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The Best Bug Sprays to Use This Summer

Top picks against any pest.

If bugs aren’t annoying enough this summer, trying to figure out which bug spray to use only adds to the irritation. Until now. Bug sprays that work contain one of three ingredients: oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin, or DEET. Another compound, permethrin, is sprayed on your clothes, not you, but is very effective against ticks. Whether you’re trying to avoid ticks, which carry Lyme disease, or mosquitos—called the most dangerous animal, due to the number of diseases it can carry (Zika and West Nile Virus, among many others)—here’s what to use.

See the full list of recommendations by Marty Munson on Men's Health here.

LAST UPDATED

May 8, 2022

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Men's Health

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With 25 print editions in 35 countries and more than 21 million readers across its social and digital platforms, Men’s Health is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand, and the number one source of information for and about men. It’s the brand for active, successful, professional men who want greater control over their physical, mental, and emotional lives. We give men the tools they need to make their lives better through in-depth and expert-backed reporting, covering everything from fashion and grooming to health, nutrition, fitness, weight loss, as well as cutting-edge gear, the latest in entertainment, science, and more.

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Depending on where you travel, you may want to pack bug spray, too. In places like Florida and North Carolina, summers get buggy, and you’ll be happy to have packed a spray on nights when you want to sit on the porch or dine outdoors.

Madison Flager and Meaghan Kenny

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As a veteran of the Iraq War, I found myself struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from which greatly impacted my mental health. In 2016, I came across the film “Wild,” an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir about healing by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

LeAura Luciano

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Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and it provides long-lasting protection against ticks.

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