Protect against West Nile Virus and other mosquito and insect borne illnesses with insect repellent when walking outdoors. The Center for Disease Control recommends mosquito repellent with 5% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), as the best insect repellent for West Nile Virus mosquitoes. Over 50% DEET provides no further protection and can damage some fabrics.
1. Cutter Advanced Picaridin Insect Repellent Pump Spray
Wendy Bumgardner ©
At last, this one is just about perfect. It is truly odorless. It really works. It doesn't eat through your fabric like DEET. Cutter Advanced Picaridin comes in a pump spray and is safe to use on skin and fabric. Tests show it is as effective as DEET.
2. Off! Deep Woods Unscented Insect Repellent
In aerosol or pump with 23.8% DEET. I prefer the unscented varieties of insect repellents. This concentration should be effective yet not overconcentrated.
3. Mosquito Head Net
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If you are in a heavily-infested mosquito area, a head net may be the only way to fend them off - or to not inhale them.
4. Deep Woods Off! Sportsmans Formula
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This convenient 1 ounce size has 95% DEET for extreme protection. The drawback is that it is greasy and it can dissolve some fabrics - use with care. It should also not be used by children as such a concentration is too strong for children. That said, I often used it in the past as I am a mosquito magnet.
5. Repel Lemon Eucalyptus
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Natural oils are used from the eucalyptus citriodora tree. It is gentle to skin and won't harm fabrics or surfaces. Repels mosquitoes, sandflies, ticks, midges, stable flies and more for up to six hours.
6. Permethrin Tick Repellent for Clothing and Gear
Wendy Bumgardner ©
The CDC recommends permethrin-based repellents for clothing and gear. Spray this on your outdoors clothing, hat, shoes, etc. and the mosquito and tick protection lasts for a couple of weeks, even with washing.
7. Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus Spray
With or without sunscreen SPF 15. Waterproof, DEET-free, PABA-free, with a Gentle Breeze scent or unscented.8. Buzz Off Women's Clothing and Gear
Sick and tired of spraying all the time? Now Buzz Off insect repellent finish is incorporated into all kinds of excellent outdoor clothing and activewear. These garments are odorless and made of great technical fabrics for all of your active outdoors needs. The repellent effect remains through dozens of washings.9. Buzz Off Men's Clothing and Gear
Keep the bugs away with these clothing and gear items with an insect repellent finish.
