A person spraying their arm with bug repellent.
A person spraying their arm with bug repellent.

The Best Bug Repellents and Sprays of 2025

Nothing ruins a sojourn outdoors quite like an entourage of pesky mosquitoes chowing down on your arms and legs or the itchy bug bites that follow. Sure, bug spray is great and all. But between the various active ingredients and concentrations, it’s hard to know what actually works, let alone find a spray that doesn’t smell like a chemistry class or make you feel like you took a dip in a vat of oil.

Ndio sababu tulienda mikono na vidudu vya mdudu ili kujaribu jinsi wanavyohisi, jinsi wanavyonusa na kila kitu kingine ungependa kujua kuhusu dawa ya mdudu kabla ya kutumia moja. Yote haya baada ya kushauriana na wataalam wengi ili kuhakikisha kuwa tulijumuisha repellents ambazo zinafaa kwa, vizuri, kuondoa mende. Tulijaribu dawa za mdudu tu ambazo zina viungo vinavyotumika vilivyoidhinishwa na Vituo vya Kudhibiti na Kuzuia Magonjwa (CDC) na Shirika la Ulinzi wa Mazingira (EPA): DEET, picaridin, mafuta ya limao eucalyptus, p-Menthane-3,8-diol (ambayo iko katika mafuta ya limao eucalyptus), IR3535 na 2-Undecanone. DEET ilikuwa favorite ya kushangaza kati ya wataalam tuliowahoji, lakini wote walisifu ufanisi wa viungo vingine pia, hasa picaridin na mafuta ya eucalyptus ya limao.

Continue reading to learn more about the best bug repellents and sprays, written by Kai Burkhardt.

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Why use a plastic bag when you can simply screw on this end cap, specifically designed for Sawyer water filters?

Mlango wa Zoe
Editor at Backpacker

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

In future, I’ll use gravity when I can, and squeeze when I have to.

Richard, aka "LowRange
Hiker

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

For longer hikes, it’s convenient to carry a small backcountry water filter, such as a Sawyer Mini or Micro, which allows you to replenish your water from natural sources like streams or ponds.

Philip Werner
Author and Backpacker