Products SP5432 Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray, 20%, Pump, 3-Ounce, (Pack of 2) (Packaging May Vary)

I live in Wisconsin, with a seasonal wetland and plenty of mosquitoes and ticks close by. I actually contracted Lyme disease last year on my own property (caught it and treated it early, so no long-lasting complications, thankfully) and since then I've been actively looking for better insect repellants. I've spent a LOT of my life outdoors, and pretty much hate DEET and don't want it on my skin or tech fabrics. Spraying my boots and cuffs and hat brims with DEET has worked pretty well for me over the years, but obviously a tick still got me last year. Anyway, I tried this Picaridin spray this year. It does not irritate my skin or smell bad like DEET sprays. It leaves no greasy traces on my clothing. And when I use it, I have noticed that I have been getting ZERO mosquito or gnat bites when I am outside on buggy evenings. Now, Wisconsin mosquitoes and gnats are not nearly as bad as the kind you encounter in Alaska or tropical zone cypress groves, and I haven't tested this stuff in those conditions yet, but so far my experience is that this spray works better than anything I've used before in 50 years of outdoor adventuring.

TLDR: Sawyer's 20% Picaridin spray is a highly effective, non-greasy, and virtually odorless DEET alternative. It provides up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes and ticks, is safe for clothing and gear, and comes in a convenient, travel-friendly 3-ounce pump bottle. I purchased the Sawyer Picaridin spray for an extended backpacking trip, specifically because I wanted a highly effective repellent that would not damage my synthetic gear or have the harsh odor of DEET. The 20% Picaridin formula is the star here. It's a synthetic replica of a natural compound found in pepper plants and is widely recognized as one of the best alternatives to DEET. The performance against mosquitoes was excellent; they seemed to simply avoid landing on my skin. The protection is advertised to last up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks and up to 8 hours against biting flies and gnats. While heavy sweating might necessitate a lighter reapplication after several hours, I found the initial spray held up remarkably well throughout the day's hiking. The spray is non-greasy and has a virtually unnoticeable, mild citrus scent that quickly evaporates. This makes it far more comfortable to wear than oily, strong-smelling traditional repellents. Crucially, it is safe for use on all clothing and gear, including synthetic fabrics, backpacks, and plastics, eliminating the worry of damaging expensive equipment. The 3-ounce pump bottle is TSA-friendly for travel and easy to pack. Pros Long-Lasting Protection: Effective for up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, and 8 hours against biting flies, gnats, and chiggers. Gear-Safe Formula: Will not damage plastics, synthetic fabrics, or other outdoor equipment like DEET can. Comfortable Wear: Non-greasy and has a very mild, virtually odorless scent that quickly dissipates. Highly Effective: 20% Picaridin is a top-rated, proven ingredient comparable to DEET in efficacy against a wide range of pests. Travel-Friendly Size: The 3-ounce pump bottle is ideal for carry-on luggage and is easy to store. Cons Reapplication in Heat: Heavy sweating may require reapplication sooner than the stated 12 hours. Tick Efficacy: While effective against ticks, some users prefer to pair it with Permethrin for clothing for maximum tick defense. Verdict This is a clear 5-star winner for outdoor enthusiasts. The Sawyer 20% Picaridin spray offers superior protection without the drawbacks of traditional repellents—no harsh smell, no greasy feel, and no damage to gear. It’s perfect for long days on the trail, fishing, or camping, and the twin pack of 3-ounce bottles makes it excellent for travel and ensuring you always have a backup. It is the definitive modern choice for insect defense.

I bought this product because it is supposed to be safer to use around synthetic surfaces (eyeglasses, sunglasses, watch crystals, etc.). The instructions are quite confusing however, with statements like "avoid contact with clothing" and "do not use under clothing." I contacted the manufacturer for clarification about these statements and was assured that the statements were required by government agencies and that the product was quite safe. It was apparently formulated to use directly on the skin and must be able to be smelled by insects in order to be effective--hence the directive not to apply it beneath clothing. I have used the product on polyester/cotton blend clothing (I don't like to put anything at all on my skin) with no apparent damage to the clothing. It also seemed effective. After applying it I did not receive any chigger bites or tick bites when mowing my lawn, and I did not have to hide my eyeglasses, hold my breath or take off my watch when applying it, as I do with DEET-based products. The one problem I have with the product is the spray bottle itself. You are supposed to shake the product before applying it, and if you don't take the sprayer mechanism out and replace the cap, or at least put the clear plastic cap over the spray mechanism, it leaks all over your hands and droplets of the liquid fly everywhere. And I'm not talking about just a tiny amount either--the leakage is quite pronounced. That makes the product far less convenient than it could be. I have other pump-spray bottles of other repellant products, such as Ben's 100% DEET that do not have this problem and cannot understand why this manufacturer can't do better. I hope they can come up with a better applicator in the future. The four ounce bottle also is too large to take backpacking and I did not see an option to buy a smaller size bottle. All in all the formula itself seems quite good however and I can recommend it with this one reservation.

