In tight situations, a gun often won’t do the trick. If you need to protect yourself in close quarters, or simply just not comfortable in wielding a gun, no worries, there are many other tools that can be used.
This is why we recommend you equip yourselves with a weapon that you feel more comfortable with. If you don’t feel comfortable with the thing that you are holding chances are you are going to hurt yourself.
When looking for a weapon, you are presented with a large number of options to choose from.
We have compiled together a list of top choices that covers a variety of uses for just about any sticky situation that you would find yourself in.
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Best Survival Weapons That Are Not Guns
- Stun Gun – VIPERTEK VTS 989 230 Million Heavy Duty Stun Gun
- Baseball Bat – Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher
- Bear Spray – Frontiersman Bear Spray
- Knife – Morakniv Companion Knife
- Whip – Quick STRIKE Self Protection Whip
- Mace – Mace Brand Self-Defense Triple Action
- Taser –VIPERTEK Heavy Duty Stun Gun & Rechargeable LED Flashlight
- Pen – Uzi Tactical Self Defense Pen
- Hatchets – SOG Throwing Hawks- 3 Pack One Piece Steel Throwing Knives
1. VIPERTEK VTS 989 230 Million Heavy Duty Stun Gun
Stun Gun
Price: $$
Dimension: 6.5 x 2 x 1 inches
Weight: 0.02 kilograms
Material: compound plastic build
Pros: Lightweight weapon, easy for carrying, Rechargeable battery, Ergonomic handle, High quality durable materials
Cons: The weapon is not legal in some states, The weapon is only effective when making contact with the attacker
Description: Our top choice is Vipertek’s highly rated rechargeable stun gun that includes a LED flashlight. This stun pistol has a striking design and is sure to frighten your opponents. Vipertek is a classy brand known for survival gear and is a leader in self-defense weapons.
Vipertek’s VTS-989 boasts high voltage power and new snatch prevention technology that prevents attackers from disarming you. The ultra spike electrodes help you to penetrate through thicker garments so you can be sure it will work over thick clothing.
The VIPERTEK brand is popular for its easy-to-carry products, the VTS-989-1 comes equipped with a holster case as well as a free wrist strap.
If you don’t already know, a stun gun disarms an opponent through an electric shock. An electric pulse passes from the probes into the skin of a person that seizes the neuromuscular system.
Why we like it: 230 million volts? What’s there not to like!
2. Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher
Baseball Bat
Price: $$
Dimension: 4 x 4 x 48 inches
Weight: 2.44 Pounds
Material: polypropylene material
Pros: Value for money, Highly durable polypropylene build, High impact damage, Increased reach capacity
Cons: Lack of portability, Requires a certain degree of strength and skill to operate
Description: Not only can you use the Cold Steel Brooklyn Smasher to play a game of baseball but is also a great self-defense weapon. This beast of a bat is made from nearly indestructible polypropylene plastic.
The high-density material increases the strength and heat resistance of the material. Its resistance makes it difficult for the Cold Steel Brooklyn to fade, rot, crack, or splinter, meaning whether. you are cracking a few balls or a few skulls, it will look good as new.
The Brooklyn Smasher weighs approximately 2.44 pounds making it one of our heavier options, but it makes up for durability for what it loses in heaviness.
Why we like it: What’s nice is that it can be seen as a harmless bat, which can be great if you don’t want a conspicuous weapon.
3. Frontiersman Bear Spray
Bear Spray
Price: $$
Dimension: 6 x 4 x 6 inches
Weight: 0.85 Pounds
Material: Aluminum material
Pros: Ergonomic design, Approved by EPA and lab-tested, Works to repel not only all types of bears but humans too.
Cons: Expiration 2-3 years, It might not be effective in all situations
Description: Sabre Frontiersman is of course foe bears! Bear encounters are common, especially in the backcountry can often be fatal if you get up close and personal. If you want to survive it’s either play dead or fight “spray” back.
The Sabre Frontiersman Bear Spray has the capacity to travel as far as 30 feet, 10 feet more than other bear sprays in the market. The spray takes away the bear’s sight and sense of smell, repelling the bear.
