When I started testing and reviewing pepper sprays, I quickly became a fan of Mace pepper sprays. Mace does everything right. They make several different types so there is a Mace pepper for how you like to carry and for what size you are comfortable with. Also, Mace’s quality control insures the reliability and effectiveness of their pepper sprays. These and other aspects of Mace the company and their products is why I recommend purchasing Mace brand pepper sprays.

My favorite Mace pepper sprays are reviewed at the bottom. I tested all of them and they are all great. Just pick the one that has the right mix of firepower, comfort, and features for you.

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Mace’s History of Making Great Pepper Sprays

The company that produces “Mace” brand pepper sprays was founded as Mace Chemical. It was founded by Allan Lee Litman and his wife Doris Litman in the 1960s. Allan and Doris developed a defensive spray after Doris’s female colleagues were robbed. The original formula was made of CN tear gas. Now, all mace sprays contain the pepper spray chemical, oleoresin capsicum(OC). Some Mace sprays contain tear gas in addition to OC.

Mace Chemical was purchased by Smith and Wesson in 1987. Mace chemical along with all of Smith and Wesson’s chemical division were spun off from Smith and Wesson. Mace is now fully independent. Mace Chemical is now named “Mace Security International”. In addition to pepper spray, Mace’s products include stun guns and personal alarms.

Mace’s Non-Profit Ventures

While Mace is a for profit company, Mace does not solely focus on for-profit ventures. Mace donates pepper sprays to a different non-profit every month. The non-profit organizations that receive these pepper sprays are ones that help those at risk such as domestic violence victims.

Also, Mace’s “KUROS” initiative is another Mace non-profit venture. The KUROS mission provides free pepper sprays and education to at-risk women globally. KUROS is funded by the sale of a light blue pepper spray and personal alarm.

Quality Control and Product Testing

Quality control is one of the most important things a pepper spray maker must get right. Mace puts a lot of focus on quality control. Mace tests each batch of pepper spray liquid before it goes into a pepper spray canister. This testing is high performance liquid chromatography or HPLC. HPLC separates, identifies, and quantifies each component in the liquid. This type of testing measures major capsinoids in the solution. Mace considers this testing method superior to measuring pungency with the Scoville Scale.

Mace relies on outsourced HPLC testing. Each batch of Mace liquid is tested with HPLC by the supplier. The liquid is tested a second time by an independent lab. Mace calls this “double verification” or “HPLCx2”.

After contacting one of Mace’s sales director, Daniel Brass, I learned more about Mace’s quality control. This information is not from Mace’s website. It’s from an email I got from Dan.

In addition to the pepper spray liquid testing, Mace does various types of in-house testing. These tests include the following.

• Test firing all pepper guns with water cartridges
• Testing firing all flip top pepper sprays
• Random sample testing of all sprays and gels that are in Mace’s direct control.
• All stun guns are tested to make sure their flashlights work and that they spark.

Flip Top Safeties, Not Twist Lock Safeties

Unlike other companies, Mace only sells pepper sprays with flip top safeties. Flip top safeties don’t have the accidental safety deactivation problem that twist lock safeties have. I used to carry a pepper spray with a twist lock safety. I often saw the safety halfway or totally deactivated. Also, I let a friend borrow a twist lock pepper spray. He returned it to me with the safety off. Twist lock safeties get turned off without user input because of normal movement of pepper spray. Whether in a pock, on a key chain, bag, or purse the twist lock lever can get moved off with normal body movements. When a twist lock safety is off, there is a risk of an accidental discharge.

Mace’s flip top safety pepper sprays do not have this problem. Normal body movements cannot deactivate them. A user must intentionally lift the safety with their thumb to expose the trigger.

This is a video from Mace showing the benefits of flip top safeties.

Innovative Design

Exclusively using flip top safeties is not the only example of Mace’s excellent product design. Mace brand pepper sprays also get other things very right.

Many Mace pepper sprays feature a finger grip in the front of the pepper spray. The back of these peppers is smooth and curved because of the exposed canister. The difference in feeling between the back and front lets a user know even in low light where the pepper spray is pointing.

Two different Mace pepper sprays have unique and super helpful lights built in. These are the Pepper Gun 2.0 and the Night Defender. The Night Defender is a vertical style pepper spray with an LED light. The light turns on with the safety is lifted. I tested this light outside at night. It throws plenty of light out to the effective range of the spray.

The Pepper Gun 2.0 also has a LED light. It turns on when the trigger is pulled. The light has two alternating modes: solid and strobe. The modes can be changed with a light trigger pull that does not discharge spray. I tested both modes at night and they work great. The strobe is very disorienting and the solid light casts a wide, bright beam. Another good thing about the pepper gun 2.0 is the user replaceable canisters. This allows for practice with either a hot OC canister or an inert water canister.

Availability

Mace pepper sprays are sold online by Mace’s web store, Amazon, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Academy Sports and Outdoors.

If you want your pepper spray today, Mace pepper sprays are available at some of the most popular brick and mortar stores. These include Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, AutoZone, and Academy Sports and Outdoors. You can enter your zip code on Mace’s store finder web page to find the closest store to you. When I purchased pepper spray at Walmart my ID was checked so remember to bring that in.

Great Community Relations

Mace has been a big supporter of my efforts to help my readers with their pepper spray needs. Specifically, Mace gave me pepper sprays to review. Having spent more than $400 on pepper sprays, getting some complementary pepper sprays to review was a big help. This allowed me to work less and get reviews out faster. Also, Mace’s sales director Daniel Brass has been very helpful with providing detailed information about Mace the company and it’s products.

