To ask what you take with you if walking in the dark?

[FireworkParrot]

I've recently started going on a walk in the evenings to try to get some more exercise and just for a bit of peace and quiet. With work and the children I can only go once they're in bed and DH is home. So not late but I'm probably heading out at 8pm, always back by 9pm.

The only thing is it's dark and even though I live in a decent area and it's not late (mainly walking round the estate I live on) I feel uneasy about walking by myself in the dark. I absolutely hate feeling that way and wondered if carrying a torch/rape alarm or anything else would help. Or perhaps I'm being really silly and don't need to worry, the younger me that used to walk back from nights out alone at 2am would have thought so!

I'm curious to know what others in the same situation do or would do?

My dog

Just my phone (and a head torch and high vis bands - no street lights in my village). I also have a large dog though, who is the sole reason I ever walk in the dark. I wouldn't take anything else in terms of safety if I didn't have the dog though. I live in a safe area and it wouldn't occur to me to worry tbh.

I'm a million times more likely to get hurt driving a car, crossing the road or walking down my own stairs than by an assailant, and I do those things every day without a thought!

I absolutely love walking in the dark at night by myself, have done regularly since my early teenage years, I'll put my headphones in and listen to music, i have my phone torch if needed as there's not a lot of street lighting but that's it, i never see anyone when out, no people, no cars, it's so peaceful

I could have written the OPs post. I take my phone, but only ever listen to anything with 1 ear bud in. I also have keys in my pocket. But I also (and maybe this sounds silly but) I keep my fingernails at enough of a length that if I had to, I know they could do some painful scratching at someone's eyes....too weird?!

@crazyjinglist I'm a million times more likely to get hurt driving a car, crossing the road or walking down my own stairs than by an assailant, and I do those things every day without a thought

May you long, long feel that way. Genuinely, I hope you never lose that feeling.

I've never been in a car crash or been hurt crossing a road, I've never fallen down the stairs. But I've been attacked, mugged, followed, intimidated, and almost dragged into a car –I've never counted how many times, but the first time was enough.

I think it feels like it'll never happen, until it does –and then as soon as it does, it feels like it could happen at any moment.

I'd love to go back to feeling like it would never happen.

Jack Russell.

For the person who mentioned they were somewhere too quiet for the rape alarm, I recall being told it’s never about summoning help - you jist hope to shock your attacker for long enough to get away

I carry a small spray hand sanitiser - like a PP I hope it would sting enough to give me time to run.

I live rurally and no street lights. I take a headtorch, my phone, and wear a hi-viz.

Dont need anything else

Gloves, if v cold.

If I was walking across fields etc I would carry a whistle, in case I tripped and sprained my ankle and needed to attract attention in a signal-free area. A few sweets and a space blanket for the same eventuality.

Otherwise I just walk purposefully and enjoy the physical sensation of being in the fresh air. Listen to the nighttime sounds, look at the moon and think.

Fear generated fear.

I walk late evening with my husband. I prefer to walk at night, love the stars and the cleaner air quality. Also nobody is about.

We use a miners light a bit like this one. It's great. We use it every evening.

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I love walking in the dark with a head torch.
I go through the woods etc quite happily by myself.

I have three very large dogs though. Without them I would not be so blasé!

Nothing, streetlights and plenty of people here

I have my dog and also a torch otherwise it's hard to find the 💩.

May you long, long feel that way. Genuinely, I hope you never lose that feeling.

Thank you.

I've never been in a car crash or been hurt crossing a road, I've never fallen down the stairs. But I've been attacked, mugged, followed, intimidated, and almost dragged into a car –I've never counted how many times, but the first time was enough.

That's awful. I'm sorry you went through that.

I think it's partly that I've lived in much less safe places (where I was never attacked) and now live somewhere that feels very very safe. But it's also that worrying about it won't stop it happening if it's going to happen. Obviously I'd feel totally different if I'd been attacked - like you do. I genuinely don't think anyone would attack me if I was with my dog though. He weighs 35 kilos. He's actually a massive wuss, but he doesn't look like it! I'm not sure what he'd do if someone attacked me, but the sight of him would probably put someone off tbh.

It is annoying if I come across another walker with a head torch on because it's face height it can totally blind the oncoming person.

Knuckleduster.

If I felt uneasy walking somewhere at night then I wouldn’t walk there. As it is, I feel quite safe and go out to walk the dog. So I have a dog, a torch (no streetlights) and my phone.

I have to take my dog out (last walk about 10pm and usually once earlier in the evening) but it's along a main road that's well lit. She's also quite large, with a big deep bark, and wouldn't hesitate to defend me if someone threatened me (not that I want to ever put that to the test, though...!). Other than her, I have my phone and hope to God I never have to find out if that's enough.

Maglite, the 6D variant. I used to have a torch shaped like a baseball bat but felt like police would be a bit if they found me carrying it, the Maglite is much more "explainable".

I always carry self-defence spray, the legal type here (i.e. not pepper spray). It's technically a "criminal identifier" - basically a red dye that you spray in your attacker's face and eyes.

I walk to work very early.. start at 630am. I’m usually scrolling Facebook so phone in hand and my chilli flask (with morning smoothie in). I figure it’s hard enough to do some damage if needs be. My dad taught me basic self defence as a teenager and I never feel that worried.

Giant mastiff. I've had no issues surprisingly 😂

OP I live in a rough bit of London but did this at times in lockdown. I carried a personal alarm with a pin that you pull out, as I did on my "back from a club at 2am" days. I find in London the problem isn't if you don't see anyone - it's if you do!

I saw a lady out jogging regularly. She sang very loudly while jogging. I think that might be a "keep away" tactic but I'm not sure!

If I'm walking my dogs then just them. They wear a head torch round their necks.
If I'm without my dogs, then my house keys, but with the keyring looped round my middle finger and the keys in my palm.

My keys but hand in my pocket so I don’t lose them

My phone and my dog!

I don't go out in the dark on my own without the dog