There are different kinds of pepper spray as a good defense tool on the market. One kind of pepper spray very popular among law enforcement personnel is called Mace. The general public mistakenly refers to all pepper spray as Mace. Technically this is incorrect. Although Mace is a form of pepper spray, it is really a name of a unique manufacturer. Mace is like the Chevrolet of the pepper spray industry. Pepper Shot, another manufacturer, is like the Ford of the industry. There are other manufacturers like GMC or Honda that compete against Chevrolet. Likewise, there are other manufacturers who peddle pepper spray that is comparable to Mace.

Most pepper spray brand names are available to the general public for personal or private use.

Some pepper spray manufacturers make spray that put out different spray patterns. There is the cone and the stream spray pattern.

Both cone and stream spray patterns have advantages and disadvantages. In general, the stream spray pattern has farther range than the cone. The stream spray pattern requires active aiming of the spray unit into the attacker's face, whereas the cone spray pattern will have a wide spread such that purposeful aiming is not required. General aiming is.

In layman's terms, stream spray pattern is more like a rifle whereas cone spray pattern of pepper spray is more like a shotgun. A rifle requires true aiming at your target. A shotgun will provide a wide spread such that any target that is not in the direct site of a shotgun but only a few inches away from the site can still get hit by the spread.

If you are using the pepper spray during windy days, the stream spray pattern is more controllable. The cone mist can be blown off your target and even spray back to the user.

This leads to the question of inhalability. Pepper spray works best on your attacker if it hits his eyes and when it is inhaled. The stream spray may require longer exposure to promote coughing symptoms yet the cone spray pattern is breathed in instantaneously.

Some stream spray patterns of pepper spray can have ranges of up to 8 to 10 feet. This Peter North of pepper spray will provide you enough distance between you and your attacker. The cone spray pattern will require you to be closer than this range only because your close proximity will provide an intense mist into his face rather than a distant one.