Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Found Personal Safety Products That Actually Fit in My Purse
63
items Walking to your car alone after a late shift shouldn't feel like a survival challenge, but here we are. If you've ever clutched your keys between your fingers and thought ‘there has to be something better,’ this list is what I put together after mont...
Sections
9
Keychain Pepper Sprays That Go Where You Go
Personal Safety Alarms That Make People Look
Tactical Flashlights for Walking Alone at Night
Self Defense Keychains and Tools
Door Security for Hotels and Apartments
Car Safety Gear for Solo Drivers
Keychain Pepper Sprays That Go Where You Go
I used to leave my pepper spray in my glove box, which is useless when you're walking through a parking garage at 10pm. These clip right to your keys so they're always within reach.
Grab this if you want something small enough to forget it's there until you need it. Fits in your palm, has a twist lock so it won't fire in your bag. I clipped mine to my keys six months ago and it hasn't budged.
SABRE Pepper Spray with Quick Release Keychain
Keep this one on your keyring if you're tired of bulky canisters. The flip-top safety cap is easy to open under stress. My sister carries one on her lanyard at the hospital where she works nights.
Mace Brand PepperGard Pocket Pepper Spray
Toss this in your jacket pocket when you're out for a run. The clip keeps it from sliding around. Lighter than my lip balm and shoots up to 10 feet, which is more distance than I expected from something this tiny.
SABRE Compact Pepper Gel with Clip, 3pk, Black
Pair this with your keys if you want something that doesn't scream ‘weapon.’ Looks like a sparkly keychain. My roommate got one in pink and people just think it's a cute accessory.
"Guard Dog Security Pepper Spray Keychain
Switch to this if your current spray is too big for your coat pocket. It's flat, fits next to your phone, and the safety mechanism is simple enough to use when your hands are shaking.
Mace Brand PepperGard Pocket Pepper Spray
Use the quick-release ring so you can detach it from your keys in one motion. That detail matters more than you think. Practiced it a few times and now it's muscle memory.
SABRE Pepper Spray with Quick Release Keychain
Snag this for a hotter formula if potency matters to you. It's 1.4% major capsaicinoids, which is stronger than most drugstore options. Small enough that I forget it's on my keychain until I look.
Wildfire 1.4% Mc 1/2 Oz Pepper Spray Hard Case
Personal Safety Alarms That Make People Look
Sometimes the best defense is making as much noise as humanly possible. These little things are louder than a car alarm and they've literally stopped me from having to do anything else.
Get the six-pack and put one on every bag you own. 140 decibels is no joke. I tested one in my apartment and my neighbor knocked on the door within 30 seconds asking if I was okay.
KOSIN Personal Safety Alarm, 6 Pack 140DB
Carry this if you want something that looks nice enough to clip on a work bag. Pull the pin and it screams AND flashes. Gave one to my mom after she started walking the dog at dawn.
She's Birdie Personal Safety Alarm strobe Light
Try the pull-pin design if buttons stress you out under pressure. Just yank and it goes off. Waterproof too, which matters if you're a runner who gets caught in the rain.
Basu eAlarm+ 130dB Personal Emergency Alarm Pink
Bring this along if you walk to class after dark. Tiny enough to hold in your fist, and the sound carries across a parking lot. My college-age cousin says it's the one thing she always has on her.
HOOTIE Personal Safety Alarm for All
Grab the multipack and stash them. One in your gym bag, one in the car, one on your keys. At this price you can give a couple away and still have backups.
Taiker Personal Alarm for .. Women 140DB Emergency
Use this one if you jog alone before sunrise. The dual speakers push sound in both directions. Clipped it to my sports bra strap once when the clip on my shorts broke and it stayed put.
How to Use the SLForce Personal Alarm (LOUD)
Swap your old whistle for this. Whistles require breath and steady hands. This just needs one button press. The belt clip is sturdy enough for scrubs, work belts, or running shorts.
