Bug Spray reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 217 Reddit reviews across 38 subreddits and 45 posts to rank the best Bug Spray brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/camping, r/CampingGear, r/forestry, r/wildlifebiology, r/Cruise. Top-rated brands include Picaridin (4.3/5), DEET (4.2/5), Permethrin (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews217
Subreddits38
Posts45
Brands87
Products21
217 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Picaridin
4.3
(29)
"Picaridin-based spray smells like nothing. Deet stinks. Also, picaridin works."
"Combine that with **Picaridin** lotion on your exposed skin and you should be good."
"Picaridin for skin (or lemon grass based if you want a more "natural solution")"
"I've used picaridin successfully! Also doesn't risk melting materials like deet can."
"PICARIDIN. Works way better than OFF, or anything with DEET in it."
"I always make room for my picaridin repellent as it works great for me."
"My S.O. swears by Picardin."
"I strongly recommend a picaridin product. Works much better than deer."
"It's a deet alternative that's supposed to be just as good as deet, without being as oily, smelling as bad, or melting plastic."
"I'll give the picaridan a try and reconsider DEET if that doesn't work."
#2
DEET
4.2
(24)
"I get a Picaridin lotion to put on exposed skin and at the ankles."
"It's tough to beat how effective DEET is."
"Apply 100 percent deet on neck, wrists, and exposed skin."
"Anything with deet."
"Deet 100, it keeps everything away."
"DEET for skeeters. Works for mites too. Not sure about ticks."
"Highest percentage DEET you can find."
"In my experience the only thing that works is 40% and up DEET based stuff."
"If you use deet or picaridin spray I would put it on their clothes, not directly on skin."
"The best for flies is just the highest deet concentration you can find."
#3
Permethrin
4.6
(18)
"It literally is cut down the number of ticks on me by about 90%."
"Double up! Permethrin for your clothes and picaridin lotion for skin."
"Permetherin, without a second thought"
"The best spray is pretreating your clothes with permethrin."
"You can treat your clothes with permethrin before your trip."
"**Permethrin** on your clothes, gear, and tent is going to be your best bet IMO."
"This is the ultimate spray protection."
"I treat clothes with permethin and carry a bug net."
"Pretreatment with permethrin or permethrin infused clothing works for me."
"Go to the farm store and find the 32 oz, 36.8% Permethrin its about \~$25-$30. Mix 1 oz to 15 oz of water."
#4
Off
4.2
(13)
"Off fans are IME the best thing you could ever buy."
"Keeps the mosquitoes in Wyoming at bay and those fuckers are big."
"Off deep woods, repel or ones that contain Picardin."
"Off is best. 'Take what you got on OFF, then put OFF on.'"
"I buy Off Family with DEET, 10%."
"Off works just fine."
"Just buy Off at any supermarket, works well."
"In Minnesota or Wisconsin I use Deep Woods Off!"
"Off Deep Woods (starting to lean towards the dry spray)."
"Usually Off but I would choose whatever had DEET and was available."
#5
Off Deep Woods
4.6
(9)
"Off deep woods sportsmen has been the best (it has 30% DEET)."
"I use the stuff with as much deet as possible. Usually deep woods off or muskol."
"Deep Woods OFF has worked better than any other spray I have ever used."
"I've still not found anything as effective at repelling such a wide array of bugs."
"Deep Woods Off always works for me."
"Off Deep Woods (25% deet) or Ben's 30 (30% deet) will do the trick."
"It's the only thing that helps."
"I use Deep Woods Off (the one with the gigantic 40% DEET label on the bottle)."
"Convenience wise I use OFF Deep Woods both at home and away."
#6
Generic Bug Spray
4.5
(6)
"We are also bringing 50% DEET and Lemon & Eucalyptus spray."
"I try to buy the 45% concentration if I can. It just plain old works."
"Permetherin on clothing picaridin on skin/gear."
