Best Self-Defense Keychains

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Best keychain pepper spray
Safely Sidekick
Safely Sidekick
  • pro
    Discreet
  • pro
    Multiple defense tools
  • pro
    Can be used at a distance
Best Kubotan
Munio Kubotan Keychain
MUNIO
  • pro
    Discreet
  • con
    Hard to use
  • con
    Can't be used at a distance
Best personal alarm
She's Birdie personal alarm
She's Birdie
  • pro
    Discreet
  • pro
    Easy to use
  • pro
    Can be used at a distance
Best keychain knife
StatGear Samurai Micro
StatGear Samurai Micro
  • pro
    Discreet
  • con
    Hard to use
  • con
    Can't be used at a distance
Best keychain stun gun
VIPERTEK VTS-989
Vipertek VTS-989
  • con
    Not discreet
  • pro
    Easy to use
  • con
    Can't be used at a distance
pro

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For over 11 years, SafeWise experts have conducted independent research and testing to create unbiased, human reviews. Learn how we test and review.

With 20+ years in tech journalism, Alina blends safety expertise with her passion for simplifying technology. Alina is also trained as a first responder and worked as a volunteer firefighter.

Whether you’re being followed, or just have an uneasy feeling, having a self-defense tool in your hand can make you feel a little safer. Keeping a safety device on your keychain is an easy way to be sure your self-defense device goes wherever you do.

After extensive research, we found some of the best self-defense keychains on the market to fit a variety of needs.



Compare the best self-defense keychains

Product
Best for
Price
Ease of use Icon Tooltip  Dark
Close contact defense
Color choices
Learn more
Safely SidekickSafely Sidekick
Best keychain pepper spray
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Best Kubotan
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
She's Birdie personal alarmShe's Birdie
Best personal alarm
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
StatGear Samurai MicroStatGear Samurai Micro
Best keychain knife
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
VIPERTEK VTS-989Vipertek VTS-989
Best keychain stun gun
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Amazon Disclaimer: *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

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Best self-defense keychain reviews

1. Safely Sidekick: Best keychain pepper spray

Best keychain pepper spray
Safely Sidekick

*Price correct as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Safely Sidekick sets itself apart from other pepper sprays because it's more than just a pepper spray. It’s an all-in-one safety tool tailored specifically for women, by women. Instead of buying a bunch of different safety devices, you can just buy the Sidekick. It combines five essential safety features: pepper spray, a bright flashlight, a loud alarm, a secure grip, and a keychain/glass breaker.

pro
Pros
pro Alarm
pro Bright flashlight
pro 10-foot spray range and up to 25 bursts
con
Cons
con A little bulky

Safely Sidekick also sprays 10 feet. You can stay far away from your target while spraying, giving you more time to escape.

Check out our other top picks for pepper sprays and read our full Safely review.

"I've never felt more confident. The Sidekick has everything I feel comfortable carrying with me to protect myself. It all fits in my hand, and I'm so impressed with how lightweight it is. I take it with me on my solo walks, and I feel confident and prepared for anything. I also love that my safely pepper spray and practice spray fit in the device too! For anyone that can relate to feeling uneasy in everyday, normal situations, you NEED this device!"- Meagan D., Safely Sidekick customer

2. MUNIO Kubotan Personal Safety Keychain: Best Kubotan keychain

Best Kubotan
Munio Kubotan Keychain

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Kubotan keychains are basically non-lethal blunt objects that you use in a stabbing motion towards your attacker. While there are many styles, we found the MUNIO Kubotan Personal Safety Keychain the most practical.

pro
Pros
pro Easy to grip
pro Safe to carry
pro Comes in many colors and patterns
con
Cons
con Requires close contact

While the MUNIO doesn’t look like much, this little gadget can do major damage. We watched some videos of it hacking into a raw chicken and a watermelon and it was, umm, disturbing.

Since it’s blunt, you don’t have to worry about this personal defense device harming others unintentionally. And with its easy-to-grip shape and larger size, it’s a better alternative to holding your house key between your fingers as you stroll through a parking garage or walk home at night.

