Now that the weather’s good, I’m all about biking. There is a bald eagles’ nest in Pittsburgh, the trailhead maybe twenty minutes from where I live. There are parks and street vendors. There is the Strip District where all of Pennsylvania goes for the freshest produce and ethnic goods. So it’s nothing to hop in the car and bike 10 or 20 miles on a nice weekend day. But it’s the city. Downtown. Crime, drugs, and questionable characters are in the mix and you hear about them on the news every evening. True story: the last time my boyfriend and I went cycling, in one trailhead parking lot, stolen goods were being transferred from one car to another. No lie. So yeah, he’s got the authoritative muscle, but neither of us is stupid. You don’t borrow trouble. What if that had been me, alone? And what if I had inadvertently picked the parking spot right next to them? I carry pepper spray.
I really like the Kimber PepperBlaster II. It’s easy to retrieve from a pocket, has a safety so this all-thumbs girl is less likely to shoot herself in the eye, and it is effective. If you spend any time creeping YouTube videos watching otherwise-sane men spray each other to demonstrate this product, you know just how effective it is – for an hour or more.
What Makes it Different?
The Kimber PepperBlaster II stops threats at a distance. Unlike typical pepper sprays that utilize aerosol to spray, the PBII uses a discharge system to shoot a 13-foot stream at speeds of up to 90mph. Impervious to wind, rain, and even glasses worn by your attacker, the PBII will get the job done. Most pepper sprays use a cone-shaped spray, which is less potent on the eyes. PepperBlaster II uses the more serious and debilitating stream. Hey. If your attacker means business, why shouldn’t you?
This little dynamo has two chambers that fire separately – you get two shots, then throw the gun away and buy a new one (eternally glad that the first one did its job!). The upper barrel discharges first, then the lower, each with the press of a trigger. Two points of origin means your two shots will land at slightly different locations so practice using the Blaster before you need to use it. It is highly recommended that you purchase two Blasters – one for practice, and one to carry. The Kimber PepperBlaster II Kit comes complete with a trainer unit, a live unit, and targets. The trainer unit is loaded only with blue dye so you can practice your aim without hurting anyone. You can buy a trainer unit separately, also. Note that the trainer unit does not come loaded with the OC solution.
What’s In It?
That OC solution – what is it? If you’re like me, you want to know exactly what’s in the Blaster. Technically, it’s filled with 10% OC with benzyl alcohol. That is 10% Oleoresin Capsicum, whose active ingredient is capsaisin, the “hot” component in chili peppers. It is extracted with benzyl alcohol, which then evaporates, leaving a viscous resin that adheres to the skin. Ouch.
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent, which, when sprayed on the face, causes temporary blindness, difficulty breathing, tears, upper body spasms, and burning. While one spray will do no permanent damage to the eyes, repeated sprays can render the corneas permanently sensitive, and one spray to someone with asthma can be lethal.
What Do Users Say?
Big Lou says, “All other units are too small and look like a tube of lipstick…Kimber made it right.” KAS says, “I saw this demonstrated at a gun show and was impressed with the design, weight, how it fit in my hand, and how far/fast the spray can travel…I hope I never have to actually use my PepperBlaster II, but will always carry one with me. I purchased these additional units from SafetyGirl for my daughters.”
Oh – and if you do accidentally get sprayed with pepper spray, this will help you get the sting out:
- Don’t run, but walk facing the breeze.
- Get out of the sun.
- Remove contacts if you are wearing them. Throw them away.
- Clean it the best you can: Find water and a fresh towel. Splash the water on your face, keeping your eyes open. Try to use clean water with each splash. Close your eyes and splash again using soap or dish liquid in the water. Pat, don’t rub, the affected areas, with the towel.
- Use eyedrops.
- Soak the affected area in whole milk, the fat of which negates the ability of the pepper to generate heat.
We love this video, made by a professional cyclist, showing how easy and effective the original Kimber PepperBlaster is for bikers. Both styles are available at SafetyGirl.
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