7 Best Tick Repellents of 2024

Each year in the United States alone, an average of 36,000 cases of tick-borne Lyme disease are reported, according to the CDC, though some experts believe the actual numbers are significantly higher, with as many as 500,000 cases occurring each year and many being misreported or unreported. And that’s just Lyme disease — ticks can also transmit ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, and more. The long and short of it is this: if you are going to be in an area where ticks are potentially present, you need to be using a reliable tick repellent.

As a frequent hiker and camper, I use several different types of tick repellent when outdoors, including tick repellents designed for use on gear and apparel as well as tick repellent that’s safe for use directly on human skin. I trust the brands I use, like our pick for the best overall, Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent, and, even with countless miles logged on the trail and many nights spent in a tent, I have never gotten a tick bite.

Continue reading to learn more about tick repellent, written by Steven John.