Weapons(not firearms) and body armour for self protection?

[Hatasomalier]

I would like to start a separate thread about what options there are in weapons and body armour for us who live in countries and places where firearms are not easily available.
What weapons do you have or recomend? What body protection do you have or recomend? How good are different forms of sport gears like hockey and american football helmets and body protection? MC-hemlets(popular amongst anarchist rioters from what I've seen) and bodyprotection? What's the best vs the best for the money?
Tools that can be effectively used as weapons, like hammers, axes etc.? Machetes, swords etc.

[niggerknocker]

Take a pair of sharp garden shears apart and you have 2 very nice weapons for DEFENSE. The good old 2X4 with nails is also a good choice but have a back up if you get it stuck in something.

[Levi Coon]

Motorcycle gear. The thick leather kind.

Get a heavy sock. Place a billiard ball inside of it.

Wooden baseball bat. Chainsaw chain. Wrap chain around end of bat. Attach with heavy staples or those U shaped nails.=PAIN

[Levi Coon]

Hunting bows work nice for a ranged attack.

[Gallóglaigh]

I'm a big fan of the war hammer. Not only is it good for smiting, it's also a good breaching tool.

[SmithandWesson]

Expandable batons. Folding knives/blade weapons. Walking canes with swords inside them. In many places it is legal to own body armor so you can go on ebay and buy a level 2 or level 3a concealable vest and have it shipped right to your door. Level 2 is more comfortable and stops most threats. But level 3a will stop 9mm+p (such as those fired out of an mp5 at 1500fps) as well as 44 magnum and shotgun hits.

[whitecanadian]

I'm not sure where you are located, but I am in Ontario and I carry an ASP expandable baton in my car. They are legal here, but I understand they are illegal in many states in the U.S. Pepper spray is a prohibited weapon in Canada, but bear spray is perfectly legal and sold in most camping and outdoor supply stores, and it's almost the same damn thing as pepper spray. I keep a can of that on me too.

Fortunately, I haven't had to use either one yet, but I keep them in a bag in the car just in case.

[whitecanadian]

Also, having played hockey, I wouldn't recommend hockey gear as protection against assaults or weapons. In recent years, the manufacturers have been trying to make the equipment lighter so the players aren't carrying as much weight. They are designed to prevent impact injuries, like concussions, but not designed to stop sharp objects like a knife. A blade would slice right through most hockey equipment with no problem.