Three bottles of insect repellent on a table.
Three bottles of insect repellent on a table.

The 7 Best Bug Repellents, Tested and Reviewed

Whether gardening or dining al fresco at your outdoor dining table, you should always have bug repellent. However, you must first select the appropriate product to keep the mosquitos that trouble you the most at bay.

"Keep in mind that not all repellents will work the same on different insects," says Emily Mader, a public health researcher at the Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases (NEVBD). "Your product label will tell you if the repellent is effective against mosquitoes, flies, and/or ticks."

Continue you reading to learn more about the best bug repellents, written by Erica Puisis.

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