Tasers are becoming more and more popular as a self-defense weapon in America and for good reason. The legality of these weapons for civilians varies by state. You can see my article on the legality of tasers in your state.
The next question is which taser is best for you. There are many factors. Some people might be tempted to go buy the most powerful weapon they can get. But a good everyday carry (EDC) weapon needs to be compact and easily usable within seconds. That’s why a large taser gun that shoots projectiles might be cool to own but may not be the best choice.
Best Tasers For Women
I really like the SabreRed Taser/Pepper Spray Combo. It’s a compact taser that comes with a pepper spray bottle. Ladies, you’ll love the fact that it is purple! Haha! They have a pink version too. The taser also serves as a flashlight which is perfect for those evening walks. The package also includes a training video to make sure you’re ready to use it properly in an emergency situation. Oh, and at 1.60 µC this thing packs quite a punch. It could paralyze a 300lbs man long enough for you to escape.
The iPhone Taser
This is a newcomer to the market. People like the iPhone taser because it looks like a smartphone and therefore more inconspicuous to carry around than a traditional stun gun. In addition to being a stun gun the Terminator 980,000,000, it’s official name, is also a flashlight. According to the manufacturer, you only need to recharge it once every 5 months.
ViperTek VTS-T03 (check price on Amazon)
Don’t be fooled by its attractive styling, this thing can pack quite a punch. As the bright electric current pulsates between the test prongs and creates an intimidating electrical sound, an attacker with any sense at all will be stopped in his tracks. If the sight and sound don’t stop him, a jolt from this stun gun certainly will bring an attacker down!
When an attacker is touched by the stun gun it will disrupt the message the brain sends to the voluntary muscles. Simply touching an attacker will deliver a high voltage shock causing loss of balance and muscle control, confusion, and disorientation bringing him to his knees and making him incapable of further aggressive activity.
Super-Cute Stun Gun for Women (check price on Amazon)
Yes, Super-Cute Stun is really its name and it seems to be a favorite for the ladies. It’s compact, super easy to use, has a good battery life, and most importantly is powerful! It delivers 950,000 volts and has a replaceable lithium-ion battery. Another great thing about this stun gun is it’s loud. The noise a lot should be enough to deter an attacker.
It’s important to note the battery is not rechargeable. The manufacturer says that’s because they’re less powerful. The reviews are overall positive with one woman saying she’s already used it to fend off an attacker.
Mini Self Defense Jogger Stun Gun for Women (Check price on Amazon)
This is a pretty unique stun gun. It’s designed to be ergonomically held while you are jogging. It has a safety switch on the side that’s easy to switch with the thumb. The battery is also rechargeable as well. It has a loud powerful zap that can deliver a good shock to an attacker. It’s easy to conceal and comes with a lifetime warranty. This is a pretty gift or companion for a night jogger or a traveler of any sex.
What About Those Keychain Tasers?
You may have noticed that I didn’t include a keychain taser in this article. There’s a good reason for that–they’re not good. Owners of these pee-wee tasers often report that they are underpowered and poorly designed. Basically, they are too easy to activate. Customers also say they are flimsy and feel cheap. I can’t think of anything worse than a weapons failure in an emergency.
How About Those Projectile Tasers?
Ah yes, the literal stun guns. These are the tasers the cops use and while they may be effective they’re not the best EDC weapon for a civilian. First of all, they’re big–about the size of a normal gun. That makes them more difficult to conceal. You can get ankle holsters to conceal them more easily but still. Second, they’re expensive. A decent quality taser gun will set you back at least $300.
That being said these guns do have their place. The best thing is you can stop an attacker at a distance with these guns. So there’s no need to get close to an attacker to immobilize them. Also if you’re firearms trained these are a great alternative to lethal force. They’re also fun to shoot your bonehead friends with. So for someone that is trained in the use of a firearm or will not be carrying it conspicuously in public its a good choice. But for everyone else, I’d stick with a stun gun.
Stun Gun Voltage
I remember when I was 10 years old my sister and I used to take turns rubbing our socks on the carpet and shocking each other. It wasn’t until my science class in college did I learn I was shocking my sister with about 25,000 volts.
It was irritatingly fun but not enough to incapacitate an attacker. So imagine my surprise when I saw a company trying to sell a cheap keychain stun gun with ‘Up to 30,000 volts!’ as if that was something.
Some unscrupulous companies will tout high voltage as a selling point for their stun guns. They do this because they know that most people don’t understand the difference between voltage and amperage. I saw a company proudly advertising a keychain stun gun with 30,000 volts.
Volts=the push
Amps=how strong it can bite
That’s the best way I can think of to explain it. A good stun gun needs to have both to be able to push the current through an assailant’s clothes and a lot of amps to be able to actually stun him.
A good taser should deliver around 50,000 volts and 2.5-4milliamps