"Anything with lots of deet."
"Just check the label of whatever it is and ensure that it has 30% deet."
"30% is all you need as higher concentrations provide little to no benefit."
#7
Thermacell
4.3
(6)
"In Florida the only thing I found to work with any consistency was our Thermocell."
"I have been using the MR300 for years."
"If your camping, get a thermacell, those things are absolutely amazing."
"Thermacells work pretty well."
"I start with a Thermacell, if that doesn't work I fire up another Thermacell."
"I have had limited luck with thermocell but not 100% with black flies."
#8
Repel
4.8
(4)
"I use 99% DEET spray and apply it to my pulse points like perfume."
"99% deet is the only way."
"We use Repel family and haven’t had any issues."
"Repel was the one that kept horse flies off me."
#9
Avon Skin So Soft
4.5
(4)
"I use Avon skin so soft, and a thermacell. Neither one to harm my pets and both work wonders"
"The Avon Skin So Soft bug spray (I used the wipes)."
"Skin So Soft. And old army trick."
"Crazy as this sounds try Skin So Soft from Avon, when I was in the marines on a field op I’d drown myself in it."
#10
Avon
4.5
(4)
"Avon skin so soft lotion!"
"Skinsosoft is oil based and worked particularly well for sandflies (I believe they are also referred to as sand fleas)"
"This is what I brought: Avon Skin So Soft green bottle."
"I have also had luck with Avon’s 'skin-so-soft' lotion."
#11
Ben's
4.5
(4)
"Ben’s is great - orange bottle. Lived in the Caribbean for 6 years and fed many a mosquito - Ben’s will keep them away and their little friends too and lasts through a bit of sweat!"
"Consumer Reports recently rated Ben’s as the best."
"I packed Ben's wipes with deet in them."
"Ben’s 30 for self, Sawyer permethrin for clothes."
#12
Sawyer Picaridin Lotion
4.7
(3)
"Sawyer picaridin lotion for skin and permethrin for clothes."
"Sawyer Picaridin Lotion alllll the way. Leagues better than any spray I’ve ever tried."
"Sawyer Picaridin Lotion."
#13
Deep Woods Off
3.7
(3)
"I use the highest concentration of deet I can find. Usually the 98% stuff."
"Deep woods off, and get the "dry" spray version."
"Deep Woods Off. Hate it on the skin, especially camping backcountry."
#14
Repel Max
5.0
(2)
"Repel Max has never failed me."
"We use Repel Max with 40% Deet."
#15
Sawyer Picaridin
5.0
(2)
"+1 for Permethrin on clothes. Sawyers Picardin for the skin."
"For backpacking I take a small spray bottle of Sawyer Picaridin."
#16
No Natz
5.0
(2)
"Thanks all! I ordered No Natz."
"No Natz and a Thermacell are both essential to my CHS life."
#17
Raid
5.0
(2)
"Raid spider blaster is perfect for this, and you can use it to shoot a directed stream a fair distance."
"I would rather recommend those Raid plug-in repellents."
#18
Mortein
5.0
(2)
"I use Mortein multi insect odourless. Kill them little fuckers!!!!"
"It’s perfect. Works through load shedding as it’s battery operated."
#19
Neem Oil
4.5
(2)
"Cold-pressed neem oil! It also repels ticks, mosquitoes, and other bug nuisances."
"My breeder recommended neem oil spray! It's dog safe."
#20
Wondercide
4.5
(2)
"For spray I use Wondercyde."
"I use them on my entire body. And then I get a product called Wondercide."
#21
Natrapel
4.5
(2)
"I like picaridin sprays. Smells much better than DEET, is safe for my dog, and works just as well."
"I’ve had pretty good luck with Natrapel."
#22
Peak Repellent
4.5
(2)
"I use a the concentrate from a company called Peak Repellent."
"They use natural ingredients that like cinnamon and clove which actually work better than citronella."
