simple as pulling a pin or pressing a button.

  • Attention-Grabbing: The loud noise might startle attackers and alert bystanders, making them more effective in populated areas.

  • Compact and Portable: Easily attachable to keychains, bag straps, or belts.

  • Affordable: Personal alarms generally cost between £20 and £40.

Cons

  • Dependent on Surroundings: In isolated areas, the alarm may not attract anyone’s attention.

  • Maintenance Required: Batteries need regular checks to ensure the device works when needed.

  • Timing: The alarm must be activated early to be effective; if the attacker is already too close, it may not help.

  • It might be Ignored: What if no one comes to help you? What if it doesn’t deter the attacker?

Legality in the UK

Personal safety alarms are completely legal in the UK and are one of the most accessible self-defence tools.

Tips for Use

  • Test the alarm regularly to ensure it’s functioning.

  • Keep it in an easily accessible location, such as attached to the strap of your bag or clipped to your belt.

  • Don’t hesitate to use it early—activate it as soon as you sense a threat. If the attacker is within grabbing distance it is too late - don’t waste time trying to activate the alarm, focus on defending yourself.

Our Recommendation

Attach a personal safety alarm to your bag and keep one in your car door. Remember to use it early but don’t rely on it to save you.

Buy Now

The Vantamo personal alarm has (at the time of writing this) a star rating of 4.6 out of 5 with over 4,300 reviews.

It has all the features we recommend - very loud, strobing light, keyring to attach - and is affordable.

Check it out now on Amazon (affiliate link*)

 

2. Phone Safety Apps

Overview

Safety apps like Life360, and others, offer features such as real-time location tracking, emergency panic buttons, and automated alerts to trusted contacts.

Pros

  • Stay Connected: Apps can notify friends and family of your location and provide reassurance when you’re travelling alone.

  • Discreet Activation: Panic buttons can be triggered without drawing attention to yourself.

  • Customizable Features: Some apps allow live video streaming or fake calls to help you out of uncomfortable situations.

Cons

  • Technology-Dependent: If your phone battery dies, you lose signal, the app glitches or your phone is stolen or lost, the app becomes useless. We use a reputable safety app for our family yet it is often unreliable.

  • Not Immediate: Activating an app may take time, which you might not have in a dangerous situation.

  • Are You Familiar With How to Activate it: Unless you use apps regularly you can forget how to use or activate them in an emergency.

  • It Can’t Defend You: Think through what the app actually does and how useful that would be in an emergency. How will your friends or family help you? Unless they immediately see the panic notification and are close enough to help, there is not much they can do apart from calling the police. Will the police respond? If yes, how long will it take them to get to you?

  • Privacy Concerns: Some apps store personal data, which could pose security risks.

Legality in the UK

Safety apps are legal and widely available, but it’s essential to choose reputable apps with strong privacy protections.

Tips for Use

  • Download and test the app’s features before relying on it.

  • Share your location with trusted contacts whenever possible.

  • Remember that apps are a backup tool, not a substitute for staying alert and prepared.

 Our Recommendation

By all means, use a safety app on your phone but don’t rely on it working in an emergency and saving you.

 

3. Pepper Spray

Overview

Please note - Pepper spray is NOT legal in the UK. Check the local laws for wherever you are in the world to see if it is legal.

Pepper spray is a chemical irritant designed to temporarily blind and disable an attacker, giving you time to escape.

 
pepper spray
 

Pros

  • Effective Deterrent: Causes significant pain, irritation, and temporary blindness, immobilizing an attacker.

  • Compact: Easy to carry in a pocket or bag.

  • Keeps Distance: Allows you to defend yourself without physical contact.

Cons

  • Illegal in the UK: Carrying or using pepper spray is against the law in the UK.

  • Environmental Risks: Windy conditions can blow the spray back toward you.

  • Training Required: Accuracy and timing are crucial, so practice is necessary.

  • Malfunction: As with any gadget, it can malfunction or you could fumble and drop it when experiencing an adrenaline rush.

