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The 7 Best Insect Repellents to Ward Off Ticks, Mosquitoes, Fleas, and Pesky Bugs

Repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other pesky insects.

Flies, mosquitos, and ticks can dampen any outdoor excursion, especially on a hot summer day. A short hike can quickly become a swat fest when the bugs are out, and there’s nothing worse than having to shoo mosquitoes and flies away while using GPS to navigate a trail.

Thankfully, the U.S. military developed a nifty little chemical solution to handle these annoyances: insect repellent. DEET and permethrin work to camouflage your body and kill bugs on contact, so you don’t have to flail your arms around in the woods.

Whether you’re having a backyard gathering, planning a picnic, or hiking the Appalachian Trail, these insect repellents keep the bugs at bay.

The Best Mosquito Repellents

  • Best Overall: Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent (2-Pack)
  • Best Lotion: Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent Lotion
  • Best for Home Use: Thermacell E55 E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
  • Most Natural: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Natural Insect Repellent
  • Most Powerful: Ben’s Max Formula Tick and Insect Repellent (2-Pack)

Continue reading the full article written by Kevin Cortez here.

LAST UPDATED

September 27, 2023

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Media Mentions

It absolutely works like a charm whether you’re sitting in the backyard or hiking deep in the woods.

Diva Anwari
Contributor for MSN.

Media Mentions

If you have some that isn’t pre-treated with permethrin, you can buy some to spray on your own netting/clothing before use.

The RV Geeks
Contributor

Media Mentions

“We tested this bug repellent on park outings and used it for a long day of yard work. It earns high marks for effectiveness, keeping us protected from any bug bites, even despite exposure to sweat,” The Spruce says.

Dawn Magyar
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com