Check out our top picks for other self-defense products.

3. She’s Birdie: Best personal alarm

Best personal alarm
She's Birdie personal alarm
She's Birdie
$29.95

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

She’s Birdie is our pick for the best keychain personal alarm. It packs a bright strobe LED light and a 130db alarm to scare someone away and attract attention.

pro
Pros
pro Strobe light
pro Stylish design
pro Charitable support for women's safety
con
Cons
con Only scares attackers

This personal alarm has a pretty, gold carabiner for easily latching it onto your keychain. It also comes in a variety of trendy colors like lemon, indigo, coral, charcoal, and aqua.

Not only does Birdie helps you be safe, it also gives 5% of its profits to organizations that support women’s safety charities.

Check out our other top picks for personal self-defense alarms.

4. StatGear Samurai Micro: Best keychain knife

Best keychain knife
StatGear Samurai Micro

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Read full disclaimer.

The StatGear Samurai Micro is the best keychain knifewe found. It combines a beautiful design with handy features.

pro
Pros
pro Includes pocket clip
pro Offers easy-open design
pro Provides sturdy construction
con
Cons
con Narrow handle

We love that this self-defense knife looks like a little samurai sword. This pocket knife’s blade is made from durable 440C stainless steel. It is also easy to open with one hand and has a pocket clip if you decide you don’t want it on your keychain.

The handle is a little narrow, which can be a good and a bad thing. Its size makes it easily fit into your pocket, but it also makes it a little harder to get a good grip.

Check out our other top picks for self-defense knives.

5. Vipertek VTS-989: Best keychain stun gun

Best keychain stun gun
VIPERTEK VTS-989

 *Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Vipertek VTS-989 may seem a little big for a keychain, but it’s super light. Plus, it’s one of the best stun guns on the market.

pro
Pros
pro No-slip grip
pro No disarming feature
pro Safety switch
con
Cons
con Too large for most pockets

What makes it a great stun gun? It has a grooved handle to prevent it from slipping easily from your grip. It also has side tasers that will shock someone if they try to take it from you. The built-in safety switch and flashlight add another layer of protection.

Check out our other picks for top stun guns.

Final word

Which top self-defense keychain you choose really depends on your own personal preferences:

FAQ

It all depends on the type of keychain weapon and the situation. To increase your odds, take a self-defense class. These are often offered for free or for a small fee at local community centers. Try googling “self-defense classes near me” or use Thumbtack’s self-defense class search tool.

Maybe. If the self-defense weapon is shaped like brass knuckles (known as plastic knuckle dusters) it could be illegal (even the cat self-defense keychains). To be sure, call your local police station to learn about your area’s laws.

It depends on what makes you feel more comfortable. If spraying someone with pepper spray feels like a good way to accidentally blind yourself, stick with a self-defense tool like a taser or personal alarm. On the other hand, if you don’t want to get close to a potential attacker during a dangerous situation, pepper spray may be the better option.

We couldn’t find any laws against them. To be sure, call your local police department to learn about any laws in your area.

How we reviewed the best self-defense keychains

Keys dangling from wall mounted hanger

Image: SafeWise 

To pick the best personal self-defense keychains, we used our decades of safety and security experience to research devices that work well for a variety of situations. We also researched topics related to self-defense and self-defense devices to help make the best list possible.

To learn more about how we review products and services, check out our Safewise methodology page.

Related articles


Sources

  1. Safely, "Safely Sidekick Product Reviews." Accessed October 16, 2024.
Disclaimers

*Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Alina Bradford
Written by
Alina is a safety and security expert that has contributed her insights to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV, Top Ten Reviews, and many others. Her goal is to make safety and security gadgets less mystifying one article at a time. In the early 2000s, Alina worked as a volunteer firefighter, earning her first responder certification and paving the way to her current career. Her activities aren’t nearly as dangerous today. Her hobbies include fixing up her 100-year-old house, doing artsy stuff, and going to the lake with her family.

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