We can never be too safe today, not even in our own homes, let alone at quiet or chaotic airports, train stations or busy subways. If you’re traveling to or through dangerous areas, all alone, with those dreaded long waits between flights at the airport, then you’ll need to have some comfort in knowing you’re prepared to defend yourself.
What are some disguised or hidden non-lethal & legal self-defense weapons to travel with hassle-free?
- Belt
- Keys
- Key Chain
- Hair Sticks
- Keychain weapons
- Tactical Pen
- Umbrella (see on Amazon)
- Kubaton
- Tactical gloves
- Tactical flashlight
- Tactical chain (see on Amazon)
- Pepper spray
- Stun Gun
- Taser Phone
- Mobile Phone hard case cover
- Iron hand Bracelet
- Magazine (Rolled up tightly)
- Earrings (Kubotan style)
- Candy stick sweet (umbrella handle shape)
- Stilleto/High heel shoes (ladies’ advantage)
- Hand luggage or Shoulder bag (defend & swing)
That’s a quick list of traditional self-defense gadgets along with improvised ones that you can carry on a plane, but there’s more on how to carry these below…
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How To Carry These Disguised Self-defense Weapons When Travelling Abroad
Whether you’re traveling daily for business or personal reasons with a disguised self-defense item, our responsibility is to keep this item stored safely, with no immediate threat to others. Otherwise, this item becomes more of a risk to innocent travelers than it’s supposed to be a self-defense item to you in an emergency.
According to the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), you are permitted to carry certain items, but, only in your checked-in luggage and not your carry-on. This is for good reason.
As much as we might feel entitled to carrying what we feel like, it becomes quickly irrelevant if it’s at the cost of the transportation company’s reputation.
Commercial airlines are responsible for everyone’s safety!
Can You Take A Pepper Spray On A Plane In Checked Luggage?
Yes, you can carry Pepper spray in your Checked-in luggage but not in your carry-on luggage. The following conditions apply below as quoted from the TSA website:
Pepper SprayCarry On Bags: No Checked Bags: Yes
One 4 fl. oz. (118 ml) container of mace or pepper spray is permitted in checked baggage provided it is equipped with a safety mechanism to prevent accidental discharge. Self-defense sprays containing more than 2 percent by mass of tear gas (CS or CN) are prohibited in checked baggage. For more information, visit faa.gov.We recommend checking with your airline as some may not allow this item in checked bags.
What Does The TSA Rules And Website Say:
- Checked-in Bags
- Pepper spray
- Stun gun
- Knives
- Taser
- Kubaton
- Tactical glove (debatable if visiting a cold country and it’s packed away in your carry-on)
- Tactical flashlight
- Carry On Bags (or On you)
- Tactical Pen
- Tactical chain (Surely it can be worn if not drastic in appearance)
- Umbrella
- Belt
- Magazine (Rolled up tightly)
- Steel wrist bracelet
Why It’s Better To Have a Disguised Non-Lethal Legal Self-Defense Weapon
I’m not condoning hiding your self-defense weapon, so please don’t even attempt to get through customs or security check with a pepper spray, taser, or anything else unless you want to miss your flight and spend the night at security for investigations!
I’m saying always have a routine item on you that has the potential to be improvised when needed.
Be Creative With Your Self-Defense Item!
worldofselfdefense.com
Consider a scenario where a woman traveling alone, has a long wait at the airport and now needs to use the airport toilet at 3am and suddenly she’s attacked.
What next? Your brilliant self-defense gadget is tucked away ‘for the safety of others’ in your checked-in luggage while you’re now being attacked. That doesn’t help!
Disguised or Improvised Weapon For 2 Main Reasons:
- Guilty Before Proven Innocent
If you use a clearly obvious self-defense weapon in an airport (which should never have on you), chances are you might end up on the wrong side of the law if an attacker decides to play victim, only because they didn’t have a weapon in retaliation.
You don’t want to get sued for defending yourself, do you?
If you think getting sued is ridiculous, have a look at our crazy article on how easy it is for a burglar to sue you in your own home!
- Innocent Before Proven Guilty
You’ll want to have a day-to-day item that can be improvised as a weapon (while your main one is checked in). If the same lady in our above scenario used her pen or studded belt to defend herself, now that’s a random routine item and no one can really question her use of it in a desperate situation.
The odds are stacked more in your favor!
Never smuggle a self-defense weapon with you or in your carry-on!
Will A Pepper Spray Can Explode While Traveling On A Plane?
There’s no telling what could or couldn’t happen, as various factors play a role ie. Different airplane sizes and altitudes affect cabin pressure, amount of turbulence, or movement on flights.
But there are best practices that reduce either explosions or their effects of it.
As with the 9 tips for reducing the chances of pepper sprays exploding in a car in our other blog post here, similar safety measures can apply, only in airplanes, we mainly worry about the pressure at altitudes, not so much heat.
The safest practice would be treating your pepper spray as you would your aerosol perfumes ie. Place your pepper spray in its own airtight Ziploc bag in case of any leaks or explosions. In fact, I have had a friend wrap his in a face cloth as an absorbent and then into a Ziploc bag. This should reduce the effects in the worst-case scenario of an explosion.
Importantly, and for your own good, do not exceed the maximum recommended size of the pepper spray as quoted from the TSA’s website guidelines ie. 1 x 4 fl. oz. (118 ml) container permitted in checked baggage, in a safety mechanism, not exceeding > 2% by mass of tear gas (CS or CN)
Consider The Disguised Self-Defense Weapon Laws In Your Destination Country
Apart from pepper sprays or any other self-protecting weapon being allowed on a plane…
Is it permitted in the country of destination?
It may be a waste of your time trying to get through your local airport security checks only to be pulled out of the line at the next airport to face unnecessary implications.
If your country of destination permits these non-lethal weapons and if you really need them, it may be a better or stress-free option to buy them once you land. Furthermore, even if you are traveling between different states, pepper sprays or other non-lethal weapons and not always permitted.
CONCLUSION
It’s always a good idea to be prepared, much more when you’re out of your usual environment.
Whichever way, please ensure that you adhere to TSA’s guidelines for traveling with self-defense equipment and be proactive by knowing the laws of your destination country.
I would much rather go with an unassuming and disguised non-lethal and legal option of a strong metal pen, at least be wearing a belt and have some basics of self-defense fighting routines.
