Should you travel with pepper spray? Is pepper spray a good self-defence tool for solo travellers?

After years of travelling solo, I can say that the world is not as scary as the news likes to present it. But risks and dangers still exist. Is it a good idea to travel with pepper spray? In what situations is pepper spray good for self-defence, and how to use it to not put yourself in even greater danger?

What is pepper spray, and how does it work?

Pepper spray is an aerosol that contains an inflammatory agent called capsaicin, which is the component that makes the chilli peppers so spicy.

Did you ever rub your eyes after chopping a chilli pepper and couldn’t get rid of the burning itchiness? That’s exactly how the pepper spray works – as if you sprayed a few hundred jalapenos into someone’s face. It gives you extra time to run away or call for help in case of an attack by a person or an animal.

Can you use pepper spray for bears?

I cycled and camped in places with a large brown bear population (the Pindus Mountains in Greece, the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, Muranska Planina in Slovakia and Romanian Carpathians). While a bear attack is unlikely if you don’t leave food and smelly stuff in your tent and if you don’t surprise a bear, it’s better to have some bear spray just in case.

Is the bear spray the same as pepper spray?

While the bear spray contains the same active ingredient as a self-defence pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum, a regular pepper spray won’t work that well for bears. That’s because the concentration of the OC is much higher in the bear spray. To be effective for bears, the spray has to be stronger and have a bigger range.

You can read more about the differences between pepper spray and bear spray here.

Using pepper spray for stray dogs

Many cyclists travelling through the Balkans get the stray dog scare. There are many other ways to scare aggressive stray dogs off, and many people claim pepper spray is an effective way to protect yourself from a dog attack. 

Dogs have very sensitive noses and eyes. Pepper spray will be painful for them. If you’d rather use a more humane method, consider carrying a citronella spray. Its strong smell effectively deters dogs and other animals without making them suffer from eye irritation. 

Using pepper spray for people

Pepper spray is one of the most popular self-defence means. It is, in fact, very effective if you get attacked by a person. 

It’s a non-lethal weapon and doesn’t cause any long-term harm or injuries, but it temporarily disables the attacker, giving you extra time to run away or call for help. 

But many people (including myself a few years back when I hitch-hiked through Norway with a can of pepper spray on the bottom of my backpack) get a false sense of safety just by having the pepper spray somewhere. 

Pepper spray is not a magical spell that automatically protects you from the bad guys. You have to learn how to use it. 

How to use pepper spray properly?

I am not a self-defence expert, but I found a really great video explaining the proper way to use pepper spray: 

What to do if you spray pepper spray on yourself?

Shit happens, and it can happen that you will get the pepper spray on yourself. And if you do, it will be itchy. 

I had quite an unpleasant incident with bear spray. The can I carried in my handlebar bag on my bike dropped, and it untightened, releasing the spray. I tried to move it to stop the leakage. It wasn’t smart. My eyes started to tear, and my throat got stingy. When the substance got to my lungs, it was difficult to breathe. 

I moved away quickly before the spray caused any damage, but it wasn’t an amusing experience.

If you spray pepper spray on yourself:

• Look if there are specific instructions on your pepper spray can, and if so, follow them.
• Don’t rub your eyes.
• Wash your hands properly as soon as possible. 
• Rinse your face and eyes with cold water and your body with soap and water.
• Change your clothes and wash your clothes as soon as possible.
• Inhaling the pepper spray might cause an irritated throat and difficulty breathing. If these symptoms don’t clear in 45 minutes, seek medical help. If you have asthma or other respiratory problems, you should be extremely careful with pepper spray as the side effects of inhaling pepper spray can be severe and dangerous. 

You can read more about how pepper spray affects the body here. 

Alternative self-defence methods for travel?

If you don’t want to use pepper spray or if it’s banned in a country you’re travelling to, other self-defence tools will help you stay safe on your trip. 

A personal alarm

A personal alarm makes a high-pitched, loud voice that will scare and surprise an attacker and give you extra time to run away. It will also alarm people around you and increase your chances of getting help. 

There are also special whistles with sound up to 142 dB that can be used for self-defence. 

Can you take pepper spray on a plane?

It’s prohibited to carry pepper spray in your carry-on luggage. Some airlines allow pepper spray in the checked-in lugged, while others don’t. Double-check the list of prohibited items on the website of the carrier you’re flying with. Don’t forget to check if the pepper spray is legal in the country you’re travelling to. 

In what countries is pepper spray legal?

Before bringing pepper spray on your travels, check if it’s legal in the countries you visit. In some countries, having pepper spray is treated like carrying a weapon, so if you don’t want any trouble with the authorities, check the legal status. 

Don’t even think of travelling with pepper spray to Iran. Pepper spray is also illegal in the UK, Belgium, Norway, Turkey, Greece and many other European countries. Check out this Wikipedia article on the legality of pepper spray in other countries. If the country you go to is not on the list, it’s best to reach out to your country’s embassy in the given country.