Cold Steel Inferno
I wanted to give the straight dope on Cold Steel Inferno pepper foam. Something I've been meaning to get to for a while now. Most of us are familiar with the Cold Steel marketing approach. The same style they use to sell their knives and other products is used in the marketing of their pepper spray. However, as an "insider" I can cut through the BS and tell it like it is.
Right off the bat, I want to say that I think it is a good product. That said, let's take a look at some of their claims:
"The Ultimate Dual Action Defense Spray," says the heading.
"Inferno is a new pepper canister weapon from Cold Steel that will turn the biggest, meanest, most violent criminal into helpless molten wax at your feet. Unlike other pepper sprays you may have heard about, Inferno deploys a highly targetable foam that contains 8% Oleoresin Capsicum and 2% black pepper."
Cold Steel would have us believe (through the marketing literature & videos) that they've invented the greatest thing since sliced bread. That they reinvented the pepper spray category. By combining two types of pepper (more on that shortly) into one spray. Well, here is the truth. They didn't "come up" with anything. As a matter of fact,
Cold Steel bought out an existing brand! The formula that they tout as the greatest, was actually a product by another company that they acquired.
Take a look at this link. It is one of the only examples left of the former company.
http://www.amazon.com/BodyGuard-Plus-Pepper-Spray-Value/dp/B0013GDRZA
If you look closely, you'll see that it states that it has two types of pepper. What they are referring to is capsaicin and piperlne (black pepper). Sound familiar? Inferno's claim to fame is that it uses two kinds of pepper extacts, and that the black pepper "induces the sneeze reflex," that will
"drag the super hot Habanero chili extract deep into the mucous membranes of the sinus cavities of the nose, throat and lungs causing them to swell up and prevent all but desperate life support breathing." This is complete and utter nonsense. Black pepper does, indeed, induce the sneeze reflex, but it is a virtually worthless addition to the formula. The way OC affects the our sinuses (causes extreme nasal discharge, for example) will completely counter the sneeze reflex. Testing out the product many times, not one person ever experienced the sneeze reflex effect.
Pros:
• Active Ingredients : 8% Oleoresin Capsicum.
• 2,000,000 Scoville Heat Unites (SHU)
• Scoville Value : 160,000
• Capsaicinoid Content: 1.00 %
CONTAINS NO CARCINOGENS OR ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL.
Cons:
• Only comes in foam. Strong winds can really knock foam OC off the mark. (Despite what their videos would have you believe)
• Black pepper is worthless in this formula. Just added for marketing purposes.
All in all, you can do a lot worse than this product. Don't believe the hype when it comes to the 2% black pepper. It is meaningless when it comes to the products effectiveness.
OCT