Frequently Asked Questions
The device
What is the difference between Bestie Version 1 and Version 2?
Bestie Version 2 is the current generation of our three-in-one personal safety device. It features updated materials, packaging, canister selection and a louder personal alarm.
- Personal alarm: Version 1 is 105 dB. Version 2 is upgraded to 120 dB.
- Canister: Version 1 arrived with the live formula already installed. Version 2 arrives unloaded; the canister of your choice is packaged separately beneath the Bestie device.
- Canister ring: Version 1 has a plastic ring around the canister that keeps it from shifting and reduces noise. The device operates without the ring. Version 2 does not have a plastic ring around the canister.
- Setup: Version 1 required no canister installation before first use. With Version 2, you must install your selected canister before live use.
- Materials and construction: Version 1 was made entirely in the USA from aluminum. Version 2 is made with a lightweight combination of aluminum and zinc components.
- Packaging: Version 1 was packaged inside a fully enclosed, solid box. Version 2 is packaged inside a box with a window that displays the product.
Version 2 was designed to give customers greater control over their formula selection and training experience.
Because Version 2 arrives unloaded, you can first practice unlocking and activating the device without a canister installed. You may then practice with an inert Practice Canister before loading your selected live formula.
All Bestie canisters fit both Version 1 and Version 2. If you own Version 1, continue following the care and operating instructions provided with your original device. Do not assume that batteries, components or accessories are interchangeable between versions unless Bestie Defense® expressly confirms compatibility.
Does Bestie arrive loaded?
No. Bestie arrives unloaded, and you will need to install your selected canister before it is ready for live use. (Bestie Version 1 arrived with its live canister already installed.)
Bestie’s patented deployment system is unique to the device, so we strongly recommend becoming comfortable with it before installing a live formula.
Begin by practicing with your unloaded Bestie. This allows you to “dry fire” the device and learn how to unlock and activate it without deploying any formula.
When you feel comfortable with the basic movement, you can install an inert Practice Canister, available separately, to practice aiming and deploying the device.
Only graduate to a live formula once the unlocking and activation process feels familiar and intuitive.
Always treat Bestie as though it is loaded. Never point the nozzle toward yourself or anything you do not intend to spray—even when practicing with an unloaded device or inert canister.
Why does Bestie have multiple functions?
Because no single personal-safety tool is appropriate for every situation.
During a stressful encounter, you may not have time to search for separate devices or remember which button controls which feature. Bestie was designed for intuitive use under pressure.
One thumb activation deploys the spray and sounds the 120 dB alarm simultaneously. The integrated striker provides an additional close-range option.
Bestie also allows you to practice in stages—from learning the deployment system while the device is unloaded to practicing with an inert canister before graduating to a live formula.
You do not rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of preparation. Bestie is designed to help you prepare.
Why is Bestie an investment compared with regular pepper spray?
Bestie is an investment because it is a premium, reusable three-in-one personal safety device—not a standard disposable spray housed in injection-molded plastic.
Bestie combines three personal-safety features in one patented device:
- A focused pepper spray stream with a range of up to 10 feet
- A powerful 120 dB personal alarm
- An integrated striker for close-range situations
The Bestie body is crafted from custom aluminum and zinc components, with careful attention paid to its weight, balance, grip and durability. The result is a lightweight personal-safety device that is comfortable to carry every day without feeling flimsy or disposable.
Bestie is also modular. The device can be safely disassembled into its designated components, allowing the pepper spray canister and batteries to be replaced instead of requiring you to discard the entire product.
Its interchangeable canister system allows you to practice with an inert Practice Canister before transitioning to a live formula. The modular platform is also designed to accommodate compatible Bestie accessories as new options become available.
Bestie was designed for women who want a personal-safety device they will actually carry—and feel confident using. Every Bestie Defense® pepper spray formula is independently third-party tested for potency, accuracy and consistency.
You are not simply paying for pepper spray. You are investing in the craftsmanship, engineering, testing and multiple layers of protection built into one thoughtfully designed device.
Is Bestie reusable, and how do I replace the canister or batteries?
Yes. Bestie’s lightweight aluminum and zinc body is made to last.
Unlike most disposable pepper sprays, Bestie can be safely disassembled into its designated modular components. The canister and batteries can be replaced, allowing you to continue using the same Bestie body instead of replacing the entire product.
The interchangeable canister system also allows you to switch between an inert Practice Canister and your selected live formula.
Bestie was designed as an adaptable personal-safety platform. Its modular construction allows it to be maintained over time and may accommodate additional compatible Bestie accessories as new options are developed and released.
Replacing the canister or batteries
Every Bestie purchase includes access to a step-by-step instructional video through the enclosed QR code. You can also watch it here.
We recommend replacing the canister outdoors whenever possible. If you cannot work outdoors, choose a well-ventilated space away from other people, pets and delicate belongings.
Always keep the nozzle pointed away from yourself. Never point it toward any person, animal or object you do not intend to spray—even when you believe the canister is empty or you are using an inert Practice Canister.
