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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CNET di ou sa ki nouvo ak poukisa li enpòtan.

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Medya Mansyone

This stuff flat-out works and this bottle from Sawyer is easy to apply, lasts for six weeks or six washes, and is less than $20.

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Medya Mansyone

Smart backpackers now combine a lightweight filter like the Sawyer Squeeze with chemical tablets as backup – a system that processes water from alpine streams and desert potholes alike.

Brave Words
Editorial Team

Medya Mansyone

This insect repellant's permethrin spray provides long-lasting insect and tick protection for clothing and gear, effective for up to 6 weeks.

Adam Oram
Senior Editor