#23
Off Wipes
4.5
(2)
"We use OFF wipes pretty religiously."
"I get Off wipes. I don't like to spray her because I don't want it to get in her mouth."
#24
Off! Deep Woods
4.5
(2)
"Deep Woods Off is a Must Have if you book a motel room in Phoenix, Arizona."
"Deep woods off If I need a little help."
#25
Off Active
4.0
(2)
"Off active, sweat resistant in an orange can. smells good, lasts a while."
"I use Off Active. It is sweat resistant and stays working for a pretty good amount of time but the best part, it smells good."
#26
Sawyer
4.0
(2)
"Has permethrin and picardin."
"I treat our clothing with permethren in addition to using a spray."
#27
3M Ultrathon
4.0
(2)
"Lower deet percentage but bonded into a polymer so it lasts longer."
"I like 3M Ultrathon. It's a slow release DEET."
#28
Cutter
4.0
(2)
"I generally don't use bug spray at home but I do when I'm camping and there are bugs about. I use repellents with 20% Picaridin."
"Just buy that Cutter bug repellent and attach it to your water hose and spray the lawn."
#29
Cedarcide
3.5
(2)
"Cedar oil. Check out cedarcide on the internet."
"Cedarcide is advertised as being a non-toxic topical."
#30
Bodybelize
5.0
(1)
"Jungle Oil is the name of the product."
#31
Thermacell MR450 Armored Portable Mosquito Repeller
5.0
(1)
"Have you ever used a thermacell? I use them for mosquitos but they are life changing and work SO WELL!"
#32
WeedKil
5.0
(1)
"WeedKil brand is food safe and very effective."
#33
Syngenta
5.0
(1)
"I haven't seen a bug in our house in like 8 years."
#34
Zevo
5.0
(1)
"We used Zevo while camping Up North. No bugs bothered us the entire time."
#35
Bug Bite Thing
5.0
(1)
"Bug Bite Thing! It's completely chemical-free, sucks the saliva from the bite."
#36
Bite
5.0
(1)
"It's called Bite."
#37
Watkins Great Outdoors Lotion
5.0
(1)
"It does t smell and repels mosquitoes, black flies, ticks, deer/horse flies etc."
#38
Off Natural Lemon Eucalyptus
5.0
(1)
"The off natural lemon eucalyptus was their top pick."
#39
Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus
5.0
(1)
"I’ve used Repel Plant Based Lemon Eucalyptus for the last few years."
#40
Natrapel Wipes
5.0
(1)
"I bought Natrapel wipes with 20% Picaridin."
#41
Tui Balms Extreme Bug Spray
5.0
(1)
"Works great, smells nice, nz made."
#42
Aeroguard Tropical Strength Roll On
5.0
(1)
"Is what works best for me."
#43
Thermacell Rechargeable Bug Repeller
5.0
(1)
"It really does work."
#44
Rainbow Technologies Jungle Formula Insect Repellent
5.0
(1)
"This was the only thing that worked."
#45
Rainbow Insect Repellent
5.0
(1)
"Nothing beats Rainbow Insect repellent period."
#46
Sawyer MaxiDeet 100% DEET
5.0
(1)
"It’s the best there is."
#47
DoTERRA Terrashield
5.0
(1)
"It’s an essential oil blend."
#48
Ranger Ready
5.0
(1)
"It's the only bug spray that has actually kept mosquitos and ticks off of me."
#49
Picaridin Lotion
5.0
(1)
"It's like magic."
#50
Nantucket Spider Extra Strength Tick Repellent
5.0
(1)
"Ticks hate it, it's worked really well for me."
#51
Natrapel with Picaridin
5.0
(1)
"This is my favorite. Natrapel with Picaridin. Works great against mosquitos and ticks, doesn't smell bad , and I can even use it on my dogs."
#52
Spritz All-Natural Mosquito and Bug Repellent Spray
5.0
(1)
"Works great, and even had a few people tell me I smelled good."
