I Tried 7 Products Designed to Make Solo Travel Less Scary

Solo travel is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time, but I’ve been afraid to. From movies like “Taken” that show women being kidnapped for sex trafficking to horror stories on social media about the terrible experiences women have had while abroad, it’s hard not to be a little fearful. Anytime I mention wanting to travel alone to my mother, she suggests that I invite my brother along, but it just wouldn’t be the trip I yearn for.

Even as I’ve walked through New York City, I’ve felt uneasy some nights—and I’m a native, born and raised here. I’m not alone. During my last visit to a museum, a close friend had her pocket-sized pepper spray taken away at the security check. She told me she’d been carrying it for years.

So I felt inspired to test a range of less threatening gadgets and other products designed to be a deterrent to would-be assailants. The goal? To see if they’re worth it for peace of mind.