Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

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...

Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

Last updated:
July 13, 2022
|  5 min read
Various bug repellents tested for this article.

Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

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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...

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Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

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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 23 repellents and talking to everyone from the EPA to the American Mosquito Control Association.

How we picked

  • EPA approval - EPA-approved repellents have undergone extensive safety and efficacy testing and can be trusted.
  • 20% picaridin - Most of our recommendations use a 20% concentration of picaridin, which offers long-lasting repellency for ticks and mosquitoes with none of DEET’s downsides.
  • Testing, within limits - We test our picks for usability, as opposed to efficacy, because the variables of environment, physiology, and bug behavior affect performance.
  • Spray matters - The best repellents have a nice, even spray that is easy to apply. The worst ones are spitty and messy, and can overspray or puddle up.

You can find the full article with Wirecutter's top repellent reconmendations, written by Doug Mahoney here.

Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

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 23 repellents and talking to everyone from the EPA to the American Mosquito Control Association.

How we picked

  • EPA approval - EPA-approved repellents have undergone extensive safety and efficacy testing and can be trusted.
  • 20% picaridin - Most of our recommendations use a 20% concentration of picaridin, which offers long-lasting repellency for ticks and mosquitoes with none of DEET’s downsides.
  • Testing, within limits - We test our picks for usability, as opposed to efficacy, because the variables of environment, physiology, and bug behavior affect performance.
  • Spray matters - The best repellents have a nice, even spray that is easy to apply. The worst ones are spitty and messy, and can overspray or puddle up.

You can find the full article with Wirecutter's top repellent reconmendations, written by Doug Mahoney here.

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Staff Writers
Wirecutter Staff
Staff picks for Wirecutter.
Media Mentions

Wirecutter: The Best Bug Repellents

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 23 repellents and talking to everyone from the EPA to the American Mosquito Control Association.

How we picked

  • EPA approval - EPA-approved repellents have undergone extensive safety and efficacy testing and can be trusted.
  • 20% picaridin - Most of our recommendations use a 20% concentration of picaridin, which offers long-lasting repellency for ticks and mosquitoes with none of DEET’s downsides.
  • Testing, within limits - We test our picks for usability, as opposed to efficacy, because the variables of environment, physiology, and bug behavior affect performance.
  • Spray matters - The best repellents have a nice, even spray that is easy to apply. The worst ones are spitty and messy, and can overspray or puddle up.

You can find the full article with Wirecutter's top repellent reconmendations, written by Doug Mahoney here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Staff Writers
Wirecutter Staff
Staff picks for Wirecutter.
Media Mentions
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