One in two women do not feel safe walking in alone at night, and two out of three women aged 16 to 34 years experienced one form of harassment in the previous 12 months; with 44% of women aged 16 to 34 years having experienced catcalls, whistles, unwanted sexual comments or jokes, and 29% having felt like they were being followed. Sarah Haspel is no stranger to that reality. As a second-degree black belt with decades of martial arts training, she’s become hyper aware of her surroundings. One evening three years ago, as she walked from her car to a restaurant, a visibly unstable man began to aggressively approach. Instinct and training kicked in—she did everything most self-defense courses teach: set verbal boundaries, created distance, tried to de-escalate. As he kept coming towards her, out of fear for her safety, Haspel reached for her pepper spray, only to find it buried at the bottom of her bag. Luckily, she got it out just in time.
This experience led Haspel to ideate and develop a personal protection tool combining multiple safety features in an easy to use device. Bestie Defense features a multi-patented, modular three-in-one design that combines pepper spray, a piercing alarm, and an improvised weapon, all in chic silhouettes and color ways that blend sophisticated style with serious protection. As its name suggests, Bestie is your “best friend” in nearly any self-defense situation.
“This is a tool for empowerment, not fear,” says Haspel, Founder and CEO of Bestie Defense. “I wanted to create a lifestyle product that seamlessly integrates into anyone’s life, without being a burden or confusing to use. Aware that people often freeze or panic when faced with danger, using complex or multiple self-defense tools has proved to be ineffective. Seconds count when help is minutes away,” Haspel explains. “In dangerous situations, you can’t always count on others to intervene. You need to be equipped to protect yourself. Predators often deliberately isolate their targets before attacking their victims, and in those dangerous situations, no one may be around to help. Unless someone has dedicated real time and effort into training, a person needs simplicity under pressure,” explains Haspel.
Revolutionizing personal safety, Bestie’s design includes three forms of protection working together with a single, intuitive button that simultaneously activates both the pepper spray and the alarm. As a last line of defense, Bestie has an improvised weapon for situations where pepper spray would be impractical, such as enclosed spaces like in cars or elevators, and can be used to strike an attacker if they come within arm’s distance. Precision-engineered in the USA from lightweight, aircraft-grade aluminum, Besties deliver uncompromising protection with refined elegance. Both chic and discreet, they feature a signature ribbed design and slim profile, and are available in a matte black or rose gold finish. The Bestie effortlessly clips onto and fits into most going-out purses.
Even law enforcement personnel are taking note of Haspel’s innovation. Deputy Sheriff and founder of Women in Blue, Melanie Garcia,
sees this new invention as a potential life-saving tool. “Bestie stands in a league of its own. Unlike any other safety device or spray I’ve seen, its design strategically targets the critical elements needed for real-world protection. Based on what I’ve experienced in the field, this isn’t just a product — it’s a potential lifesaver. In the moments that matter most, Bestie could be the difference that protects and empowers the user,” shared Garcia. “As a proud patriot and officer with one of the largest police agencies in the U.S., I trust the Bestie Defense tool for its power to protect, alert with high-frequency, and empower. Through Women in Blue, I stand to equip fierce American women with the mindset, tools, and confidence to be unstoppable, because protection isn’t just a duty, it’s who we are.”
What sets Bestie apart is its modular design, allowing users to customize their protection based on comfort level, circumstances & environment. Traveling somewhere you can’t use pepper spray? Simply remove the canister while still utilizing the alarm and improvised weapon features. Prefer silent operation? Remove the battery to disable the alarm while maintaining the other defensive capabilities. To ensure effectiveness (as pepper spray expires), Bestie Defense offers a first-of-its-kind subscription service, providing automatic refills of their signature defense formulas tailored to different needs. Holy Grail combines military-grade tear gas, OC (pepper spray), and ultraviolet marking dye for maximum stopping power. Hero delivers the highest concentration of OC with UV marking dye for those wanting pure, potent protection. Nationally Notorious offers OC-only protection, complying with the strictest state regulations. Each formula is designed with the understanding that self-defense isn’t one-size-fits-all—customers can select options aligning with local laws and personal confidence level. The brand also offers Practice Spray and will soon be launching complimentary online instructional videos, so users can train and practice deploying their Bestie.
“I chatted with countless women about what they wanted in a personal safety device,” says Haspel. “The consistent feedback was they didn’t want to carry multiple safety devices and appear paranoid, and they didn’t want anything ugly or bulky. They were also tired of devices accidentally activating when dropped, and they wanted to know their tools were effective. Bestie Defense addresses all of these concerns in one device.” The innovative design is a result of countless hours of painstaking research and numerous prototypes, in collaboration with Chief Engineer Norm Tolentino, a former SpaceX aerospace engineer and girl-dad, who completely understood the vital importance of Bestie’s mission.
While Bestie comes at a higher price point than typical self-defense products, it represents exceptional value when considering its comprehensive protection. Purchasing separate high-quality items—a reliable pepper spray, alarm, and impact tool made from durable materials—would likely cost the same or more. “Quality matters tremendously in self-defense. The market offers cheaper pepper spray options, but many lack the potency and consistency to effectively stop an assailant. This is why we’ve partnered with John McCann, former CEO of Mace and a veteran in the pepper spray industry with decades of experience. McCann ensures our formulas are not only top-quality but also third-party tested for reliability. Our pepper spray features law enforcement strength formula—the same potency trusted by police officers nationwide,” she added.
Haspel also explained that, unlike competitors using cheap plastic, Bestie features a premium metal body with replaceable canisters and batteries, ensuring longevity and reliability made in the USA. “When a product could potentially save someone’s life, we refuse to compromise on. Bestie Defense is currently available for pre-order at a special introductory price of $105 through April, after which the price will remain at $149.95. The product can be purchased exclusively at bestie-defense.com, with plans to be in major retailers later this year.