Large Variety

Mace makes a BUNCH of different pepper sprays. From tiny key chain pepper sprays to the enormous home defense Magnum 9, Mace makes all sizes of pepper spray. Also, Mace makes pepper sprays for every type of carry method. Whether it’s on a key chain, in a pocket, on a belt, in a bag, or in hand while running, Mace has a pepper spray for every way to carry them. The six pepper sprays below are my favorites of the one’s I’ve tested and reviewed.

Mace Pepper Gun 2.0

Full Disclosure: Mace gave me this pepper gun at no charge.Mace’s pepper gun is one of the most powerful pepper sprays on the market. It shoots a large can and it comes with a light.The large can allows it to spray up to 20 feet. When I shot this spray, it went a long way. I think it can shoot the full 20 feet. The light is plenty bright. It will illuminate out to the range of the spray. The light has two modes. It alternates between solid and strobe each time the trigger is pulled. With short trigger pulls, the light mode can be changed without firing the spray. Once a user has the desired light mode, the trigger can be pulled more to fire the spray.The trigger, safety, and chamber open lever are easy to use.A water practice cartridge is included. This is great for getting a feel for how to use it and building confidence.The Mace pepper gun is large. It’s about as large as my subcompact pistol. You can try carrying it in a front pocket. This might be uncomfortable especially when sitting. A holster or bag might be the best places to carry this pepper gun.

Pros

• 20 Foot Range
• Dual Mode Strobe or Solid Light
• Lots of Spray
• Refillable
• Practice Canister Included
• Ambidextrous Safety

Cons

• Large
• Holster or Bag Carry Solution Might Be Needed

Conclusion:

It’s long range and light make this a powerful pepper gun. If you can handle the inconvenience of a large pepper gun, then get this spray.

Night Defender

My umbrella light is reflecting off the can

I really like this spray. The light is one of the most practical and over looked features a pepper spray can have.The range is good. The package says it has an 18 foot range. When I tested this, I found it would go the full 18 feet. The light reaches the effective range of the spray. You can see the spray being testing in daytime and nighttime in the video.The spray is transparent. It would be better if it had color. That would make it easier to aim and see it on a target.The safety goes up easy. The trigger has ridges on top. This gives the trigger traction and makes it feel like nothing else on the spray. As a result, it is easy to grab and place a finger on the trigger without looking at it.This spray is on the big size. It might be a tad uncomfortable in a front pocket. Consider off-body carry or getting a holster for it.This is one of my favorite every day carry pepper sprays. I have tested more than 22 pepper sprays and this is a top tier spray.

Pros

• Long 18 Foot Range
• Bright LED Light
• Wind Fighting Gel

Cons

• Kind of Big

Conclusion:

This is a great pepper spray for low light self-defense. It’s also a good option if you are in a windy area.

Triple Action Pocket Pepper Spray

Full Disclosure: Mace gave me this pepper spray at no charge.

This is a great little pepper spray. In addition to OC, it also has tear gas. Tear is a good addition because some people get little to no effect from OC. Like other pepper sprays with tear gas, the spray is clear.

It has a good flip top safety.

It can be attached to a key chain.

Pros

• Good Range
• Convenient Size
• Tear Gas
• Key Chain Attachable

Cons

• A Bit Small
• Clear Spray

Conclusion:

This small pepper spray is a convenient self-defense tool. It’s one of the best in this size.

Sport Model

This pepper spray is a good balance between comfort and effectiveness. It has enough juice for at least 2 assailants. You can see the spray getting used in the video. 

The wrist strap is good. It holds a wrist and the spray well. It’s not the most comfortable thing, but neither is it uncomfortable. I would feel confident jogging with this for miles. The spray easily comes out of the strap.

The safety is easy to lift. A toddler could lift the safety so keep this spray away from children. It’s not child proof.

It’s also available in black.

Pros

• Good Holster
• Good Range

Cons

• Big for a runner’s pepper spray

Conclusion:

It’s an excellent pepper spray for running or other outdoor activity.

Police Model

This is one of the best pepper sprays I have tested. It has tear gas, a good range, great belt clip, and the option to attached to a keychain.

Some people are not affected by the OC pepper spray chemical. With tear gas, there are two powerful chemicals helping someone defend themselves.

The built-in belt clip works perfectly. It has an angled tooth. Here is a picture of the tooth.

A belt slides through the tooth without effort. Once on a belt, the clip’s tooth prevents the spray from coming off the belt. To remove the spray from the belt, it just takes a good firm pull of the spray.

It can be attached to a keychain. This would add a lot of mass to a keychain. You might like this though especially if you aren’t wearing this spray on a belt.

It shoots a clear spray. It looks like water. This makes aiming while spraying more difficult than it should be. It also makes it harder to see the spray on an attacker’s face. Many other pepper sprays shoot colored spray, and this model should do that too.

Pros

• Good Size and Range
• Excellent Belt Clip
• Tear Gas included
• Key Chain Attachable

Cons

• Clear Spray

Conclusion:

An very good pepper spray for belt or key chain carry

Magnum 3

Full Disclosure: Mace gave me this pepper spray at no charge.

This a great pepper gel spray for belt carry. The range is 15 to 20 feet which is excellent.

The flip top safety and trigger are perfect.

If you want to carry a pepper spray on a belt, then strongly consider this spray.

Pros

• 15 to 20 foot Range
• Excellent Belt Clip
• Wind Fighting Gel
• Orange Colored

Cons

• Kind of Big

Conclusion:

A very good pepper spray for belt carry.