There are few things more rewarding than spotting a bear in the wild, as long as it's from afar. Although technically not aggressive animals, bears tend to be unpredictable when they feel threatened. That's why you don't want to find yourself too close to one, especially if the bear has cubs or is foraging for food. But if you do and the bear decides to attack, bear spray (aka bear mace) will act as an effective deterrent to protect yourself and your belongings.
We tested the best bear spray on the market for 2024. Read on to see how they performed, which one is best for you, and get some buying advice.
Table of Contents
Best Bear Sprays
The best bear sprays are:
- Best Overall Bear Spray: COUNTER ASSAULT
- Best Budget Bear Spray: UDAP
- Best Long Range Bear Spray: FRONTIERSMAN
| MODEL | Volume | Duration | Concentration | Distance | Holster | PRICE | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Counter Assault | 8.1 oz | 7 seconds | 2% | 32 ft | Y | $59 | 9/10 |
| 2. UDAP | 7.9 oz | 4 seconds | 2% | 30 ft | Y | $59.99 | 9/10 |
| 3. Frontiersman | 9.2 oz | 5 seconds | 2% | 35 ft | Y | $52.99 | 9/10 |
| 4. Guard Alaska | 9 oz | 9 seconds | 1.34% | 20 ft | Y | $39.99 | 8/10 |
PROS:
✅ Lightweight
✅ Spray distance
✅ Spray duration
CONS:
❌ Expensive
KEY SPECS
- Volume: 8.1 oz
- Duration: 7 seconds
- Concentration: 2%
- Distance: 32 ft
- Holster: Yes
Counter Assault was the first bear spray to receive EPA approval, and it’s a long-standing favorite in the hiking community. We found this bear spray to be the best-balanced bear mace on our list. It rates the second highest in weight, spray distance, and spray duration. It sprays slightly slower than the competitors to deliver a dispersed cloud giving you ample coverage to get away.
We loved the bright red can and glow-in-the-dark safety that makes it easy to find in all conditions. It ships with a nylon holster with a belt loop too. The biggest drawback to Counter Assault is the price tag. It’s the most expensive bear spray on our list.
PROS:
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Lightweight
CONS:
❌ Short spray duration
KEY SPECS
- Volume: 7.9 oz
- Duration: 4 seconds
- Concentration: 2%
- Distance: 30 ft
- Holster: Yes
Similar to Frontiersman, the UDAP bear spray delivers a short, but powerful burst of 2% pepper spray when you fire. We love that it’s the lightest and least expensive bear spray on our list, which makes it our top budget pick. The spray distance of 30 feet is good, but not great.
We don’t like that the can empties in only 4 seconds. Just enough time to blast a bear once or twice before running out. If you want maximum protection we recommend going with an option that gives you more spray time. The UDAP ships with a camo hip holster.
PROS:
✅ Long spray distance
✅ Inexpensive
CONS:
❌ Heavy
❌ Shorter spray duration
KEY SPECS
- Volume: 9.2 oz
- Duration: 5 seconds
- Concentration: 2%
- Distance: 35 ft
- Holster: Yes
Frontiersman delivers a wicked blast of 2% pepper spray right when you need it. We are impressed with the 35-foot spray distance, the longest on our list. Price wise the Frontiersman is on the affordable end of bear sprays. We found the 5-second spray duration to be the second shortest of the products we tested. At 9.2 ounces it’s also the heaviest bear mace we tested.
We loved the glow-in-the-dark trigger making it easy to find at night. It is made by Sabre, one of the top self-defense pepper spray brands. It can be purchased with a belt, chest holster, and a practice spray.
The Other Noteworthy Models
PROS:
✅ Long spray duration
CONS:
❌ Low spray concentration
❌ Short spray distance
KEY SPECS
- Volume: 9 oz
- Duration: 9 seconds
- Concentration: 1.34%
- Distance: 20 ft
- Holster: Yes
Guard Alaska is the only EPA-approved bear spray effective against all bear species. We found the 9-second spray duration the longest of the bear sprays on our list.
The 1.34% total capsaicinoid formula and 20-feet spray distance are the lowest on our list. This would make us think twice about buying this spray unless we thought we needed the most spray duration possible. For example, on an extended trip or area of heavy bear activity when multiple uses might be needed. It includes a holster.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing
PRICE
Factors that affect price are the amount of spray in a can, the concentration of the spray, and the spray distance. The more of each of these you have the more premium the spray.
Bear sprays that provide the greatest value:
Affordable bear sprays:
Premium bear sprays (most expensive):
WEIGHT
Consider how much your canister weighs in relation to the quantity of spray provided. The EPA requires that all bear sprays have at least 7.9 ounces of spray to be effective. More canister weight generally means longer spray times.
The lightest bear sprays:
SPRAY DURATION
This is the amount of time you can continuously spray a blast. Look for sprays that last at least 4 seconds or more. The longer spray duration will give you more room for error and could potentially save your life.
Bear sprays with the longest spray duration:
SPRAY DISTANCE
Bear spray should spray in a cloud/cone pattern and have an absolute minimum range of 16 feet, 25+ feet is preferred. The longer, the better. Some products can spray up to 35 feet giving you an additional distance to deter a bear.
Bear sprays with the longest spray distance:
Other Things to Consider
Formula
The maximum bear spray strength allowed by the EPA is 2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids (CRC). The higher the CRC percentage, the stronger the spray. Look for the strongest spray you can find.
Ease of Use
Bears can run up to 28 miles an hour. Bear spray needs to be easily accessible. It won't help buried deep inside your backpack. Look for sprays that come with a fast-drawing belt clip or chest holster in case a bear pops up when you least expect it. If you aren't carrying trekking poles, you can also hold it in your hand, although this becomes tiring on a long hike.
FAQs
What bear spray works best?
The bear spray that works best is one with a 2% concentration of CRC. Of the products we tested, we found the Counter Assault bear spray works the best.
What bear spray shoots the farthest?
The bear spray that shoots the farthest is the Guard Alaska bear spray.
Is bear spray stronger than pepper spray?
Yes, it is. Bear spray is up to 3 times stronger than pepper spray.
Related: See Best Bear Canisters and Bear Scat Identification Guide.
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