Customer reviews for SABRE Personal Alarm with Key
Tactical Flashlights for Walking Alone at Night
A bright flashlight does double duty. It lights your path and can temporarily blind someone who gets too close. I keep one in my car door and one by my front door.
Toss this in your scrub pocket or clip it to your jacket. Rechargeable so you never have that dead battery panic. Bright enough to light up a dark parking lot corner from 20 feet away.
Streamlight Microstream USB Rechargeable Mini LED
Get both and leave one in your car, one in your nightstand. The strobe mode is genuinely disorienting. I tested it on my husband and he couldn't see straight for a solid ten seconds.
GearLight TAC LED 300 Lumens Flashlight, 2 Pack
Carry this if you want something that feels serious without being heavy. The tail switch is fast to activate. I walk my dog at 5am in winter and this thing turns the sidewalk into daylight.
Olight Warrior
Use this for the longer walks or if you live somewhere rural with zero streetlights. The throw on this beam is wild. My dad uses one on his property and spotted a coyote at like 200 yards.
Fenix PD36R Pro 2800 Lumen Rechargeable Flashlight
Snag this if you just want something simple that fits on your keychain. No modes to cycle through, no buttons to figure out. Twist it on and go. Sometimes simple wins.
Customer reviews for Maglite Solitaire LED 1AAA
Pair this with your work lanyard if you're in healthcare or work late shifts. Pen-sized, clips to a pocket, and the focused beam is perfect for scanning a dark hallway or stairwell.
Coast® G19 54 Lumen Inspection Beam LED Penlight
Try this one if every other keychain light you've bought died in a week. USB-C rechargeable, UV mode for weird bonus utility, and it's smaller than a AA battery. Still going strong after four months on my keys.
Nitecore Tiki Rechargeable Keychain Flashlights
Self Defense Keychains and Tools
Not everyone wants pepper spray, and that's fine. These give you something solid in your hand and a reason to feel less vulnerable when you're fumbling for your car door in the dark.
Grab this if you travel through airports and can't bring spray. It's TSA-approved. Looks like a decorative stick but the pointed end means business. Carried mine through three airports without a single question.
MUNIO Self Defense Keychain, Personal Safety Essential
Use this if you want a simple grip tool that fits between your fingers. The bulldog shape is easy to hold even with sweaty palms. Feels way better than trying to weaponize a car key.
Self Defense Keychain
Keep this clipped to your keys for a pressure point tool that doubles as a window breaker. Solid aluminum, fits in any pocket. The weight of it alone makes me feel more confident walking to my car.
9Pcs Women's Self Defense Keychain Set
Switch to this if your state allows stun guns and you want something with range. The anti-grab bars mean it shocks anyone who tries to take it from you. That feature alone sold me.
3-in-1 Stun Gun with Flashlight & Anti-Grab Bar Technology
Toss this on your keyring if you work retail closing shifts. It's tiny but packs 22 million volts. The built-in flashlight means you're not carrying two things. One and done.
Stun Gun - Guard Dog Security
Pair this with your keys if you want something low-profile. Fits your fingers through the eyes and the ears are pointed. Looks decorative, functions as a striking tool. My coworker has one in rose gold.
cat self defense keychain
Try gel instead of spray if you worry about blowback in the wind. It sticks to skin and doesn't drift. I switched after reading about someone who sprayed themselves on a windy night. No thanks.
SABRE Fast Flip Top Pepper Gel with Snap-Clip Keychain
Door Security for Hotels and Apartments
That first night in a hotel room when the lock feels flimsy and you're alone? Yeah. These fixed that anxiety for me entirely. Now I don't travel without at least two of them.
Bring this to every hotel stay. Takes five seconds to install, no tools, and the door literally cannot open from the outside. I sleep so much better in sketchy Airbnbs now.
Addalock Portable Door Locks for Travel Safety
Use this in your apartment if your front door doesn't have a deadbolt. Adjustable, fits under the knob, and it held when my neighbor accidentally tried my door thinking it was his. Proven.