Gave myself a couple good sprays each morning and didn’t get a single mosquito bite on our 8 days in Alaska! Can’t vouch for the bugs in the lower 48 . It’s a bit sticky but not greasy, smell is not annoying to humans.

Ticks can be anywhere and having an acorn last year in 2025, they are plentiful this year. I spray this on the bottom of my years and on my shoes or boots and if I’m headed into the woods I’ll wear an older shirt and spray some on there and maybe my hat. Newly hatched ticks are as small as a pinhead so they may not been seen and can crawl pretty quick. My neighbor thought she had a mole in her stomach and found it to be an embedded tick. PA leads the country in tick related diseases especially Lyme and it can be debilitating and last a lifetime if not caught and treated early. Take preventative action/ this stuff works.

I fly kites (and hike and other stuff) and sometimes that takes place in fields which have tall grass. I figured it would be good to apply some insect repellent on my legs to minimize bug bites -- since my kites are made of nylon and polyester -- I thought it would be better to get something that's safe for plastics. This product does seem safe for plastics and the reason I believe this is because I got the item, firmly screwed on the pump top, snapped the small cap on top and snapped the larger cap on top of that. I then put the bottle in my kite backpack and the next day, when I reached for an item in my bag, I wondered why it was wet. I quickly discovered that it was wet because the bottle had leaked onto the item. :( I don't know how much of the repellent leaked out, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect that such a bottle will be upright 100% of the time, so maybe Sawyer needs to take a second look at their cap/closure so that doesn't happen to others. As it stands, I removed the bottle, cleaned up the spilled repellent (which got on a nylon bag and does not seem to have caused damage to it and better a nylon bag than an expensive kite), and set the bottle (upright!) on the garage floor and hope I remember to apply it before I go out. The couple of times I used it, I did not get any bug bites on my legs, so it probably works fine, but it's kind of expensive to lose some unknown quantity to a spill because of some cap/pump issue. And hey, maybe I somehow failed to secure the pump or cap (although I think that's very unlikely because when I noticed the spill, I checked everything to see if I had cross-threaded the pump cap or something and I had not) and the blame is on me, but even if that was the case, I have to imagine that there are clever engineering approaches which will prevent such outcomes, like installing the pump at the factory.

This stuff is incredible! The gnats in South Carolina are crazy bad, especially by our pond. I spray this only on my ears and keep them at bay for a few hours. Nothing else comes close. The scent is amazing, its a little oily but not out of control. I'm going to get a huuuuge supply of this for the summertime.

We live in Costa Rica and this is the best product for living with and defense against mosquitos. DEET is of course comparable, but for (almost) daily use for over 2 years, this is our go-to repellant. It is safer to wear and we only recommend Picaridin to anyone visiting. (The ones that think they need “natural” learn quickly, 1. They don’t work and 2. Picaridin is made from peppers). It also doesn’t have the strong OFF! smell. In fact it barely has a scent. Which is nice when you’re applying at a beach restaurant :)

The best out there! Used it in Mauritius and no bites. I’ve used other natural ones in the past (Incognito) and this is way better and doesn’t have a weird smell

The best repellent i have ever used. Since the time I have discovered this, i haven't been bitten once

Really works, and doesn’t leave that sticky feeling. Although has a slight smell. The lotion version is even better

I went for a trek in the Malaysian jungle and I used the product both on my skin and on clothes: very effective and no mosquitos or other insects punctures, nor any oily or sticky sensation during the trek.

Este articulo nunca me llego. Espere por meses y despues recibi un correo que no lo podian mandar. Gran decepcion