Best Mosquito Repellents of 2021

There are three factors to consider when choosing the best mosquito repellents: efficacy, method, and cost.

How well the repellent works is the primary consideration. It must keep mosquitoes away from your body, or away from a particular area such as a campsite or backyard, as efficiently as possible for as long as possible.

There are two primary methods: topical lotions and airborne repellents. You may need to apply repellent to exposed skin areas in some situations, such as when hiking, or you may need to provide large-scale repellent during a gathering, such as a cookout. Personal preference matters here, too, because you may want to use a natural repellent—though many aren’t as effective as manufactured repellents (even though many are perfectly safe).

Along with effectiveness is cost. You may feel that it’s not worth spending a lot of money in exchange for an hour or two on the patio and would rather simply stay inside. But if you’re camping, you can’t spend all your time in a tent, so you’ll have to invest in a quality repellent.

Let’s take a look at the best mosquito repellents on the market today, their pros and cons, and the situations for which they’re best suited, written by Jim Cobb.