Counter Assault Bear Spray — 10.2 oz with Holster (MPN 15067035)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note: Counter Assault's current bear-spray line is two sizes: 8.1 oz (32 ft, ~7 s, $52.49) and 10.2 oz (44 ft, ~8 s, $62.99 canister-only) — plus a combo pack ($115.49). This file covers the 10.2 oz with belt holster, the size most reviewers and park agencies recommend. Note: Counter Assault's own site now advertises the 10.2 oz at 44-foot range; older packaging and many retailer pages still say 40 ft — same formula, updated label (the EPA master label, current as of 2026-01-20, covers 40/42/44-ft claims). Legacy MPN 15067035 / UPC 722031414433 covers the holster bundle.

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• Long-running product: Counter Assault bear deterrent has been sold in 8.1 oz and 10.2 oz sizes for years; no formula change — 2% capsaicin & related capsaicinoids, the legal maximum.
• 2023–2025: standard 10.2 oz labeling at 40 ft / ~8 s; holster bundle MPN 15067035.
• 2026: official site re-labels the 10.2 oz as 44-foot range (counterassault.com collections page, crawled 2026-09-18); EPA registration 55541-2 remains current (label dated 2026-01-20). Stale retailer titles occasionally mislabel the 10.2 oz as 32 ft / 7 s — those are the 8.1 oz specs; check net weight (10.2 oz / 290 g) when buying.
• Smart buy: no generations to worry about — check the expiration date on the can (4-year shelf life) instead. The 10.2 oz is the recommended size; the 8.1 oz suits runners/day-hikers who prioritize weight.

Overview

EPA-registered bear deterrent (not a weapon, not for use on humans) made in Montana. The 10.2 oz canister with glow-in-the-dark safety wedge and nylon belt holster is the standard backcountry carry in grizzly country. Use it as a last-resort deterrent at close range, aimed slightly downward to create a cloud barrier — wind, temperature, expiration, and how fast you can deploy it matter as much as the brand.

Key Specs

Pricing

• MSRP / list: $83.00 reference (counterassault.com, crossed-out "was" price, crawled 2026-09-18); current direct price $69.99 with holster, $62.99 canister-only.
• Street: $44.49 — Bud's Gun Shop (crawled 2026-08-25); $50.39 — Backcountry (20% off, crawled 2026-09-13); $67.99 — Green Top (2026). Bud's at $44.49 is the best verified 2026 street price.
• Observation date: 2026-09-20. Prices from page crawls, not live checkouts — re-verify; and check the can's expiration date on arrival.

In the Box

• 10.2 oz bear deterrent canister, belt holster, safety wedge with tie string.
• Not included / needed: practice canister (sold separately — recommended; an inert trainer is the responsible way to learn deployment).

Warranty

No manufacturer warranty stated — Amazon product data lists "No Warranty" for this item; Counter Assault's warranty policy UNVERIFIED beyond that. As a pressurized consumable with a 4-year shelf life, warranty coverage is not the meaningful question — freshness is.

Support & Parts

Counter Assault (Bushwacker Backpack & Supply Co., Kalispell, MT) — direct sales, safety instructions, and practice sprayers. One Amazon listing names Tender Corp as manufacturer — unconfirmed; Counter Assault is consistently presented as the brand/manufacturer elsewhere.

Community Verdict

Bear spray is the evidence-backed choice for bear encounters, and the debate is about details, not whether to carry it. The frequently cited Smith–Herrero research (BYU coverage) found spray stopped undesirable behavior in the large majority of incidents, but with real caveats critics raise: wind degraded accuracy in a meaningful share of cases, the famous "98%" figure counts people who escaped injury rather than incidents stopped, and a small number of bears returned. The honest synthesis from 2023–2026 coverage: carry spray, keep it instantly accessible (holster on hip/chest, not in your pack), practice with an inert can, mind the wind, and respect the expiration date. Brand debates (Counter Assault vs. UDAP) run hot in forums but rest on thin comparative data — both are EPA-registered at 2%; the differentiators are canister size, holster quality, and price, not proven efficacy gaps.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality

• It's a consumable — the can expires. 4-year shelf life from manufacture; the expiration date is printed on the can. Expired spray is the real-world failure mode: propellant and pressure degrade, so range and fog pattern fall off. 2023–2026 forum/retailer guidance is unanimous: check the date on arrival and replace on schedule.
• Nothing to warranty, everything to inspect. Amazon product data lists "No Warranty"; Counter Assault's own warranty policy remains UNVERIFIED. The meaningful quality signal is EPA registration 55541-2 (current label 2026-01-20) — registration, not warranty, is what guarantees the 2% formula.
• Holster wear. Long-term owners report the nylon belt holster's elastic and stitching wearing before the can expires — the glow-in-the-dark safety wedge and tie string are small losable parts. Replacement holsters are sold separately.
• Heat is the enemy. Pressurized can + hot car = degraded performance and (in extremes) rupture risk; standard owner practice is cool, dry storage and never leaving it baking in a vehicle.