The bear repellent liquid is non-flammable, and environmentally friendly made by SABRE who have been making sprays for nearly 50 years. Yes, you can say they know bears.
The spray comes with a tactical holster, making it easier for you to strap it to your body for quick access.
What we like: Well these guys at SABRE have been at it a while, and as far as bear sprays go we are convinced.
4. Morakniv Companion Knife
Knife
Price: $
Dimension: 9.25 x 1.77 x 1.38 inches
Weight: 0.12 Kg
Material: Stainless Steel
Pros: High-quality stainless steel build, Resistant to corrosion, Multi usage for various applications, Sturdy companion handle, Comes with a sheath
Cons: The knife requires regular sharpening
Description: The Morakniv Companion knife is one of the best of its class and made from high-quality Swedish steel from Morakniv who have been at it since 1891. So ya these guys know knives.
It comes with a patterned friction grip that is good for wet conditions and has a nice little sheath that comes with it. We like these knives so much that it made it onto our list of the best survival knives and best bushcraft knives
Apart from self-defense, this knife is also highly useful for wood cutting, carving, and prepping your meat and veg when cooking. This is a nice little knife that can be used for self-defense if need be.
Why we like it: We are a fan of just about anything made by Morakniv. nuff said.
5. Quick STRIKE Self Protection Whip
Whip
Price: $$
Dimension: 6 x 4 x 1 inches
Weight: 4 Ounces
Material: Stainless Steel material
Pros: Fast and effective deployment, High-quality stainless steel build, Anti-self-whipping, Beginner Friendly
Cons: Lack of portability
Description: The Quick Strike Self Defense Whip easily fits into your pocket making it an effective solution to many sticky situations. The whip is will not inhibit someone in the same way that a knife will, but it will give them just enough of a jolt that it will say “don’t mess with me”. Sometimes we don’t really want to hurt someone, just give them a friendly warning to back the f@ck off.
One nice feature of this is the anti-self-whipping tech, which means you won’t hit yourself – which makes it nice and beginner-friendly. So just to emphasize that this isn’t a serious weapon like a knife or a stun gun, in that it is more of a deterrent than anything else.
Why we like it: It’s a different type of self-defense gear that is relatively unknown and might take your attacker by surprise, which is a good thing.
6. Mace Brand Self-Defense Triple Action
Mace
Price: $
Dimension: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Weight: 0.17 Pounds
Material: Aluminium
Pros: Lightweight and tactile, Triple functionality, Powerful formula, Beginner friendly, Highly convenient
Cons: It only works within the range of approximately 6 to 8 feet
Description: The Mace Self Defense Pepper Spray is made with real natural pepper that leaves a nasty burning sensation on skin, throat, and eyes. If you have ever been pepper-sprayed before then you know – it sucks when you get hit.
The strength of the formula comes in different levels of intensity and has three different formulas for police usage, personal usage and one that fits your pocket. It is easy to see why law enforcement agencies have backed this product.
In addition, it has a flip top cap that allows you to grip this weapon accurately. You would also find an inbuilt belt clip and keychain that allows you to easily access it.
We are basically talking about the KING of all pepper sprayers here. We do recommend that you test this out before use, as like all potential weapons if you don’t know how to use it, it will not do you much good.
Why we like it? You can by 10 feet away and still get your attacker
7. VIPERTEK Heavy Duty Stun Gun & Rechargeable LED Flashlight
Taser
Price: $
Dimension: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Weight: 0.17 Pounds
Material: Aluminium
Pros: Lightweight and tactile, Triple functionality, Powerful formula, Beginner friendly, Highly convenient
Cons: It only works within the range of approximately 6 to 8 feet
Description: The Taser Strikelight stun gun uses an electrical charge concealed in a flashlight-looking device to take down your opponent. It also has a very loud Stun Arc Warning that will leave someone dead in their tracks.
