The Best Bug Repellents

Everyone should avoid bug bites, which are annoying at best and debilitating (or even lethal) in worst-case scenarios.

For a bug repellent that’s safe and effective—and that won’t stink or leave a puddle of oil on your skin—skip the DEET and get a picaridin formula, like Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent. It’s the best bottle of bug spray we found after testing over 25 repellents and talking to everyone from the EPA to the American Mosquito Control Association.


Read the full article by Doug Mahoney on Wirecutter's website here.

LAST UPDATED

January 6, 2025

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Sawyer’s picaridin spray works up to 12 hours, and the company’s picaridin lotion is effective up to 14.

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