Best Insect Repellents for Ticks & Mosquitoes
Insects can spread disease and viruses, so repellents make sense as a preventative measure. Several formulas, concentrations, and application types have varying effectiveness and warnings of their own.
I’ve bought and tried out dozens of insect repellents to find the best, and have found several that work well for various situations. I’ve used them deep in the woods and stashed them in the heat of my car for up to a year to test their limits.
My top recommendation is for Sawyer Picaridin Lotion, which lasts the longest and is the easiest to ensure solid coverage.
I was also impressed with Natrapel Wipes, which use individually wrapped wipes to apply the picaridin, making them great for cars and EDC. Beyond those, I also explored the best DEET, IR3535, and OEL sprays and permethrin for fabric treatment.
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Best Insect Repellent
Sawyer Picaridin Lotion
Fragrance Free, Long Lasting, and Effective
Picaridin is more effective against a broader range of biting insects, like flies and chiggers.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Sawyer’s picaridin lotion lasts a long time, stores well in survival kits and cars, and doesn’t have the laundry-list poison control label like DEET sprays. It also doesn’t have that distinctive bug spray smell and does not have a greasy feel after it is applied.
Specifications
- Volume: 4 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: Picaridin (20%)
- Effective Time: 14 hours
- Application Type: Lotion bottle
- Shelf Life: Unlimited unless dry
The lotion lets you put the repellent exactly where you need it and helps it last much longer than a spray application.
If you need the best repellent for camping or survival kits, the Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion is what you’re looking for.
Best Spray Repellent
Ranger Ready
Long-lasting, Easy to Apply, and Effective
A well-designed spray bottle paired with an effective permethrin repellent.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Ranger Ready Repellent uses picaridin as its active ingredient and has the best spray treatment longevity of all of the sprays, giving 12 hours of protection. There are a variety of scents, but I prefer the non-scented version called Scent Zero.
Specifications
- Volume: 8 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: Picaridin (20%)
- Effective Time: 12 hours
- Application Type: Pump spray bottle
- Shelf Life: Unlimited unless dry
The trigger spray bottle has an adjustable nozzle for stream and spray, so you can be accurate with application. It has a locking mechanism that holds securely in backpacks and in storage.
The Ranger Ready Picaridin Repellent is what you’re looking for if you want a fast, easy-to-apply insect repellent spray.
Best DEET Spray
Repel 100
Max DEET, Long Lasting, and Effective
DEET is still king when it comes to repelling a wide range of mosquito varieties.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The mad scientists over at Repel thought ‘Why don’t we just make an entire bottle of our active ingredient?’ That turned out to be extremely effective. Scientific tests show that this is the one to beat, with it being effective on a huge range of mosquitoes with respectable longevity.
Specifications
- Volume: 4 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: DEET (98%)
- Effective Time: 10 hours
- Application Type: Pump spray bottle
- Shelf Life: Unlimited unless dry
The downside is the laundry list of warnings that come on the bottle. Any spray with DEET levels 20% and up is not recommended for kids. It’s not exactly a family-friendly formula, and it isn’t the sort of thing you want to be applying daily.
If you plan on putting this in your survival kits or bug out bags, you want to put it in a ziploc or dry bag to prevent leaks, since it is a liquid spray. You don’t want it leaking all over your gear and supplies.
It holds up well in the car and in kits where the spray bottle gets hot and cold, although room-temperature storage is ideal. The pump spray is slightly better for wider temperature ranges because it is not pressurized like an aerosol can.
If you are simply looking for high-powered DEET spray (warning labels be damned), Repel 100 Insect Repellent hits the mark.
Best IR3535 Spray
Coleman Skinsmart
Dry Feel, Odorless, and Effective
An effective spray for the entire family that doesn’t feel greasy when applied.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Scientists know remarkably little about why IR3535 repels mosquitoes, but they do know that it works. Coleman Skinsmart is the best implementation of this lesser-known spray, since it goes on without feeling greasy and is odorless.
Specifications
- Volume: 6 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: IR3535 (20%)
- Effective Time: 8 hours
- Application Type: Aerosol spray bottle
- Shelf Life: 2 years
The shelf life of IR3535 is one of the few downsides, since it is a less stable formula than DEET or Picaridin.
If you want solid mosquito protection for your family, Coleman Skinsmart IR3535 Insect Repellent can fit the bill.
Best OLE Spray
Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus
Mosquito-Targeted, Strong Smell, and Family-Friendly
Lemon eucalyptus is surprisingly effective for its simple ingredients.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
The effectiveness of lemon eucalyptus as a viable spray option was first documented back in 1996, but that was well after DEET and other mosquito-repellent ingredients had become commonplace.
