Bug Protection

Featured review by PhilNC

I have used DEET and other products since the early 1980s, but Permethrin treated clothes are much more effective in tick prevention based on my experience in tick-infested areas. Sawyer Permethrin can keep ticks from landing and biting, and can actually kill them on your clothes. It is the repellent I depend on for work and recreation—effective and easy to apply.

A recent forum thread reminded me I hadn’t reviewed bug protection products that I planned to write up last year.  With today being excellent gear-treating weather for the spring Permethrin application, I decided to finish this review while my clothes dry. My Reviewer of the Month prize last year included Sawyer Permethrin and Picaridin, both of which I have been using for a while before that. I have posted a separate review of Sawyer Picaridin, but wanted to mention it here as it is an integral part of my overall bug defense system in combination with Permethrin.  Usage: I have consistently used Sawyer Permethrin for the last 5 years as my primary defense against ticks.

Read more: Sawyer Permethrin Insect Repellent Treatment for Clothing, Gear, and Tents reviews (5)

Featured review by PhilNC

I have used DEET and other products since the early 1980s as mosquito and tick prevention for work and play, but now am a full convert to Sawyer Picaridin and Permethrin combination to keep the bugs away. Picaridin has similar effectiveness to DEET without the worries about plastic degrading and other effects on gear.

A recent forum thread reminded me I hadn’t reviewed bug protection products that I planned to write up last year.  With spring coming on and today being excellent gear-treating weather, I decided to finish this review.  My Reviewer of the Month prize last year included Sawyer Permethrin and Picaridin, both of which I have been using for a while. I will deal with Permethrin in a separate review, but wanted to mention it here as it is an integral part of my overall bug defense system in combination with Picaridin.

Read more: Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent reviews (2)

Featured review by Simba

I'm not a big fan of mosquitos, or of slathering Deet all over myself. This repellant device is small enough to take on short overnight backpacking trips and makes hanging around camp a much better experience.

I hate mosquitos. A big part of why I rarely backpack close to my Ohio home in the summer is because I don’t want to deal with them. The choice of getting repeatedly bitten or covering myself in Deet on a hot summer evening is picking one of two bad options to me. So you know, I’ve tried other chemical sprays and lotions. For me, nothing works like Deet. I’d looked at some of the Thermacell products in the past, but they all appeared to be too heavy and/or bulky to bring backpacking.

Read more: Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller reviews (5)

Reviewed by Steve Mullen

Large enough to fit over a hat. Small and light enough to carry anywhere. Keeps mosquitoes at bay.

I have been carrying the Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net in my backpack for years. I got it as a gift and being so small and light I just stashed it in a ditty bag along with my headlamp and a few other items which I would use occasionally on backpack trips. Up until this summer's PCT section hike from Tahoe to Yosemite I had never needed to use it even in Alaska and the Yukon. While reducing my gear weight before the trip I almost didn't take the head net, then I thought that because of the huge winter that we had in the Sierra I should stay on the side of caution and bring it along.

Read more: Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net review (1)

Featured review by D Mizelle

Searching for a DEET-free bug repellent? This stuff seems to work pretty well and is priced right.

Was looking for a DEET-free repellent that was less chemical and more natural.  I'm pleased to say this works awesome. I was in our yard doing some cleanup in 90-degree heat today when I grabbed my recently purchased bottle. The mosquitos and gnats had come at me out of nowhere so I went to the garage  for the new spray. One spray on each arm, once on each leg, and then I used the hand that I spread it with to wipe the back of my neck. I worked 4 hours without a single bug bite after that and they seemed to leave me alone too.

Read more: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent reviews (6)

Reviewed by Brent Mills

This is the only DEET-free bug spray I have found that is effective against the mosquitos and ticks in New England. However, it doesn't work well as you head farther south down the coast.

I don't remember exactly when I first discovered Herbal Armor, but it is now the only insect repellant I carry when I'm in New England. It is, however, one of the few pieces of gear that I only carry in certain regions. While it has served me well on hikes throughout New England, it has failed me miserably every time I have tried to use it farther down the coast. If I only hiked in New England, I would easily give Herbal Armor 4.5 - 5 stars. However, since I tend to jump all over, I can't always use it, and thus can't rate it quite as high as I would like.

Read more: All Terrain Herbal Armor review (1)

Reviewed by Ben Kwan

Basic upper tier bug repellant that for a low price and handy size, is a must for anyone not wanting to get too many mosquito bites.

I bought the Repel 100% Deet, 14 ml size as a backpacking spray while I was out in heavy mosquito territory. Now I usually wear long pants and shirts, but since it was the middle of summer, I hoped that short sleeves would be alright in usage with this repellant. At 100%, its supposed to be as good as it gets right? To sum it up, it works, but not as well as anticipated. I still got bit, definitely in places I had not sprayed — like under my T-shirt and up my shorts. It works on areas that did get contact, like exposed arms and lower legs I had sprayed.

Read more: Repel 100 Pump Spray review (1)

Featured review by Sammy312

Permanently treat your clothing against ticks! Instead of retreating your clothing with permethrin every six weeks, get a permanent treatment for everything you can fit in the prepaid envelope.

I've treated my clothing with permethrin many times over the years, especially when going off-trail, going on multi-day adventures, or when there was a high likelihood of ticks or mosquitos. It takes time to prep and safely treat the clothing yourself, plus you need to make sure to leave enough time for everything to dry overnight.  I decided to try out Insect Shield's Easy Pack because of the simplicity of not having to retreat clothing every six weeks. I can send it to be treated once and grab a set of clothing out of the closet whenever I'm going to need them, no need to worry about tracking when it was last treated.

Read more: Insect Shield Easy Packs reviews (2)

Reviewed by Joseph Renow

No more bugs...No more DEET...just that simple!

So Duration is the first product I have given a 5-star review (I even went to the trouble to list it because I'm that impressed!). I try to withhold this rating for products which excel beyond all my expectations...and the Duration permethrin concentrate did just that. Put simply...this product helped me resolve my longstanding battle against insects...and given that I spend nearly my entire summers along rivers and in wetlands...that's high praise! Unlike the Sawyer products...which I believe are helpful against insects...Duration is a treatment which is soaked into the fabric of clothing instead of sprayed.

Read more: Duration Permethrin review (1)

Reviewed by Charles Polidano

Non-DEET insect repellent, good for midges, mosquitoes, and ticks. It works!

Smidge was developed in Scotland for protection against Scotland's famous midges, but it also claims to offer protection against mosquitoes, horse flies, sandflies, fleas, and ticks.  According to the Smidge website, the product does not rely on DEET but on an ingredient called Picaridin or Saltidin (the latter, if I understand right, being the trade name). It is just as effective as DEET and it works by blocking the antennal receptors of biting insects, meaning they can't smell you.  Smidge claims to last for eight hours.

Read more: Smidge Spray review (1)