First Look: Sabre Personal Safety for the Trails
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Sabre Personal Alarm with Clip and LED
Dimensions: 2.5” x 1.5″
Price: $15
The Sabre personal alarm is small, light, weatherproof and easy to use personal safety device. For those who prefer minimal gear while running, this is an easy addition for a little peace of mind. The alarm clip features two buttons—one for the alarm and one for the light. The light isn’t as much for seeing as it is for being seen. A relatively dim green LED has three settings: solid, fast strobe and slow strobe. It will help you find the door lock when you get home in the dark, but it won’t light the path. The alarm is a piercing 120dB, reportedly audible up to 600 feet.
As the website says, this will turn bystanders into witnesses and possibly even rescuers. Whether running in the city or deep in the forest, this will get the attention of those around you. While it may not stop an aggressor as much as the pepper gel (see below), it acts like a car alarm and startles anything that’s nearby.
For those of us who find ourselves running closer to dark than we anticipated in the wilderness without a soul around and beef jerky in our pockets, the alarm works wonders for keeping wildlife away. I tend toward singing when I find myself in this situation, but I quickly run out of breath… On a recent run, I pressed the alarm every couple minutes instead for peace of mind.
Before taking the Sabre personal alarm and LED out for a run, know that plastic has to be removed from within the battery case and getting to the battery requires a tiny (eye-glasses repair size) phillips-head screwdriver.
Sabre Pepper Gel Spray
Price: $10
The Sabre Red Pepper Gel “Runner” is a light-weight pepper gel spray with an elastic velcro strap specifically designed for runners. The strap can be fastened to a pack or act as a handheld. The Sabre Pepper Gel Spray is not to be toyed with. It’s maximum strength (reportedly higher concentration than dog or bear sprays), reaches up to 12 feet and sprays in a direct stream to limit blowback.
Use is intuitive for the pepper gel spray; the top toggles to be in the “open” position and then you simply press down to activate. Of course, before you head out, double check that the opening isn’t facing you so that should you need to use it in a pinch, you’re ready.
This reviewer not only has these stashed for runs but also keeps one in her tent and car for those solo trips. Again, a little piece of mind goes a long way.
State laws prohibit shipment of this model to: AK, DC, HI, MA & NY.
—Megan Janssen is the Assistant Editor of Trail Runner Magazine.
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