If you prefer a lotion over a spray, Watkins Adults Insect Repellent Lotion contains 28 percent DEET and is approved for deep woods adventures, as well. As a testament to its effectiveness, this repellant lotion has been the tried and true go-to for the Canadian military and law enforcement for over three decades.
3M Ultrathon Insect Repellent Aerosol is another DEET option with a 20 percent concentration. This one is sweat- and waterproof, making it ideal for adventures that involve splashing around outdoors. What makes this product different from some of the other DEET options is that it has time-release technology, allowing it to provide eight hours of consistent protection against mosquitos, gnats, biting flies, chiggers, ticks and other bugs.
If you're going to be outdoors all day, you need protection from bugs and the sun. Double down on your bug spray investment with this SPF and insect repellent in one. BullFrog Mosquito Coast Spray keeps bugs away for up to 8 hours with IR3535 -- a DEET-alternative that's recommended and approved by the CDC and EPA. Unlike DEET formulations, there is no need to wash it off when returning indoors. Bonus: its water-resistant SPF 30 lasts for up to 80 minutes of splashing around.
Here's a genius way to cut down on the amount of bug spray you have to apply to your skin. Terminix Bait & Kill tackles those pesky mosquitos at the source to keep your backyard bug-free. The formula is applied directly to outdoor foliage and baits mosquitos via Terminix's non-toxic, patented ATSB control technology. Designed to specifically target mosquitoes, the product will not attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. Within two days of consuming the sweet formula, mosquitos die and, by default, stop reproducing. Two 15-ounce cans will cover 5,000 square feet. Spray monthly for best results.