Bear spray is only going to work if you have it with you, and if you can deploy it quickly and surely. But carrying a big, awkward can of pressurized capsaicin can prove challenging, particularly if you鈥檙e wearing lighter clothing during the summer. Enter the , which聽solves this problem elegantly.
My girlfriend, Virginia,聽and I have spent plenty of time in bear country. On camping trips, I鈥檇 strap a can to my belt, opposite my handgun, and she鈥檇 throw a can of the stuff in one of her pack鈥檚 water-bottle pouches. But that meant she always had to carry the pack.
Thing is, the holster I carry is聽pretty terrible, too, allowing the can to bounce around on my聽hip as I move and catching brush in tight quarters.
Enter the . It’s a simple product鈥攋ust a stretchy neoprene sleeve sewn to what looks like the waist belt off a light technical pack. That puts breathable mesh against your body, while the outside is an abrasion-resistant nylon. It secures at the front with a quick-release buckle. And聽there鈥檚 a Velcro tab that stretches over the top of the can to add security. Just flip the belt over depending on which side you want to be able to draw the spray from.
There鈥檚 also the , which includes pockets for your phone and keys. But to keep those pockets upright, you can only draw the can with your left hand.
Virginia reports that the belt fits comfortably and rides securely, without any bouncing around. I鈥檝e watched her use it on the trail, and have never once seen her fiddling with it. It鈥檚 just there, out of the way, in case she聽ever needs it. Test draws have proven it鈥檚 fast and easy to get the can out.
The Scat Belt is a simple, cheap product. But also one that now adds an immense amount of safety and peace of mind to our everyday lives. If you live in or plan on visiting bear country, you should get one.