Pepper Spray 101 · Explainer

Types of Pepper Spray: Stream, Fog, Gel and Foam Compared

Pepper spray comes in four types: stream, fog, gel and foam. The active ingredient is the same in all four. What changes is how the spray leaves the can, and that decides how far it reaches and how carefully you have to aim.

By POM Industries · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

The four main types of pepper spray are stream, fog (also sold as cone), gel and foam. The name describes the spray pattern, not the strength. A stream is a narrow line that reaches farthest and holds steady in wind, but you have to aim it. A fog or cone spreads wide, so it's easier to land, but it drifts and can reach you or people nearby. Gel and foam are thicker sprays that stick where they land. Every POM sprays a stream.

TYPESFourStream, fog, gel and foam
LONGEST REACHStreamAlso steady in wind
EVERY POMStreamSame formula in every unit

The four types at a glance.

Each type has an upside and a downside. Knowing both helps you pick the one that fits how you'll carry it.

TypeHow it leaves the canWhat to know
StreamA narrow line of liquid, aimed at one person.Longest reach, and steady in wind. Needs accurate aim.
ConeA broad spray that covers a wider area.Easier to land. Less effective in wind, and more of it can reach you or bystanders.
FogA cloud of fine droplets that fills a larger area.Generally used to clear a space or disperse a crowd. Shortest reach of the three. Not for windy conditions.
GelA thicker formula that comes out as a sticky line.Sticks where it lands. Check the label for range.
FoamA thick lather.Coats what it hits. Check the label for range.

Names vary by brand

Real products fall along a range between these types, and one maker's cone can behave like another's fog. Go by the range and directions printed on the label.

Stream: the farthest reach.

A stream leaves the can as a narrow line of liquid and doesn't spread much on the way.

The upside

Most of the spray goes where you point it. A stream reaches farther than the wider patterns and stays steady in wind, which helps keep it off you.

The downside

You have to aim. A stream covers a small area, so it has to land on the face to work. That takes practice.

Close-up of a black POM pepper spray with its flip-top open, showing the spray nozzle

Fog and cone: wider coverage, more drift.

These spread out as they leave the can and cover the area around the person, not just the person.

The upside

Aim matters less. A wide pattern is easier to land, because you don't have to be exact.

The downside

The spray that spreads sideways can reach you and anyone nearby. Wind makes both patterns less effective. Foggers are generally used to clear a space or disperse a crowd.

Gel and foam: thicker sprays that stick.

Both swap the thin liquid for something thicker.

Gel

Comes out as a sticky line and stays where it lands.

Foam

Comes out as a lather that coats what it hits.

POM doesn't make gel or foam units. If you're looking at one, check the range and directions on its label.

The type doesn't change the strength.

All four types use the same active ingredient: OC, short for oleoresin capsicum.

How hot a spray is depends on its formula, not its pattern. To compare strength between brands, look for the MC (major capsaicinoids) percentage on the label. Every POM uses the same formula: 10% OC, 2.12M SHU and 1.40% MC.

How OC, SHU and MC work · How to choose the best pepper spray

How to choose.

These are our tips. Start with where you'll carry it and who's likely to be around you.

  1. Think about wind

    If you'll carry it outdoors, wind matters. A stream holds steady in wind.

  2. Think about who's near you

    Wider patterns put more spray into the air around you. In a hallway, a car or a crowd, that can reach you and other people.

  3. Plan to practice

    Any type works better once you've tried it. An inert unit sprays water, so you can practice opening the flip-top, aiming and pressing.

  4. Read the label

    Range and expiration date are printed on the unit or its packaging. Compare those, not the name of the pattern.

What POM uses.

Every POM unit sprays a stream, with the same formula in each.

Clip, Key, Snap · ½ ozUp to 12 ft Runner · 0.75 ozUp to 12 ft MK-3 · 1.8 ozUp to 18 ft Home Defense · 9.2 ozUp to 20 ft

A stream gives the longest reach, holds steady in wind and puts less spray in the air around you than a fog or cone. That's why POM uses it.

Stream sprays from POM.

Check your state's rules before you order.

Black POM Clip pepper spray with aqua ring, front view POM Clip pepper spray clipped to a jeans front pocket

POM Clip

½ oz stream spray that clips to a pocket or strap

$14.95Shop POM Clip
Black POM Key keychain pepper spray with aqua ring, front view POM Key pepper spray on a key ring with everyday-carry gear and wallet

POM Key

½ oz stream spray for your key ring

$14.95Shop POM Key

Mistakes to avoid.

Choosing by the name alone

Stream, cone and fog don't mean the same thing from brand to brand. Read the range on the label.

Assuming wider means stronger

Pattern is coverage, not heat. Compare the MC % to compare strength.

Forgetting the wind

A gust can carry spray back at you, the wider patterns most of all. Notice which way it's blowing.

Never trying it

The first time you aim shouldn't be the time you need it. Practice with an inert unit.

Questions.

What are the different types of pepper spray?

There are four main types: stream, fog (also sold as cone), gel and foam. All use the same active ingredient, OC. The type describes how the spray leaves the can.

Which type of pepper spray reaches the farthest?

Among stream, cone and fog, a stream has the longest reach. Range still varies by product, so check the number on the label.

How does wind affect pepper spray?

A stream holds steady in wind. Cone and fog patterns lose effectiveness in wind, and a gust can carry any spray back toward you.

Is gel or foam pepper spray stronger than a stream?

No. The type is the spray pattern, not the strength. Strength comes from the formula, and the number to compare is the MC (major capsaicinoids) percentage.

What type of pepper spray does POM make?

Every POM unit sprays a stream. The ½ oz Clip, Key and Snap and the Runner reach up to 12 ft, the MK-3 up to 18 ft and the Home Defense unit up to 20 ft.

Is a fog easier to use than a stream?

A fog or cone is easier to land because it spreads, but more of it can reach you and people nearby. A stream needs aim, which is what practice with an inert unit is for.

Pepper Spray 101

Keep learning

Next up Pepper Spray Science OC, MC and SHU: what the numbers on the label mean. Read the guide Also in this series How to Choose the Best Pepper Spray Strength, size, carry style, safety and range. Read Also in this series Pepper Spray First Aid How to get it off your skin and out of your eyes. Read