Adrienne So, senior editor at WIRED, tried to test the accident detection feature with her Garmin Venu 2S, but was unable to activate it after faking a fall. Therefore, we cannot say with certainty how well this would work in an actual accident. Still, So says she generally feels much safer while running thanks to her Garmin’s location tracking. As with most of these wearables (except the Apple Watch, for which you can set up a separate cellular plan), you need to have your phone with you for this to work. And of course, you first need to make sure that you enable these security features.
Other safety accessories
If you are not connected to the internet…
If you often go camping or hiking, or are often not connected to the cell phone network for other reasons, most of the products offered here will not help you in an emergency. This is where a satellite messenger comes into play.
We have a guide with some tips for different situations. The Spot X is old fashioned and doesn’t work when you cross the ocean. But the bidirectional sending of SMS, the assignment and the location work independently of each other. So if your phone is broken, broken or broken, this device will work. We really love the Garmin inReach Mini, but it is now discontinued and is only available used.
I’ve spoken to several self-defense instructors over the years who always recommend flashlights as personal safety equipment – yes, more than a mace or pocket knife. Of course, a flashlight will light your way as you walk in the dark, which may help you spot someone who would otherwise be shrouded in darkness, but there are two other reasons why these work. If you shine a flashlight in someone’s eyes, they will become disoriented, hopefully long enough for you to escape. I’m almost blinded by an iPhone’s camera flash, so imagine thousands of lumens directly into your eyeballs. If it really was a friendly stranger asking for directions and not a threat, then you haven’t really harmed him and you’ll be far gone before you know it. (Sorry, stranger.)
If that fails, honestly you can use it to hit them. A piece of metal in your face hurts worse than your fist and won’t hurt you. Get good momentum and run. Of course, like any other weapon, it can be taken from you and used against you. So keep that in mind.
Infinity X1 flashlights are bright. I tried the 4,000 lumen lamp, which lit the room brighter than my actual lamps. This is sold out at the time of writing, but an even brighter 5,000 lumen light is also available. Both have two cores, one for the batteries and one for recharging. It can also charge your phone, so it’s not a bad idea to have on hand for emergencies anyway. It’s heavy and long, which is good if you need to swing it, but it’s not easy to store in your purse.
★ Cheaper options: Any flashlight with some weight will do, and there are a few others that we really like. WIRED writer Matt Jancer recommends the 350 lumens Fenix E20 V2 ($45) in his guide to creating a home emergency kit. It’s compact, so throwing it in your bag shouldn’t be too bothersome, but it’s still made from sturdy metal. For even less money, author Louryn Strampe recommends the 900 lumen light Anker Rechargeable Bolder ($34), which even has a strobe function. It’s much smaller, but it can still hit harder than a single fist.
How we tested
We’ve tested built-in smartphone features, third-party apps, internet-connected jewelry, and other personal safety devices designed to connect you with help when you need it. If necessary, we triggered panic buttons, spoke to the emergency services or completed company training exercises. Most products are able to signal your need for help without you having to speak to anyone. This means you don’t have to dial a number or voice your concern out loud if it would be unsafe for you to do so.
None of these products provide a comprehensive solution for every scenario, but they each provide some form of protection. In some areas, carrying a concealed weapon like a knife or even pepper spray is illegal, and using these things can put you in even more danger. So the methods we highlight here are an alternative to wielding a weapon.
In our testing, we kept inclusivity in mind, recognizing that different groups may have different personal safety needs or feel vulnerable in situations where others do not. While we believe women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community would benefit the most from some of these products, cisgender straight men are also at risk of violence, even if they don’t hear the same warnings we do. Most of this advice focuses on individual violence, but mass shootings are also a fear that Americans continually struggle with. These things may help you get in touch with help more quickly, but they haven’t been tested for this kind of chaos.