Specifications
- Volume: 4 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: Lemon eucalyptus oil (30%)
- Effective Time: 6 hours (mosquitoes only)
- Application Type: Pump spray bottle
- Shelf Life: One year
We were surprised that it performed so well in many of the tests and studies, making a non-DEET option that can rival the effectiveness of DEET itself for common mosquito species.
While the bottle doesn’t have a printed official shelf life, OLE loses effectiveness and has a much shorter shelf life than synthetic repellents.
If you want solid mosquito protection regardless of DEET content, the Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent is what you’re looking for.
Best Wipes
Natrapel Wipes
Stashable, Easy to apply, and Effective
The picaridin-based wipes are effective and fit in your pocket.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
It doesn’t get more convenient than wipes for application and toting around- especially if you are applying them to kids. These have found a home in my car emergency kits and as part of our family’s EDC.
Specifications
- Volume: 12 wipes of 0.092 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: Lemon eucalyptus oil (20%)
- Effective Time: 12 hours
- Application Type: Wipes
- Shelf Life: Unlimited unless dry
You aren’t supposed to store them in hot vehicles, but they hold up fine for at least a year and still have their efficacy. I rotate them through, only storing a few in the cars and replacing them as they are used. They are also so compact and convenient that my wife keeps them as part of her EDC now, stashed in her purse.
The effective time is 12 hours, and the advised reapply time is eight. All of the precautionary statements fit on the back of a single wipe, so even if you pass it along, anyone can see how to use it safely.
For the most convenient insect repellent on the move, the Natrapel Insect Repellent Wipes 12-Pack can keep the bugs away with a quick wipe.
Best Fabric Treatment
Sawyer Permethrin
Strong, Effective, and Durable
Apply a repellent that’ll last for over a month to your outdoor clothing and gear.
*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.
Applying insect repellent to your skin daily isn’t a great solution, but you can either skip that or augment it with permethrin.
Specifications
- Volume: 24 fluid ounces
- Active Ingredient: Permethrin (0.5%)
- Effective Time: 42 days
- Application Type: Spray bottle
- Shelf Life: 10 years
You’ll want to apply this to clothing and gear carefully when you are not wearing them. The ingredients are strong and toxic to both humans and animals, so keep pets away while you are treating your stuff.
Follow the application instructions on the back label, and you should have excellent insect protection well over a month, or for six laundry cycles- whichever comes first. Make sure you give ample time for the permethrin to dry on clothing and take care not to apply it to areas of clothing that will touch your body.
Upgrade your clothing and gear with a long-lasting insect repellent using Sawyer Permethrin Spray.
Comparison Table
| Insect Repellent | Recommendation | Price* | Active Ingredient | Volume | Application | Tick Time | Mosquito Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer Picaridin Lotion | Best Overall | $11 | 20% Picaridin | 4 fl oz | Lotion | 14 hours | 14 hours |
| Ranger Ready | Best Spray | $20 | 20% Picaridin | 8 fl oz | Trigger spray | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Repel 100 | Best DEET Spray | $8 | 98% DEET | 4 fl oz | Pump spray | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Coleman Skinsmart | Best IR3535 Spray | $14 | 20% IR3535 | 6 fl oz | Aerosol | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Cutter Lemon Eucalyptus | Best OLE Spray | $6 | 30% OLE | 4 fl oz | Pump spray | None | 6 hours |
| Natrapel Wipes | Best for EDC | $16 | 20% Picaridin | 1.1 fl oz | Wipes | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Sawyer Permethrin | Best for Fabric Treatment | $18 | 0.5% Permethrin | 24 fl oz | Pump spray | 42 days | 42 days |
How I Tested
First, I did a lot of research since there are so many repellent formulations and concentrations. Like most things, I found they each had their strengths and weaknesses. I leaned on the research portion for strength and effectiveness, since running a controlled experiment with mosquitoes is best left to the scientists.
The results matched my anecdotal experience over the past several years of testing insect spray with mosquitoes and ticks. I use repellent each time I go into the woods throughout the spring, summer, and fall. I was able to rotate the different types to see how well they worked against ticks, mosquitoes, and flies, all of which are prevalent in the woods near my central North Carolina home.
Beyond the effectiveness, I also evaluated how well the sprays, lotions, and wipes applied. Greasy and wet applications weren’t ideal, but could still get the job done. The containers of different insect repellents affected how well they stored and travelled; not leaking and being less bulky were ideal.
Why Trust TruePrepper
At TruePrepper, we review gear and supplies that fall under the prepping and survival umbrella. This means we approach our reviews as though your life may depend on what we are reviewing. For this reason, we take quality seriously and strive to provide as much transparency in our review process as possible.
