Individual Applying Insect Repellent
Individual Applying Insect Repellent

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.

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Popular Mechanics

Since 1902, Popular Mechanics has been the authority on how your world works. We bring our audience the latest news on innovations and inventions across the automotive, DIY, science, technology, and outdoor spaces. We also serve our readers with the knowledge they need to get the most out of life, whether that's how to change a tire, how to build a farmhouse table, how to find your lost phone, or how to hike the Appalachian Trail. Popular Mechanics is about wonder, about being curious about the world around you, and it's about getting your hands dirty, too.

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When it was founded, our magazine used the tagline "Written so you can understand it," and today, we still follow that ethos. Whether we're explaining the last technology news or demonstrating how to install a light switch, Popular Mechanics explains the world in an easy-to-understand, jargon-free way while also offering readers the depth of information they need to succeed.

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It all starts with Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L, the best and most reliable filter-bladder combo and the core of my backpacking water storage and filtration system.

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