Follow the instructional video carefully and never force a canister, battery or other component into place.
Only disassemble Bestie as directed in our official instructions, and only use canisters, batteries and accessories supplied or expressly approved by Bestie Defense®. Using unapproved batteries may cause malfunction or overheating and may void applicable warranty protections.
Can Bestie activate accidentally or damage my handbag?
Bestie includes a safety mechanism designed to help prevent accidental activation. However, it should still be carried intentionally—not buried loose at the bottom of a handbag.
Keep it somewhere secure, consistent and easy to reach. A personal-safety device cannot help you if you cannot access it quickly.
The integrated striker is not a blade and is not designed to cut or shred a handbag. However, concentrated pressure against delicate materials may still cause damage. Use care when storing Bestie near soft leather or other easily marked surfaces.
Bestie is a personal-safety device, not a decorative keychain. Carry and store it accordingly.
Will the striker break glass?
The striker will break some types of glass, but it was not engineered to be a glass breaker, and we do not advise using it as one.
What testing does Bestie undergo?
Bestie Defense® formulas are independently third-party tested for potency, accuracy and consistency.
Each canister undergoes a water-bath leak test to help confirm that it is properly sealed. Bestie devices are also subjected to drop and durability testing to evaluate their performance under demanding conditions.
We believe a personal-safety product should be supported by professional testing—not assumptions.
Formulas and spray
What is pepper spray?
Pepper spray is a chemical irritant made with oleoresin capsicum, commonly called OC. OC is derived from hot peppers and is designed to cause intense burning, involuntary eye closure, coughing and temporary disorientation—creating an opportunity to move away and get to safety.
The strength of a pepper spray formula is best compared using its percentage of major capsaicinoids, commonly abbreviated as MC. Major capsaicinoids are the heat-producing components responsible for the formula’s effects.
Pepper spray laws, formula restrictions, age requirements and purchasing rules vary by state and city. Always check the current laws where you live and anywhere you plan to carry Bestie.
Pepper spray may take several seconds to affect someone, particularly if that person is under the influence. That is why Bestie provides multiple layers of protection, including a 120 dB personal alarm and an integrated striker.
Which canisters does Bestie offer, and how do the formulas compare?
Bestie Defense® offers four canister options:
The Holy Grail®
Our most comprehensive formula combines OC pepper spray, CS tear gas and UV marking dye. The UV dye can assist with identification after an incident when viewed under ultraviolet light.
Hero
Hero combines OC pepper spray with UV marking dye. It does not contain CS tear gas.
Nationally Notorious®
Nationally Notorious® is our lower-potency, OC-only formula developed to accommodate stricter formula limits in certain states. It does not contain CS tear gas or UV marking dye.
Practice Canister
Our inert Practice Canister contains no OC or CS. It allows you to practice carrying, aiming and activating your actual Bestie before relying on a live formula.
Bestie formula comparison
- The Holy Grail®: 1.0% major capsaicinoids (MC), 2,000,000 SHU OC, 1.0% CS tear gas, UV marking dye
- Hero: 1.3% MC, 2,000,000 SHU OC, no CS tear gas, UV marking dye
- Nationally Notorious®: 0.66% MC, 2,000,000 SHU OC, no CS tear gas, no UV marking dye
- Practice Canister: inert, with no OC, no CS tear gas and no UV marking dye
All three live Bestie Defense® formulas are made with OC rated at 2,000,000 Scoville Heat Units, commonly abbreviated as SHU.
SHU describes the heat rating of the OC resin used to create the formula. It does not indicate how much of that ingredient is present in the finished formula.
The major capsaicinoid percentage measures the concentration of the active, heat-producing components in the finished pepper spray formula. This is why formulas made with the same 2,000,000-SHU OC can have different MC percentages and different potency levels.
MC percentage should not be confused with total OC percentage, which is a different measurement and does not provide a direct comparison of finished formula strength.
Are pepper spray and Mace the same thing?
Not exactly. Pepper spray is a general product category, while Mace® is a specific brand of personal-safety products.
Most modern pepper sprays use oleoresin capsicum, commonly called OC, as their primary active ingredient. OC is derived from hot peppers and causes intense burning, involuntary eye closure, coughing and temporary disorientation.
People often use the word “mace” as a generic term for any defensive spray, but not every pepper spray is made by Mace® Brand. Mace® Brand currently sells pepper spray and other personal-safety products, but the brand name and the general product category are not interchangeable.
Pepper spray is also different from tear gas. Pepper spray typically uses OC, while tear gas formulas use chemical irritants such as CS or CN.
Bestie Defense® offers several formula options:
- The Holy Grail®: OC pepper spray, CS tear gas and UV marking dye
- Hero: OC pepper spray and UV marking dye, with no CS tear gas
- Nationally Notorious®: An OC-only formula with no CS tear gas or UV marking dye
- Practice Canister: An inert training formula with no OC or CS
Bestie Defense® is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mace® Brand.
Why does Bestie use a stream instead of a gel?
After testing different delivery methods, we selected a focused stream for its balance of range, accuracy and coverage.