I’m Sean Gold, the founder of TruePrepper, and I headed up this review on the best insect repellent. I bought everything I recommend and used it myself. I also used equipment, like scales and dimension boards, to gather data on our own rather than rely on the manufacturer’s information.
Analysis & Test Results
The best insect repellent has several features I look for:
- Value
- Effectiveness
- Application
- Shelf Life
- Versatility
Getting a spray, wipe, or lotion that performs well in each of these areas is key to finding the best repellent that you can rely on, or simply the best value.
What is the Best Value?
The amount of money you spend on something like bug spray shouldn’t blow out your entire budget
You never want to spend too much money on one resource, even when it comes to a medical preventative, like insect repellent. It’s better to diversify your spending to make sure you are covered for a wide range of scenarios.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of various formulas, and even specific products, has been studied by universities and scientists. We know a few key facts about the leading bug repellent formulations:
- DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is most effective at concentrations of 20% or higher, and the effectiveness trails off quickly once it passes 40% concentration. Kids, however, should not use DEET at concentrations of 20% or higher.
- Picaridin is most effective at concentrations of 20% or higher.
- Permethrin is extremely toxic beyond nuisance insects and should be used sparingly, with care.
- Oil of Lemon and Eucalyptus (OLE) is the highest-performing plant oil (over citronella, geraniol, lemongrass, cinnamon, and rosemary)
Each one of those steps contributes to the quality of the final product and how it will perform in both taste and shelf-life performance.
Application
There is a wide range of ways to apply insect repellent to keep bugs at bay. These include:
- Spray – Ideal for skin coverage and treating clothing. Trigger and push-button bottles can come with manual pump or an aerosol spray.
- Lotion – I was initially opposed to this, but lotion lets you control and verify coverage very well. The ones I tested dried without a greasy feel afterwards, too.
- Wipes – Wipes apply lotion or liquid. If you are using a large pack, it can dry out like wet wipes if you don’t ensure the entire pack stays sealed. Individual packets are preferred, and that’s just one reason why.
- Patches – I did not find any patches that were effective enough to recommend in my research and testing.
- Wristband – These are designed to be reused, but my kids and I still got bitten by mosquitoes trying out a few different wristbands.
Even application methods of the same type can have varying quality. Some dump too much repellent on a single spray, and others require a lot of pumping to get any amount out.
Shelf Life
Like most liquid suspensions, the effectiveness of most insect repellents degrades with time. You can slow this process by storing the repellent in a cool, dry area- but that’s not always practical.
The packaging and ingredients of the repellent play a role in how long it lasts on the shelf as well. If the product is dried out, it’ll need to be replaced. Many manufacturers recommend replacing their products every 3 years, just to avoid package degradation.
DEET and picaridin are highly stable synthetic ingredients that don’t lose effectiveness over time. The overall formula can degrade if it dries out, which is where the general 3-year guideline comes into play. Other active ingredients, like IR3535 and natural oils, lose effectiveness much more quickly.
Versatility
Most of the versatility a bug repellent provides is in how it is packaged. Single-serving wipes are incredibly versatile, since they are compact, lightweight, and easy to apply on the go. Large bottles with potential for leaking are at the other end of the spectrum- not very versatile since they don’t work well stashed in a bag or a car.
Who Needs Bug Spray?
Bug spray is a necessary tool for the outdoors to protect against mosquitoes, ticks, and more.
Mosquitoes are a disease vector. They can carry Zika virus, malaria, West Nile virus, elephantiasis, many types of encephalitis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and even parasites.
Preventing mosquito bites is important, especially if one of these is common in your geographical area. Nets, sprays, clothing, and shelter should all be used to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Sources & References
All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best mosquito spray are useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical survival experience:
Rodriguez, S., et al. (2015). The Efficacy of Some Commercially Available Insect Repellents for Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Insect Science. Volume 15. Issue 1. Page 140. (Source)
Mitra, S., et al. (2019). Efficacy of Active Ingredients From the EPA 25(B) List in Reducing Attraction of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to Humans. Journal of Medical Entomology. Volume 57. Issue 2. Pages 477 – 484. (Source)
Watanabe, K., et al. (1993). New mosquito repellent from Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Volume 41. Issue 11. Pages 2164 – 2166. (Source)
Conclusion
I hope this review has helped you find the best insect repellent for your situation, so that you can stay safe from disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes. The long-lasting formulas and fabric treatments will help you, your clothes, and your gear fight the good fight against the pests.
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DEET has been known for many years to remove the blueing on steel firearms causing rust