SABRE Door Security Bar, Adjustable 2-in-1 Home
Wedge this under any door and it screams if someone pushes it open. I put one at my bedroom door when I had a weird maintenance situation at my old apartment. Slept like a rock.
Philips Personal Security Window and Door Alarm, 4-Pack
Stick these on your windows if you live on a ground floor. Peel and stick, no wiring. The 120dB alarm is loud enough to wake the whole building. Took me ten minutes to do all my windows.
SABRE Wireless Home Security Door Window Burglar
Try this in dorm rooms where you can't modify the door. It braces against the floor and makes the door immovable. My niece uses one at college and says it's the only reason she doesn't stress about her lock.
Customer reviews for DoorJammer Portable Door Lock
Get the adjustable version for sliding glass doors too. Most people forget about patio doors. This one fits standard doors and sliders. I keep one at each entry point in my apartment.
Customer reviews for Master Lock Folding Security Bar
Snag a few of these for travel. They're flat enough to pack in your toiletry bag. Hang it on the door handle and if anyone opens that door, the alarm hits 100dB instantly. Peace of mind weighs about two ounces.
Doberman Security Ultra-Slim Design Security Alarm
Car Safety Gear for Solo Drivers
Broke down alone on a highway shoulder once at 11pm and realized I had nothing useful in my car. Never again. Now my center console is basically a tiny emergency kit.
Clip this to your visor right now and forget about it until you need it. Seatbelt cutter and window breaker in one. A firefighter friend told me about it and said every car should have one. Period.
Resqme 2-in-1 Car Escape Tool with Seat Belt Cutter
Keep one of these in your center console door. The gel formula won't contaminate your car interior if you have to use it inside the vehicle. Learned this distinction the hard way through research.
Customer reviews for SABRE Red Pepper Gel
Toss this in your glove box for flat tires and dark parking lots. The battery lasts forever and it's bright enough to signal someone from a distance. Cost less than a fast food meal.
Anker Bolder LC40 Flashlight, 400 Lumens
Get this before winter hits. Dead battery at 2am in a parking lot when nobody's around is a nightmare I lived once. This thing jump-started my SUV without needing another car. Worth every penny.
NOCO Boost GB40: 1000A 12V UltraSafe Portable Lithium
Grab the basic kit and keep it in your trunk. Jumper cables, flashlight, first aid basics. It's not glamorous but when you're stuck on the side of the road at night, glamour isn't the priority.
AAA 66 Piece Severe Weather Road Kit
Wear this on your finger while pumping gas alone at night. Looks like a ring, functions as an alarm and a striking tool. Gas stations after dark are the one place I always feel on edge.
Stinger Personal Alarm Keychain Emergency Tool
Use a headlamp instead of a flashlight when you need both hands free. Changing a tire on the shoulder? You need light AND two hands. This one is bright, cheap, and runs on AAAs you already have.
Energizer High Lumen Hybrid LED Headlamp
Running and Walking Safety Accessories
Started running at 5:30am last year and quickly realized that being invisible on a dark road is a real problem. These are the things that keep me visible and prepared.
Wear this if you run anywhere near traffic before sunrise. Cars see you from way further than a reflective strip. I look ridiculous and I genuinely do not care because I'm alive.
Customer reviews for noxgear Tracer2 - Running Vests
Try these instead of a handheld flashlight. They strap to your fists so your hands stay free. Lights the ground in front of you and makes you visible from all angles. No bouncing, no fumbling.
Knuckle Lights Colors
Clip this to your shorts or hat for runs at dusk. Tiny, lightweight, and the strobe mode is visible from blocks away. I bought four and rotate them through my running gear.
Nathan StrobeLight LED Clip-on Safety Light
Use this to carry your phone, keys, and pepper spray without anything bouncing. Sits flat against your waist. I hated running with pockets until I found this. Now everything stays put.
Running Belts and Waist Bags for Exercise and Fitness
Get one of these with your emergency info on it. If something happens and you can't talk, first responders can see your name, allergies, and emergency contact. My running group all got matching ones.
