This Anti-Assault Ring Is Perfect For Women Who Jog Alone

Go Guarded can help protect a woman who jogs on her own

There’s a new product on the market that might make women who jog alone feel a little bit safer. It’s called Go Guarded, and it’s the perfect stocking stuffer for a women who enjoys running by herself.

As much as we hate having to think this way, it’s reality that women are the victims of sexual assault far more often than men. Although the U.S. Department of Justice doesn’t have an available statistic for attacks on runners, we do know that women out on their own face dangers their male counterparts simply do not. Just this past summer saw the murders of three female joggers in the space of nine days, sparking fear in women who typically enjoy running by themselves.

Of course, that fear is somewhere in our minds regardless of what we see on the news, but this year’s spate of killings reminds us that we need to be vigilant and protect ourselves as best as we can. Go Guarded is a discreet and unobtrusive way to up our chances of escaping an attempted attack. And for the low price of $16, it’s hard to see why any woman who jogs alone would decide not to use one.

From their website: “Go Guarded is a new option for active woman to defend themselves. Go Guarded is a heavy-duty plastic serrated-edge weapon that is worn on any finger. It is convenient, effective, comfortable, and always ready. Unlike mace or pepper spray, Go Guarded will not need to be retrieved from a fanny pack, spray back on you, or be knocked out of your hand.”

This video shows how the blade works in the event of an attack.

The blade is covered by a shield that bends and also, covers the blade to protect the user from accidental injury. But once deployed, the shield gives so the blade can do damage if need-be.

The site also notes how a woman being attacked is likely to use her hands to defend herself, so why not put a weapon right on your finger, where it’s readily available?

To ensure proper fit, each Go Guarded comes with special sizers to accommodate a woman’s finger from ring sizes seven to 9.5. It also comes in three colors — magenta, blue or black. The bonus of the ring fitting closely to the body is that it can’t fall out of a fanny pack or pocket the way a can of mace could. It’s always on your person, and that makes it a powerful tool for protection.

The creator of the product is a runner herself and decided to invent a self-defense option for women who run solo. She says, “It is not my intent to incite a culture of fear for woman, but the sad truth is horrible things do happen, and I truly believe we need to take whatever steps possible to keep ourselves safe.”

And that’s exactly on the nose. I’m a woman who prefers living my life without letting fear dictate my comings and goings. Not only do I frequently jog alone, I also run errands by myself after dark and have never thought much of it, but a recent incident where my car was broken into and my purse stolen made me reevaluate how I operate. Fortunately, the only things harmed this time were my car window and a few valuables, but it definitely made me realize I’m not as invincible as I feel. It woke me to the potential for being a victim, regardless of how strong and capable of defending myself I think I am.

To that end, I’ve already forwarded the link to Go Guarded’s website to my husband so this little gadget hopefully ends up in my Christmas stocking this year. None of us want to live our lives as though we might be victims, but small precautions like this could make a huge difference on the off-chance that the unthinkable occurs.

H/T Bored Panda