Legality in the UK

Pepper spray is classified as an offensive weapon in the UK and is strictly prohibited.

Our Recommendation

Since pepper spray is illegal in the UK, we recommend focusing on learning practical self defence techniques instead.

If it is legal in your area, ensure you choose a reputable product and are trained on how to use it. Don’t over-rely on it in case it doesn’t work or you lose it or drop it.

 

4. Self-Defence Rings

Overview

Please note - Self defence rings are NOT legal in the UK. Check the local laws for wherever you are in the world to see if they are legal.

Self-defence rings are wearable gadgets designed with hidden spikes or other features to harm an attacker during close contact.

Pros

  • Easily Accessible: Worn on your finger, so it’s ready when needed.

  • Discreet: Looks like a regular piece of jewellery.

  • Use in Close Quarters: Might cause a flinch reaction by causing pain or surprise.

  • Can Collect Attackers DNA: If the ring draws blood it can be used by the police to search for the attackers DNA.

Cons

  • Illegal in the UK: Carrying or using a self defence ring is against the law in the UK.

  • Close Contact Required: Only effective if the attacker is already within reach.

  • Limited Damage: Will not incapacitate a determined attacker.

  • Risk of Escalation: Using it could provoke the attacker further and as it only causes minor damage it might not be enough to deter the attacker.

Legality in the UK

Self defence rings are considered offensive weapons and are NOT legal in the UK. Check local laws before purchasing.

Tips for Use

If you choose to use a self-defence ring, make sure you understand how to use it effectively and responsibly.

Our Recommendation

We’re not a fan of self defence rings. For a start, they’re not legal in the UK but if they are legal where you are, there are too many drawbacks in our view.

 

 5. Torches

Overview

A high-lumen torch can illuminate dark areas helping you navigate safely on foot and easily access door locks, it could also potentially disorient an attacker when shone directly into their eyes.

 
Blukar torch

Click to view on Amazon (affiliate link)

 

Pros

  • Multipurpose: Useful for navigation and scanning your surroundings in the dark.

  • Disorienting Effect: A bright beam might temporarily disorientate an attacker.

  • Accessible: Small, lightweight models can attach to your keychain or fit in your pocket.

  • Affordable: An average price is between £5 and £30

Cons

  • Limited Self-Defence: Not intended for self defence, more for safety.

  • Battery Dependent: Needs regular charging or fresh batteries.

Legality in the UK

Torches are completely legal and are an excellent addition to your personal safety toolkit.

Our Recommendation

Avoid using the torch on your phone, as this can make you a target for phone theft. Instead, carry a dedicated torch on your keychain or in your pocket.

Buy Now

The Blukar LED Torch is a good value pocket torch with 4.7 stars out of 5 with over 22,000 reviews (at the time of writing).

It is also rechargeable and has 4 lighting modes with high, low, strobing and SOS (where it flashes SOS in morse code!)

Check it out now on Amazon (affiliate link*)

 

5. Mobile Phone Safety Lanyards

Overview

Mobile phone safety lanyards are marketed as a convenient way to keep your phone close at hand. These lanyards can be worn around the neck or wrist, offering quick access to your device while reducing the risk of accidental drops.

They are often promoted as practical tools for joggers, commuters, and anyone who wants to keep their phone secure and accessible.

 
mobile phone safety lanyard
 

Pros

  • Convenience: Phone lanyards keep your device within easy reach, eliminating the need to dig through a bag or pocket.

  • Drop Prevention: They provide a safeguard against accidental drops, which can save you from expensive repairs or replacements.

  • Accessibility: For people who frequently use their phones for navigation, music, or communication, lanyards ensure that the device is always at hand.

Cons

  • Safety Risks: Wearing a phone lanyard, especially around your neck or wrist, can make you a target for thieves. If someone tries to grab your phone, the lanyard could result in you being dragged, injured, or even pulled into a violent confrontation.