Road ID Wrist ID Slim Reviews
Strap this to your palm so it's ready without reaching into a pocket. The hand strap is snug enough for sprinting. Designed specifically for runners and it shows. Nothing else fits this well mid-stride.
SABRE, Runner Pepper Gel, 1 Ct
Swap your old blinker for this rechargeable one. USB-C charging, multiple modes, and it's way brighter than the battery-powered ones I used to burn through. Visible from over a mile in the dark.
Nathan HyperBrite RX Strobe Rechargeable LED Clip Light
Home Security Basics That Actually Work
Spent a fortune on a fancy camera system once and never set it up. These are the simple, no-excuses options that I actually installed and use every single day.
Get the wired version so you never deal with dead batteries. Seeing who's at my door from my phone changed everything. Caught a package thief on camera and sent the footage to police in ten minutes.
Ring Video Doorbell Wired, HD doorbell camera
Set up a couple of these around your entry points. Night vision is sharp, the app is simple, and they cost less than dinner for two. I have three and check them from bed when I hear weird noises.
Wyze Cam Pan v3 White Security Camera
Stick these on every door and window on the first floor. Loud, cheap, and they actually work. My landlord wouldn't install an alarm system so I did this myself in 20 minutes.
Philips Personal Security Window and Door Alarm, 4-Pack
Use smart bulbs to make it look like you're home when you're not. I set mine on schedules when I travel. Different lights turn on and off throughout the evening. Way cheaper than a timer system.
TP-Link KL135 Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb (Multicolor)
Try this if you rent and can't drill into walls. Completely wireless, sticks with adhesive, and the monitoring plan is affordable. Took me one afternoon to set up my whole apartment.
SimpliSafe 5 Piece Wireless Home Security System
Toss one of these on a shelf pointed at your front door. The motion alerts go straight to your phone. I positioned mine so I can see my entire living room and entry. Cost me like 20 bucks.
Blink Mini Camera Adhesive Wall Mount Bracket
Put this on your porch if you can't afford a real system yet. The blinking red light is convincing enough to make someone think twice. It's a deterrent, not a solution, but deterrents work more often than people think.
Stalwart Dummy Security Camera, Gray, Flashing LED
Emergency Kits and First Aid for Your Bag
Realized after a minor car accident that I didn't even have a bandaid in my purse. Now I keep a small kit in every bag I regularly carry. It takes up almost no space.
Toss this in your work bag and forget about it until someone at the office gets a paper cut. It's flat, tiny, and has the basics. Pulled it out at a concert once and felt like a hero.
BAND-AID Brand First Aid Kit To Go Portable Emergency
Bring this one hiking or camping. Waterproof pouch, organized compartments, and it includes things like moleskin and butterfly closures that a basic kit skips. Saved a friend's blister-destroyed feet on a 10-mile hike.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight .7
Keep one in your car and one in your hiking pack. Weighs nothing, folds to the size of a deck of cards, and it retains 90% of body heat. Used one waiting for a tow truck in January and it genuinely kept me warm.
Emergency Thermal Blankets | Walmart Canada
Clip this to your keychain for a tiny pair of scissors, a knife, tweezers, and a screwdriver. I use the scissors more than anything. It's the thing I reach for at least once a week without thinking.
Multi-tools 101: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Get this for your emergency bag or camping kit. Filters 100,000 gallons before replacement. When a boil water advisory hit my city last year, I was the only person on my block not panicking.
Sawyer Products SP350 MINI Water Filtration System
Grab a crank flashlight so you never worry about dead batteries in an actual emergency. 30 seconds of cranking gives you several minutes of light. Kept one in my apartment during a three-day power outage.
Energizer Weatheready Rechargeable Compact Handheld
Stash this in your trunk for winter driving. If you slide off the road and have to wait for help, this sleeping bag-shaped blanket traps your body heat. Packs down to the size of your fist and weighs almost nothing.
Survive Outdoors Longer Emergency Bivvy with Rescue