#53
Watkins Great Outdoors Bug Repellent
5.0
(1)
"Watkins great outdoors bug repellent. The cream, not the spray."
#54
DEET and Permethrin
5.0
(1)
"A combination of Deet and Permethrin. Deet repels insects, the permethrin in/on your clothes will kill them on contact."
#55
BZZZ OFF
5.0
(1)
"An insect repellent lotion called BZZZ OFF. It’s from a small local business in Nebraska."
#56
Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard
5.0
(1)
"Avon skin so soft bug guard. My wife’s cousin told us about it."
#57
Kinfield
4.0
(1)
"Kinfield brand works great!"
#58
Piactive
4.0
(1)
"We use piactive once 6 months +."
#59
Repel 100
4.0
(1)
"Repel 100, it’s 98% deet."
#60
OFF!
4.0
(1)
"I also prefer lotion based. Picaridin or OFF!"
#61
Baby Oil
4.0
(1)
"Creamy Baby Oil works like surprisingly well."
#62
Repel Eucalyptus
4.0
(1)
"I’ve always had good look with ‘Repel’ eucalyptus."
#63
Woods
4.0
(1)
"I have heard good things about the Woods brand for use against ticks and mosquitoes."
#64
Amazon
4.0
(1)
"Look for metered fly spray and a dispenser on Amazon or Walmart."
#65
Farnam Repel-X
4.0
(1)
"Farnam brand has some good ones. Repel-X is my favorite."
#66
Doom
4.0
(1)
"Doom paired with my flashlight helps to kill the buggers right then and there."
#67
Herbal Armor
4.0
(1)
"I like Herbal Armor for both myself and the kids."
#68
Zepol
4.0
(1)
"Works as a repellent and if you get bit, you put un a little dab in the sting and the itch will go away."
#69
Cutter Wipes
4.0
(1)
"Cutter WIPES are the way."
#70
Off FamilyCare
4.0
(1)
"I got an OFF! familycare that's deet free for my 2 year old."
#71
Repel 30% DEET Wipes
4.0
(1)
"I like the repel 30% DEET wipes."
#72
Buzz Off Bug Repellent
4.0
(1)
"I've used this soap before: https://www.homebrewedsoaps.com/collections/buzz-off-bug-repellent"
#73
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
4.0
(1)
"Picaridin on skin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus spray."
#74
Ben's 100
4.0
(1)
"Ben's 100."
#75
Insecticide
4.0
(1)
"I bought the insecticide that attaches to a garden hose."
#76
Lemon Eucalyptus Cutter Spray
4.0
(1)
"Lemon eucalyptus cutter spray works well on people."
#77
Armed Forces Insect Repellent Stick
4.0
(1)
"I'm a fan of the Armed Forces Insect Repellent Stick. 40% DEET."
#78
Bushmans DEET
4.0
(1)
"Bushmans Deet."
#79
Natrapel Picaridin Spray
4.0
(1)
"I like the Natrapel picaridin spray the best."
#80
Badger Balm Bug Spray
4.0
(1)
"Natural ingredients, works well, and doesn’t irritate my daughter’s very sensitive skin."
#81
Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus
4.0
(1)
"Repel Plant-based Lemon Eucalyptus works really well for me."
#82
Picaridin and Permethrin
4.0
(1)
"Otherwise Picaridin and Permethrin like everyone else was saying."
#83
Hempz Original Scent Lotion
4.0
(1)
"Hempz original scent lotion works well on noseeums."
#84
Tabard
4.0
(1)
"Tabard makes a nice thin, quick absorbing lotion"
#85
Fly Bags
3.0
(1)
"Look up 'Fly Bags' on Amazon."
#86
Muskoil
3.0
(1)
"Muskoil (most deet I can find), don't use it at home."
#87
Babyganics
1.0
(1)
"We bought the babyganics brand and it didn't work at all!"
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