PAVAGel™ VS. Pepper Spray
When you think about personal defense, “pepper spray” probably comes to mind. It’s been a well-known option for decades. But technology in personal safety has advanced significantly, leading to more effective and reliable solutions. It’s time to explore the superior alternative: PAVAGel™, the powerful irritant used in HERO® non-lethal devices.
Let’s talk about the crucial differences between pepper spray and our advanced PAVAGel™ formula. From effectiveness and training, to ease of use in real-world scenarios, see why HERO® has become the definitive choice for modern personal protection.
PAVAGel™ Origins
Both pepper spray and PAVAGel™ work to incapacitate an attacker, but their composition and delivery method are worlds apart.
Pepper Spray: The Old Standard
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent with Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) as its active ingredient. OC is a natural oil derived from peppers. It causes intense burning sensations, forces the eyes shut, and triggers severe coughing and difficulty breathing when used as an irritant spray. The effects are temporary but potent. Pepper spray is usually delivered as a fine mist or thin stream.
PAVAGel™: Advanced Formula
PAVAGel™ utilizes Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide (PAVA), a lab made capsaicinoid that delivers the same incapacitating effects as natural OC. The true innovation, however, lies in its formulation. Our PAVA is suspended in a thick, sticky gel. Instead of a fine mist or thin stream, HERO® devices project an expanding cone of PAVAGel™ at the target.
The PAVAGel™ Difference
PAVAGel™ outperforms traditional pepper sprays in every critical aspect of personal defense. Let’s explore why PAVAGel™ has become the superior choice.
Unmatched Accuracy
- Traditional Sprays: Canned sprays generally disperse a thin stream or a fine mist. Both formats require you to be near the target, putting you closer to danger, and requires you to have excellent accuracy which is difficult to achieve in a high stress situation.
- HERO® PAVAGel™: The thick, expanding cone of gel can be fired from 20 feet away, covering a wide area. And because it’s a gel, it sticks tenaciously to whatever it hits. This guarantees the assailant gets a direct dose. The gel is also extremely difficult to wipe off, prolonging its incapacitating effects and giving you more time to escape to safety.
Eliminating the Risk of Blowback
- Traditional Sprays: The fine mists deployed by traditional pepper sprays are significantly affected by wind. A slight breeze could mean the user gets the full brunt of the irritant while the target remains unaffected – making an already dangerous scenario much worse.
- HERO® PAVAGel™: With its heavier gel based formula, and powerful firing mechanism, PAVAGel™ travels directly from your device to the target in a split second. You can act decisively without fear of disabling yourself in the process. This focus on user safety is fundamental to every HERO® product.
Superior Performance
- Traditional Sprays: Nearly all pepper sprays utilize compressed CO2 gas to fire their payload.
- HERO® Products: Built on a foundation of quality materials, PAVAGel™ utilizes Nitrogen as its propellant. Nitrogen offers superior temperature stability over C02, so you can count on excellent performance wherever you find yourself.
HERO® Products: Engineered for Real-World Scenarios
Your personal safety device needs to perform flawlessly wherever you are. Let’s see how HERO® devices with PAVAGel™ excel in common situations.
Scenario 1: A Windy Parking Lot at Night
- With traditional pepper spray you need to assess the wind. Which way is it blowing, how hard? Can you fire safely? And if so, how much will you need to compensate for the wind?
- With a device like the AIIRO®, you can aim and fire confidently without stopping to worry about the wind. The substantial gel stream cuts through the wind, ensuring it strikes your target accurately and effectively, without putting you at risk.
Scenario 2: In an Enclosed Space with Others Nearby
- With traditional pepper spray you risk affecting you and everyone in the confined space around you by firing a mist of irritants. You hesitate, torn between acting to defend yourself, and causing chaos for everyone around you. What happens in that moment of hesitation?
- With a HERO® device, you know you can fire precisely at the aggressor. While there is still some small risk to very close bystanders, you’re able to act quickly and confidently to stop the situation from escalating. This makes it a responsible choice for close quarters and urban environments.
Scenario 3: A Dynamic, Fast-Moving Threat
- With traditional pepper spray a thin liquid stream arcs slowly through the air, requiring a direct hit to the face for maximum effect. Or, if firing a fine mist, the target may be able to avoid or escape the immobile irritant hanging in the air.
- With PAVAGel™, your shot strikes in an instant with force and precision, covering a wide area in sticky irritants. A second shot remains available for backup. When the attacker instinctively tries to wipe it away, they spread it to other parts of their body.
PAVAGel™ is designed to work effectively in any situation, providing power and reliability you can count on to protect yourself or your loved ones.
The HERO® Advantage
PAVAGel™ is just one format in the HERO® lineup of non-lethal systems designed for reliability, concealability, and ease of use:
HERO® 2020
Multi-format defense with a powerful feature set.
- Laser Sight: A built-in laser provides pinpoint accuracy, ensuring you hit your mark.
- Stun Light: A blinding 600-lumen LED light disorients an attacker, giving you a critical advantage.
- Quick-Swap Cartridges: No tools needed, reload cartridges in under 5 seconds.
- Ergonomic Design: Built for all users, with ambidextrous safety and easy dual finger trigger pull.
AIIRO®
AIIRO®: Sleek, compact, and powerful, PAVAGel™ sticks to and stops attackers.
- Compact Design: One of the smallest devices available, fits in your pocket or purse.
- 120dB Alarm: A piercing alarm draws attention and deters attackers.
- Double Safety: Prevent accidental discharge, operable in one smooth motion of the thumb.
- Quick-Swap Cartridges: Reloading in seconds without tools or assembly.
Every HERO® device includes practice cartridges, targets, and free online training videos so you can act confidently and quickly when faced with danger.
Make the Confident Choice for Your Safety
You no longer have to rely on the shortcomings of traditional pepper spray. PAVAGel™ addresses the weaknesses of pepper sprays, delivering a safer, more reliable, and more effective solution for personal defense.
Choosing a personal safety device is an investment in your well-being. HERO’s commitment to PAVAGel™ and user-centric design is a reflection of our mission to provide the most advanced and dependable technology available. Don’t settle for an outdated standard. Equip yourself with a modern solution built for the real world. Explore HERO® products today!