  • Escalation of Theft: The very nature of a lanyard means that if a thief does grab your phone, they may use force to detach it from you. A female CEO once shared her experience of being assaulted by thieves because she was wearing a phone lanyard around her neck. What could have been a simple theft turned into a physical altercation.

  • Increased Visibility: A phone hanging from a lanyard is more visible and accessible to potential thieves, making you an easy target.

  • Limited Deterrent: Unlike alarms or other gadgets, lanyards do nothing to deter attackers or alert others to a threat.

Legality in the UK

There are no legal restrictions on using mobile phone safety lanyards in the UK.

Our Recommendation

We strongly advise against using mobile phone safety lanyards.

While they may seem practical, they pose significant safety risks that outweigh their benefits. Keeping your phone out of sight is a far better approach to reducing your chances of being targeted by thieves.

If someone does attempt to steal your phone, let it go. Belongings are replaceable—your safety is not.

Instead of relying on lanyards or similar gadgets, focus on preventative measures like staying aware of your surroundings, and the people around you. Keep your phone secure in a bag or pocket when not in use. If you need to use your phone in public, try to do so discreetly and in a well-lit, populated area.

Remember, no gadget can replace the effectiveness of staying alert and prepared.

 

6. Travel Door Wedges with Alarms

Overview

These small devices are placed under doors to prevent them from opening. If tampered with, they emit a loud alarm.

 
travel door wedge with alarm

Click to view on Amazon (affiliate link)

 

Pros

  • Enhanced Security: Adds an extra layer of protection in hotel rooms, dorms, rental accommodations or even your home.

  • Portable and Lightweight: Easy to pack and carry.

  • Dual Functionality: Works as both a doorstop and alarm.

  • Affordable: Only costs around £10.

Cons

  • Limited Use: Only effective when you’re stationary and inside a room with a door.

  • Doesn’t Work on All Doors: Some doors and flooring don’t work with the alarm.

  • Battery Reliant: Needs maintenance to ensure functionality.

Legality in the UK

Travel door wedges with alarms are legal and widely available.

Tips for Use

  • Use these in combination with other safety measures when staying in unfamiliar accommodations.

  • Test the alarm regularly to ensure it’s working properly.

 Our Recommendation

A travel door wedge with an alarm is an essential piece of safety kit for travelling.

Buy Now

The Mengshen Mini Wireless door stop is an affordable alarmed door wedge with 4.3 stars out of 5 with over 1,500 reviews (at time of writing).

It is has 3 sensitivity levels and requires one 9V battery, the alarm is very loud.

Check it out now on Amazon (affiliate link*)

 

Why Gadgets Alone Aren’t Enough

While self defence tools can enhance your safety, they are not a substitute for personal preparation, awareness, and self-defence skills. Here’s why:

  1. Accessibility Issues: In a high-stress situation, fumbling for a gadget buried in your bag can cost valuable seconds.

  2. Malfunctions Happen: Technology is not infallible—batteries can die, and gadgets can break.

  3. Delayed Reactions: Many self defence tools, such as alarms and apps, require activation before the threat escalates.

Your best self-defence tools are your own hands, awareness, and mindset - when you have the right knowledge about how to use them. These are always with you, and they won’t fail you when you need them most.

 

 Our Position on Self Defence

At Streetwise Defence, we believe that gadgets can complement, but never replace, the core principles of self-defence:

  • Awareness: Staying alert and attuned to your surroundings and the people around you is the first line of defence.

  • Preparation: Having a plan and knowing how to react in various scenarios can make all the difference.

  • Mindset: Knowing that you are worth protecting and believing you are capable of it.

  • Practical Training: Learning self-defence techniques equips you with the confidence and skills to handle real-life situations.

 

THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU CAN MAKE IS IN YOURSELF

Remember, the best investment you can make in your safety is in yourself!

Check out our online self defence courses to build the knowledge, confidence, and skills that no gadget can replace.

 

Stay safe, stay aware, and remember: you are worth protecting.

 

*Please note: as an Amazon Associate we earn commission from qualifying purchases. Each affilliate link is clearly labeled.