A stream sits between a cone and a gel. It is more direct than a broad cone or fog-style spray, and it creates more coverage on impact than a thick gel, without requiring a gel’s precise aim. A stream still splashes at the end, and some blowback is always possible.
No spray pattern can eliminate environmental factors completely, so always consider wind direction and move away immediately after deployment.
Can the spray blow back at me or linger in the air?
Some blowback is always possible when deploying a chemical irritant outdoors or in moving air.
Bestie uses a focused stream, which is more direct than a cone or fog-style spray, but no spray pattern can eliminate blowback.
To reduce your risk:
- Pay attention to the wind direction whenever possible.
- Avoid spraying directly into strong wind.
- Deploy the spray, then move away immediately.
- Do not remain in place to watch what happens.
Incidental exposure can be extremely uncomfortable, but it is generally less concentrated than receiving a direct spray. If you are exposed, move into fresh air, avoid rubbing your eyes and follow the first-aid instructions included with your canister.
No personal-safety device can guarantee a particular outcome. Bestie is designed to provide multiple options that may help you create an opportunity to escape and seek assistance.
How far does Bestie’s pepper spray reach?
Bestie sprays a focused stream up to 10 feet.
Actual range can vary depending on wind, temperature, deployment angle and the amount of formula remaining in the canister.
Why is the canister so small?
Each Bestie canister holds 0.5 oz of formula, and it is small on purpose, for two reasons.
So you only have to think about the formula. Some states limit how large a pepper spray canister can be. We chose a canister size intended to fall within those limits in every state, so the formula is the only thing you need to check against your local laws.
So you carry it every day. The canister sits inside the device, and keeping it compact is what lets Bestie fit in your palm and your pocket.
The size does not shorten the range. Bestie sprays a focused stream up to 10 feet, and each canister contains several seconds of continuous formula. Canisters are replaceable, so you can swap in a fresh one after any use, or before it expires, without replacing the device.
How many uses are in each canister?
Each canister contains several seconds of continuous formula. The number of individual bursts will vary depending on the length of each activation, along with storage and environmental conditions.
Bestie is designed for emergency use, not repeated testing with a live canister. After any live deployment, replace the canister as soon as possible—even if formula appears to remain.
Use an inert Practice Canister whenever you want to train or test your technique.
What is the shelf life of a Bestie canister?
Bestie canisters have a shelf life of up to three years when stored correctly. Check the expiration information printed on your canister and replace it before that date.
For maximum reliability, we recommend replacing your live canister annually.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold can affect the formula, pressure and overall performance. Store Bestie in a dry, temperature-controlled environment and never leave it inside a hot vehicle for extended periods.
Legal and travel
Is Bestie legal in my state?
Pepper spray laws vary by state and, in some cases, by city. Restrictions may apply to formula strength, ingredients, canister size, age, eligibility, method of purchase and where the product may be carried.
Nationally Notorious® was developed for locations with stricter formula requirements, but you are still responsible for confirming the laws that apply where you live and travel.
Bestie Defense® currently cannot ship live pepper spray formulas to Alaska, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York or Wisconsin. Bestie with the Practice Canister ships to all 50 states. Shipping availability should not be interpreted as legal advice or confirmation that a particular formula is permitted to possess or carry.
Always review current state and local regulations before purchasing or carrying Bestie.
Can I travel or fly with Bestie?
Bestie can be prepared for travel, but pepper spray is not allowed in the cabin of an aircraft, and the rules for flying with it are set by your airline, the TSA and your destination - not by us.
Always check your airline’s rules regarding pepper spray before you fly, along with current TSA requirements and the laws of where you are traveling to. Regulations vary by airline, destination and formula, and TSA officers and individual airlines have final authority over what is permitted.
We can’t tell you what your airline will allow, but here is how our team travels with Bestie. This is shared for general information only and is not legal or travel advice.
When we carry on: We remove the pepper spray canister, because a live canister cannot be packed in carry-on luggage. We also remove the pointed striker from the body of the device and pack it in checked baggage, since pointed objects are generally prohibited in carry-ons.
When we check Bestie: We remove the batteries and carry them according to our airline’s battery rules, usually in our carry-on. We keep the permitted canister secured inside the Bestie body with the safety fully engaged, and place the assembled Bestie inside a sealed, airtight bag or container in case of accidental discharge.
When we pack the canister separately: We position the black safety stopper beneath the spray cap so the actuator cannot be pressed, seal the canister in an airtight bag or container, and store it securely in checked baggage so it cannot shift.
TSA generally permits only certain small self-defense sprays in checked baggage, and individual airlines may prohibit them entirely. Formula restrictions may also apply, particularly to canisters containing tear gas. When in doubt, we travel without the live canister.
Trademark notice
Bestie Defense®, Holy Grail® and Nationally Notorious® are registered trademarks of Bestie Defense, LLC. The triangle-shaped opening is a trademark of Bestie Defense, LLC.
Mace® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Bestie Defense, LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mace® Brand.
All rights reserved.