Best Bug Sprays for 2025

For any outdoor adventure, whether camping or hanging out in your backyard, you should always protect yourself with bug spray. This is especially important if you travel to a country where malaria and other diseases are spread by mosquitoes, per the CDC, which recommends that you only use insect repellents approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For children, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises using insect repellents containing no more than 30% DEET or others approved by the EPA.

To help you narrow your search for the best bug spray, we tested over 20 wipes, lotions, sprays and DEET-free insect repellents from different brands in the muggy South Florida heat.

Continue reading to learn more about the best bug sprays, written by Amanda Capritto.

DÈNYE MIZAJOU

January 24, 2025

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Similarly, whenever I need water, it takes time and effort to collect water from a stream, and then push it through my Sawyer Squeeze filter into my water bottles.

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Sawyer Mini filters remove 99.9% of bacteria—pair with reusable bottles to minimize plastic waste.

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