The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Whether you’re having a backyard cookout or camping with your family, nothing puts a damper quite as fast as biting insects like mosquitoes, flies and ticks. To help keep bites at bay, the best bug repellents contain safe and proven effective ingredients—and last for hours. For example, our top recommendation, the Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray, has an odorless formula that uses 20% picaridin and lasts for up to 12 hours.

“Repellents function by creating an invisible chemical barrier between you and the insect by masking your scent or making you smell less attractive to them,” explains Dr. Louisa Messenger, Ph.D., medical entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. There are several EPA-approved chemicals that are safe and effective at repelling insects, and the most popular ones include DEET, picaridin and IR3535. Additionally, there are a few natural ingredients that are used in some repellents, including citronella and oil of lemon eucalyptus. To stop pesky bites this summer, here are the best bug repellents to keep on hand, including both spray and lotion options.

  • Best Bug Repellent Overall: Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Budget Bug Repellent: Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET Bug Repellent: Ben's 30% DEET Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET-Free Bug Repellent: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Bug Repellent Lotion : Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent Lotion

Continue learning more about the best bug repellents, written by Camryn Rabideau here.

Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
Contributor
Camryn Rabideau
After studying product design and journalism in college, I became a full-time freelance writer in 2016, where I found my niche in the shopping and product testing realm.
/
Tovuti

Forbes: The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Camryn Rabideau
Last updated:
October 21, 2025
|  5 min read

The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Whether you’re having a backyard cookout or camping with your family, nothing puts a damper quite as fast as biting insects like mosquitoes, flies and ticks. To help keep bites at bay, the best bug repellents contain safe and proven effective ingredients—and last for hours. For example, our top recommendation, the Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray, has an odorless formula that uses 20% picaridin and lasts for up to 12 hours.

“Repellents function by creating an invisible chemical barrier between you and the insect by masking your scent or making you smell less attractive to them,” explains Dr. Louisa Messenger, Ph.D., medical entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. There are several EPA-approved chemicals that are safe and effective at repelling insects, and the most popular ones include DEET, picaridin and IR3535. Additionally, there are a few natural ingredients that are used in some repellents, including citronella and oil of lemon eucalyptus. To stop pesky bites this summer, here are the best bug repellents to keep on hand, including both spray and lotion options.

  • Best Bug Repellent Overall: Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Budget Bug Repellent: Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET Bug Repellent: Ben's 30% DEET Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET-Free Bug Repellent: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Bug Repellent Lotion : Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent Lotion

Continue learning more about the best bug repellents, written by Camryn Rabideau here.

Camryn Rabideau
Contributor
Camryn Rabideau
After studying product design and journalism in college, I became a full-time freelance writer in 2016, where I found my niche in the shopping and product testing realm.
/
Tovuti
Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
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Camryn Rabideau
After studying product design and journalism in college, I became a full-time freelance writer in 2016, where I found my niche in the shopping and product testing realm.
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Forbes: The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Forbes: The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Camryn Rabideau
Last updated:
June 26, 2024
|  5 min read

The 5 Best Bug Repellents To Prevent Mosquito, Fly And Tick Bites This Summer

Whether you’re having a backyard cookout or camping with your family, nothing puts a damper quite as fast as biting insects like mosquitoes, flies and ticks. To help keep bites at bay, the best bug repellents contain safe and proven effective ingredients—and last for hours. For example, our top recommendation, the Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray, has an odorless formula that uses 20% picaridin and lasts for up to 12 hours.

“Repellents function by creating an invisible chemical barrier between you and the insect by masking your scent or making you smell less attractive to them,” explains Dr. Louisa Messenger, Ph.D., medical entomologist and assistant professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. There are several EPA-approved chemicals that are safe and effective at repelling insects, and the most popular ones include DEET, picaridin and IR3535. Additionally, there are a few natural ingredients that are used in some repellents, including citronella and oil of lemon eucalyptus. To stop pesky bites this summer, here are the best bug repellents to keep on hand, including both spray and lotion options.

  • Best Bug Repellent Overall: Ranger Ready Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Budget Bug Repellent: Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET Bug Repellent: Ben's 30% DEET Insect Repellent
  • Best DEET-Free Bug Repellent: Coleman SkinSmart Insect Repellent Spray
  • Best Bug Repellent Lotion : Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent Lotion

Continue learning more about the best bug repellents, written by Camryn Rabideau here.

Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
Contributor
Camryn Rabideau
After studying product design and journalism in college, I became a full-time freelance writer in 2016, where I found my niche in the shopping and product testing realm.
/
visit author Website
Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha
Contributor
Camryn Rabideau
After studying product design and journalism in college, I became a full-time freelance writer in 2016, where I found my niche in the shopping and product testing realm.
learn about the author
Popular posts
Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari
View all blog articles
Campfire conversations with our community, from Squad MembersSquad Members and Ambassadors to Brand Partners and the Sawyer team.
We build products withindustry-leadingstandards and technology, designed to keep you outdoors for longer. Explore what others are saying about Sawyer.
News fromSawyer HQin Tampa Bay, FL, including product resources, updates in technology, and recent brand developments.
NewThere’s nothing like seeing hearing from those who are personally touched by the promise ofclean water. Explore their stories and lift your soul; you’ve made this work possible.
Stories and experiences encompassing a spread of outdoor enthusiasms, from theBackcountry to the BackyardTM. What keeps you outdoors?
Trail tips and packing list guides for backcountry travel, gear choices.Trail guidesfor hiking, biking, thru-hiking and more.
Read aboutproduct reviewsfrom various media outlets, customers, community members, and outdoor gear websites.
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