Those personal defense items that stun the assailant surprisingly such as stun batons are quickly gaining popularity on the self-defense scene these days. Why are stun batons so popular, you may ask? First of all, it doesn’t take much skill or training for the average person to learn how to effectively use one of these self-protection devices. Secondly, the attacker does not suffer lasting injury by use of a stun baton; rather it will leave him unable to function just long enough for the victim to escape from the situation.

Naturally, by their very design, stun batons have particular benefits over the use of a traditional stun gun. Stun guns inherently suffer range issues with traditional models being limited to use only when the attacker is in close proximity. In some situations if you are near enough to use a stun gun, your attacker is close enough to disarm you or otherwise cause harm. Stun batons, on the other hand, have a greatly increased range in which they can be discharged and because of this have an extended reach. This allows you to distance yourself from your attacker much more than when wielding a traditional stun gun. These long reaching self-defense weapons can be fired more than once.

The word “baton” naturally brings to mind a visual image of a cumbersome and difficult to conceal hulk of a weapon. However, some newer stun baton models have been developed to be telescopic as a way around the bulk problem. The telescopic stun baton, when not in use, is approximately the size of a common household flashlight. In fact, some have a flashlight mounted on top to conveniently serve a dual purpose. When collapsed and not in use, most telescopic stun batons are merely a foot long but can be quickly extended to a full length of about 20 inches in an attack situation. This added length easily puts enough space between you and your attacker, while still delivering a disarming stun that allows ample time for escape. The entire metal arm of the stun baton is electrified, which means that an attacker who is also brazen enough to grab for the baton will receive a surprising stun.

Besides their length and optional mounted flashlight, another advantage of stun batons is the fact that most are manufactured with an alarm. With a simple push of the button, stun alarm batons let you alert others in the vicinity to danger. Many times simply sounding an alarm is all that is needed to frighten away an attacker.

If you frequently find yourself in situations that you believe to be dangerous, you should consider investing in your own safety by purchasing a stun baton. Not only will this device give you peace of mind, you will also have invaluable tools readily available for use if you one day find yourself under attack.