Version history — year by year

• Long-running: 8.1 oz and 10.2 oz sizes sold for years; no formula change — 2% capsaicin & related capsaicinoids, the legal maximum.
• 2023–2025: 10.2 oz labeled at 40 ft / ~8 s; holster bundle MPN 15067035.
• 2026: official site re-labels the 10.2 oz as 44-foot range (counterassault.com, crawled 2026-09-18); EPA registration 55541-2 current (label dated 2026-01-20). Same formula, updated label. Direct price now $69.99 with holster ($62.99 canister-only) vs. the old $83 reference.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs. UDAP Bear Spray 7.9 oz (new in this catalog round): the great forum debate. Both EPA-registered at 2%; UDAP claims a denser, faster-deploying fog at 30–35 ft (retailer copy varies) and was founded by a grizzly-attack survivor; Counter Assault's 10.2 oz offers longer range (44 ft) and duration (~8 s). No solid comparative efficacy data exists — the honest differentiators are canister size, holster quality, and street price, not proven stopping power.
• vs. Garcia Backpackers Cache (new in this catalog round): prevention vs. deterrence. The canister keeps bears from getting food rewards (required in much of the Sierra); the spray is the last-resort encounter tool. In grizzly country you carry both — they solve different problems.
• vs. Counter Assault 8.1 oz ($52.49, 32 ft, ~7 s): the sibling for runners and day-hikers who prioritize weight. The 10.2 oz remains the size park agencies and reviewers recommend for backcountry carry.

Care & maintenance

• Check the expiration date on arrival and annually — replace at 4 years regardless of appearance.
• Store cool and dry; never in a hot car or direct dashboard sun (pressure vessel).
• Keep the safety wedge clipped and the tie string attached; practice the draw from the holster so deployment is muscle memory.
• Practice with an inert trainer can (sold separately) — never test-fire the real can; each burst spends pressure you'll need.
• After any use (even partial), replace the can — a half-spent can is not a reliable deterrent.

Buying traps

• Expired or near-expiry stock: marketplace sellers move old inventory; a "deal" can with 6 months left is no deal. Check the date the day it arrives.
• Size mislabeling: stale retailer titles list the 10.2 oz at 32 ft / 7 s — those are the 8.1 oz specs. Verify net weight (10.2 oz / 290 g) on the listing.
• 40 ft vs. 44 ft packaging: the channel still carries 40-ft-labeled cans; it's the same formula, not a weaker version — but know which label you're getting.
• MSRP vs. street: never pay the $83 reference — street runs $44–50. Bud's Gun Shop hit $44.49 (Aug 2026).
• Flying: cannot go in checked or carry-on luggage, period. Buy at your destination or ship ground ahead.

Community Verdict — more voices (appended 2026-09-20)

• The efficacy consensus holds: the Smith–Herrero research synthesis (BYU coverage) still anchors 2023–2026 discussions — spray stopped undesirable behavior in the large majority of incidents, with the honest caveats (wind degraded accuracy in a meaningful share; the "98%" figure counts people escaping injury, not incidents stopped; a few bears returned).
• Brand debates rest on thin data: Counter Assault vs. UDAP runs hot in forums, but both are EPA-registered at 2% — owners and reviewers land on canister size, holster quality, and price as the real differentiators.
• The deployment consensus: carry it on hip or chest (not in the pack), practice with an inert can, mind the wind, respect the expiration date. "Keep it instantly accessible" is the single most repeated advice across 2025–2026 coverage.

Images

• images/counter-assault-bear-spray-1.jpg — 10.2 oz canister with belt holster (questoutdoors.com, 540×540)
• images/counter-assault-bear-spray-2.jpg — variant: 8.1 oz canister with holster (fieldandstream.com, 385×600)
• images/counter-assault-bear-spray-3.jpg — manufacturer combo image: 10.2 oz (44 ft) + 8.1 oz (32 ft) with holsters (counterassault.com, 400×311)
• Sources: https://www.questoutdoors.com/collections/best-sellers · https://www.fieldandstream.com/es/hunting/best-bear-sprays · https://counterassault.com/collections/bear-spray

Research date: 2026-09-20. UNVERIFIED: current MPN for the newly re-labeled 44-ft 10.2 oz packaging (legacy MPN 15067035 shown); exact manufacturer warranty policy; Tender Corp manufacturing claim. Re-verify range labeling at purchase — packaging in the channel may still show 40 ft.

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Sources

• www.questoutdoors.com — retrieval date not recorded
• www.fieldandstream.com — retrieval date not recorded
• counterassault.com — retrieval date not recorded