It is made of highly durable anodized aluminium and has an anti-roll system so it wont slip from your hand. The flashlight that also comes with it, is super high intensity and has a 5 hour charge with a 2500mAh rechargeable lithium battery.
The flashlight/stun gun/Arc warning all fitting within the palm of your hand.This weapon is a high voltage that is versatile and can be used in many different situations because of its small and light build.
Why we like it? We like tech especially when its used to give us more bang – so to speak.
8. Uzi Tactical Self Defense Pen
Tactical Pen
Price: $
Dimension: 7 x 2 x 1 inches
Weight: 1.5 ounces
Material: Lightweight Aircraft Aluminum
Pros: Lightweight, Small, Carbide tip glass breaker
Cons: Quality seems to vary
Description: So just to be clear this is not a pen used to defend yourself, although you could potentially jab someone’s eye out, or try and stab them with the carbide tip, however, it is unlikely that it will do significant damage.
The real use of the tactical pen is limited to survival scenarios that involved being trapped in a car or building where you would need to break the glass in order to escape. The ink pen has a small carbide-tipped point at the end that can be used to puncture glass if you are trapped.
While it’s not the most versatile of tools, if you get trapped in a car then you might wish you had one of these babies.
Why we like it? As it’s cheap, lightweight and doubles as a pen, there’s not much to not like. The fact that this thing could save your life one day, makes it a winner for us.
9. SOG Throwing Hawks (Hatchets) – 3 Pack
Hatchet
Price: $$
Dimension: 5.5 x 0.65 x 10.75 inches w/ 2 in. blade
Weight: 25.4 oz.
Material: Stainless Steel
Pros: Full tang construction, good weight balance, paracord handles, Limited Liability, made in USA
Cons: Simple design
Description: SOG throwing hatchets are made by a brand that knows there stuff as they have been making all types of survival gear for nearly 40 years. One of the first things that we always look into when taking a look at gear is the manufacturer. For survival gear, the most important thing you are going to want to look out for is reliability and durability. A good brand can give you better chances that your gear is going to be there in you need it most.
These tactical tomahawks are beginner-friendly, lightweight and come with a nylon case. They may take some getting used to, especially if you are looking to these things as a form of self-defense.
Why we like it? Great brand, killer price and make for a fearsome sight if you pull this out on someone.
If that list wasnt enough for you check out our list of wilderness survival tools
Buyer’s Guide: Best Survival Weapons (not guns)
There are a few things you are going to want to look out for if you are looking for a survival weapon. For many, the price of a weapon will be one of the most important but we recommend also considering a few other things.
Budget
Like we said, budget will obviously be a factor, though we find there is always a middle way to be found. There will always be something within your price range.
Convenience
One of the most important factors to consider is convenience. In a dangerous situation, you do not want to struggle to operate your weapon. We recommend selecting a model that is easy and intuitive to use so that when push comes to shove, you can shove back.
Durability
Durability is important for not only safety purposes but also you are going to want the tool to be functional when you need it. This is one of those pieces of gear that you don’t want to skimp on because it may just be your life on the line.
High Impact
The type of weapon that you are looking for will likely be determined by what you are looking to protect yourself from and in what type of environment, whether you are going into the woods, the city or your house or car there are different types of weapons for different situations. You do not want to be swinging a baseball bat in the car.
Speed
Your weapon needs to be fast full stop. Dangerous situations call for speed, there is often not enough time for you to fiddle around and to use the dang thing. Your tool needs to be able to act, and fast. While most devices have quick releases it will depend on the individual’s comfort in using is. That’s why we recommend testing out anything that you buy before you use it in the field.
Looking for another weapon>> Learn how to make a traditional sling
Takeaway
The key to surviving in an emergency is being prepared. And that all starts with having a weapon on hand. There are lots of options and it all depends on your situation and where you live – but for most people just starting out looking into this topic it may not seem clear what you need.
If this list wasn’t enough for you and you want something really out there to survive the next zombie apocalypse then check out these guy’s list, for some wild ideas. We hope that we have helped with this list of different types of weapons so you know which one might work best for you and your needs. Best to be prepared than not at all.