The 7 Best Mosquito Repellents to Keep the Bugs Away, Tested and Reviewed

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors, but for many of us, it also means dealing with relentless mosquitoes. The effects of mosquito bites can vary from minor irritation to blistered welts, depending on your body's reaction to mosquito saliva. In addition, there is a risk of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and West Nile virus.

To protect yourself against mosquitoes, our experts agreed that the best mosquito repellents should contain DEET, picaridin, and IR3535. Wesley Trimble, Communications and Creative Director at the American Hiking Society, recommends DEET and picaridin as effective skin-applied insect repellents. Both work against mosquitoes and ticks, but avoid using DEET on waterproof-breathable membranes like GORE-TEX as it can harm the fabric. If you're going to an area with many mosquitoes, look for repellents with 10% to 30% active ingredients. For shorter outdoor activities, lower concentrations will be enough.

Continue reading to learn more about the best mosquito repellents, written by Samson McDougall.

अंतिम अद्यतन

February 11, 2025

द्वारा लिखित
फोटो थंबनेल ब्लॉग लेखक

स्वास्थ्य

स्वास्थ्य से मीडिया उल्लेख

Health.com के साथ अब अपना सर्वश्रेष्ठ जीवन जिएं: फिटनेस, भोजन, सौंदर्य, और अधिक पर स्कूप प्राप्त करें!

अधिक सामग्री का अन्वेषण करें

मीडिया मेंशन

The Sawyer Mini is super lightweight, fits in your pocket, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water.

Menachem Kossowsky
लेखक

मीडिया मेंशन

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

Bruce Ingram
Contributing Writer

मीडिया मेंशन

The Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter earns our top pick for its unbeatable mix of weight, longevity and versatility.

मेग कार्नी
Contributing Writer

दस्ते से

हमारे समुदाय के साथ कैम्प फायर वार्तालाप, स्क्वाड सदस्यों और राजदूतों से लेकर ब्रांड पार्टनर्स और सॉयर टीम तक।