Best mosquito repellent

Those of us with a painful allergic reaction to mosquito bites (amusingly called "skeeter syndrome") are always looking for the best mosquito repellent we can find. But, while we may share our planet with multitudes of creatures, we don't need to become their dinner. DEET has reigned supreme for decades as an effective bug repellent. Still, newer products have been developed that lack the potentially irritating compound. 

In fact, our best overall mosquito repellent isn't a spray at all—Thermacell's Patio Shield emits a DEET-free and odorless repellent. It's small in size but provides solid protection within a 15-foot zone. If you prefer a sprayed repellent to directly protect your skin or clothing, those are also covered below. I've searched for thorough, reliable mosquito bite protection for years now, so take a peek at my findings and pick the perfect mosquito repellent for you.

Do you hate the hassle of spraying on mosquito repellent? Is your backyard heavily wooded or nearby a body of water? Then you should consider our staff pick— Thermacell's Patio Shield DEET-free mosquito repellent. It's offered in multiple bright colors, a few metallic shades, and is a slim cylinder powered by fuel cartridges. Simply slot a repellent mat into its portably-sized case, and enjoy a 15-foot radius of blissfully mosquito-free space for the next 4 hours. The repellent formula used by Thermacell is allethrin, a synthetic compound analogous to permethrin. It's effective and odorless, but you should exercise caution when using this repellent. It's highly toxic to cats, and use around food and drink should be avoided altogether.

Woodsy and wet areas are notoriously rife with insects of all sorts, and pathogens carried by mosquitoes are a top concern. OFF! Deep Woods spray is probably the first brand that comes to mind when shopping for bug sprays. Its 25-percent DEET formulation has reigned supreme for mosquito protection during hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting trips. OFF! Deep Woods is easy to apply and effective against ticks carrying Lyme disease, biting flies, and swarms of itty-bitty gnats and chiggers. 

I was also pleased to see that OFF! reformulated this topical spray. It now boasts a dry-touch, greaseless feel upon application. If you're concerned about DEET toxicity and side effects, I found some reassuring information. According to the US EPA and CDC, DEET is safe when used correctly—topically only. However, skin irritation may occur at higher concentrations, and folks with respiratory issues should probably avoid the product altogether. It's also worth considering that the DEET percentage is merely a way to show how long it lasts as a repellent rather than its overall efficacy. 

Did you know that ultrasonic frequencies can be effective pest repellents as well? Neatmaster's electronic repellent machine is designed for use indoors to ward off not only mosquitoes but all sorts of pests—including rodents. Each setting provides a different frequency, and they're arranged in strength. A blue light denotes the lowest frequency for small infestations, and a green light appears for the mid-range frequency, used for moderate to persistent pest sightings. Both of these modes are imperceptible to the human ear, but the strongest setting shows a red light, and it's quiet but clearly audible. If you have pet mice, rats, or other rodents, then you should likely avoid Neatmaster's product. Cats and dogs, however, seem to be unbothered despite their ability to hear lower frequencies.

The Canadian and US militaries have been using permethrin for over 30 years to keep their troops safe from 55 species of insects. It's a synthetic mixture based on pyrethrum, a compound originally derived from the chrysanthemum flower. Permethrin is commonly used when treating head lice, with great success. However, it only lasts on your skin for 15 minutes, making it ineffective for bodily protection. In addition, it bonds best to natural fibers, such as cotton, wool, and even silk. 

This 24-ounce bottle of Sawyer Products' spray will treat five complete outfits, and it's clear from a cost standpoint that the two-pack is a far better deal. It will maintain efficacy even after six machine washes or 6 weeks of exposure to sunlight. Combining a skin-safe mosquito spray with treated clothing is a smart move if you're especially concerned about bites, and you should always apply permethrin in a well-ventilated area.

Years ago, I discovered La Fresh's excellent, naturally derived nail polish remover wipes and loved their acetone-free blood orange scent. So I was even more thrilled to find that they've expanded their product line to include new wipes like the Stop Bugging Me mosquito repellent wipes. They're pepperminty-fresh, individually wrapped for convenience, and you'll get a generous 50 wipes per bag. Suppose, like me, you're sensitive to permethrin, picaridin, or DEET. In that case, these wipes might be the solution to keep you comfortably bite-free. These biodegradable wipes are formulated to be long-lasting, too, though La Fresh doesn't specify for how long. 

Bottom line

So you might have noticed that old-school citronella tub candles are missing from my list, and that's for a couple of reasons. First, I wanted to highlight other ways to keep yourself and others bite-free. Secondly, these candles have always been woefully inadequate to discourage mosquitoes from making me their dessert. So hopefully, my research can prove helpful to you, as well.

Our staff pick by Thermacell is an inconspicuous, DEET-free solution that's petite enough to bring with you during outdoor activities. The price point is more than fair, but it runs only on 12-hour fuel cells, and each repellent insert lasts a mere 4 hours, so you'll need to bring extras as backup on extended camping trips. If you're ok with using synthetic chemical repellents, then the OFF! Deep Woods spray or Sawyer Products permethrin repellent spray will do nicely. OFF! Deep Woods can be sprayed on your body and clothing, but permethrin is only made for apparel and gear treatment. You can even spritz the latter inside luggage when traveling to discourage pests from hitchhiking into your home.