Best Insect Repellents for Camping: DEET, Picaridin & Natural Options
The best insect repellent for camping depends on how long you’ll be outside, what bugs you’re facing, and whether you can afford to damage gear. For most campers, 20% picaridin is the sweet spot—nearly as effective as DEET against mosquitoes and ticks, odorless, and safe on tents and sleeping pads. If you’re heading into heavy tick country or a dusk mosquito siege, 25–30% DEET still leads. Natural options like oil of lemon eucalyptus work for short, low-pressure trips but need frequent reapplication.
Your next useful action: If you buy one repellent now, get a 20% picaridin lotion. Keep a small DEET bottle as backup for extreme-risk trips. Below, we show exactly how to choose by your actual camping conditions.
Quick answer
| Scenario | Recommended Repellent | Why |
|---|---|---|
| General camping, 3–5 day trips | 20% Picaridin (lotion or spray) | Long-lasting, no gear damage, light feel |
| High tick or heavy mosquito areas | 25–30% DEET | Proven efficacy, longest protection window |
| Short hikes, mild bug pressure | Oil of lemon eucalyptus (30%+) | Works but needs reapplying every 2 hours |
| Sensitive skin or young children | 20% Picaridin | Less irritating than high-concentration DEET |
Applicability boundary: This guide covers North American camping where the main threats are mosquitoes and ticks. If you’re camping in tropical regions with malaria, dengue, or Zika, you’ll need a higher-concentration DEET (30–50%) and possibly permethrin-treated clothing—consult CDC travel health advice before you go.
Comparison framework
The table below shows how the three main active ingredients stack up in real camping conditions.
| Active Ingredient | Typical Concentration | Protection Time | Gear Safe? | Skin Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEET | 25–30% | 6–8 hours | No – can melt plastics, damage coatings | Greasy, strong odor |
| Picaridin | 20% | 6–8 hours | Yes – safe on synthetic fabrics, tents | Lotion-like, nearly odorless |
| Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus | 30%+ | 2–3 hours | Yes – but can feel sticky | Natural scent, some find it oily |
| Product | Active Ingredient | Format | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer Products SP564 Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin, Lotion, 4-Ounce | 20% Picaridin | Lotion | Long-lasting, non-greasy, safe on gear |
| Sawyer Products SP5762 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent, Continuous Spray, 6 Fl Oz (Pack of 2) | 20% Picaridin | Continuous spray | Easy to apply over large areas; two-pack value |
| OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent VII Spritz, Bug Spray, 6 oz | DEET | Spritz | Strong protection for extreme conditions |
Top Pick: Sawyer Products SP564 Premium Insect Repellent with 20% Picaridin, Lotion, 4-Ounce – It lasts all day, won’t ruin your tent’s fly or sleeping pad, and the lotion formula applies evenly without running into your eyes. If you only buy one repellent for camping, this is it.
Best-fit picks by use case
Car campers and basecamp stays – You’re spending long hours around the fire and in the tent. Sawyer lotion gives you one smooth application that lasts through dinner, a campfire, and into the tent—no greasy residue on your hands. The spray version (two-pack) is better for covering multiple people quickly, but note that aerosols can be wasted in wind. If you’re using a canopy or screen house, also treat the surrounding area with a perimeter spray (but not the repellent itself—it’s for skin only).
Backpackers and thru-hikers – Weight and gear safety are critical. DEET can cloud eyeglass lenses, soften nylon tent poles, and destroy waterproof coatings on rain jackets and sleeping pads. Picaridin is your choice. The Sawyer lotion (4 oz) lasts a full week on trail. Avoid aerosols—they add weight and lose effectiveness in wind. Verification step: Before your trip, test one drop of your repellent on the inside of your tent’s rain fly zipper or on a hidden corner of your rain jacket. If the fabric discolors, softens, or becomes sticky after 10 minutes, pick picaridin instead.
High tick risk trips (spring/summer, tall grass, eastern woodlands) – DEET still has a narrow edge in repelling ticks, but 20% picaridin also works—the CDC considers both effective. The real difference is reapplication: DEET lasts longer through sweat and brush contact. If you choose picaridin, cover exposed skin thoroughly, especially ankles and waistband. Mismatch warning: In humid, rainy conditions, picaridin lotion can wash off or sweat off faster than DEET. If you’re constantly wiping your face or getting rained on, switch to the spray version for quicker re-coverage, or carry a small DEET backup for the afternoon downpour.
Families with young children – The AAP advises against DEET above 30% for kids. Picaridin at 20% is a safer feel and less likely to irritate. The Sawyer lotion is easy to apply to small arms without the mess of a spray. Avoid OLE (oil of lemon eucalyptus) for children under 3. Reality check: Even with picaridin, if your child has sensitive skin and you notice redness after application, switch to a picaridin-free option like a repellent with IR3535 (e.g., Avon Skin So Soft) or a physical barrier (treated clothing). Do not layer multiple repellents.
Budget buyers – The OFF! Deep Woods spritz is the cheapest per ounce, but you pay the cost in gear damage and smell. If you’re camping with a cheap tent you don’t care about, it’s fine. But one ruined sleeping pad (replacement cost: $50–150) erases any savings. The Sawyer two-pack spray offers better value if you know you’ll use picaridin across multiple trips.
Trade-offs to know
One decision criterion that often flips people from DEET to picaridin is gear compatibility. DEET dissolves plastics—it can cloud eyeglass lenses, melt nylon tent poles, and ruin sleeping pad coatings. If you use any synthetic gear (most campers do), picaridin is the safer bet. The only reason to pick DEET over picaridin is when you’re facing extreme mosquito density—think Canadian boreal forest in June, where every percentage point of repellency matters. In such conditions, DEET at 30% still outperforms picaridin by about 15–20% in lab tests, but the real-world gap narrows.
Realistic mismatch scenario: You buy the picaridin spray and head to a swampy campground. You apply it, but after an hour of heavy sweating and constant breeze, you notice mosquitoes landing on your arms. This happens because sweat dilutes the repellent faster than lotion. The fix: switch to the lotion version (which adheres better) or reapply immediately. If you don’t have a backup, you’ll be forced into the tent early. Escalation signal: If you still get bitten after a full reapplication, stop using that product for the day—your skin chemistry or the bug density may require DEET or permethrin-treated clothing.
Quick decision checklist:
- [ ] Trip longer than 3 days and can only carry one repellent → Picaridin (lotion)
- [ ] Planning to sit in tick-infested brush for hours → DEET or picaridin with permethrin-treated pants
- [ ] Using an inflatable sleeping pad or expensive tent → Avoid DEET near those surfaces
- [ ] Hate the smell of bug spray → Picaridin (nearly odorless)
- [ ] Spending all day in a single layer of bug pressure → DEET if you don’t mind the feel and gear risk
- [ ] Need something for kids under 3 → Only IR3535 or picaridin (no OLE)
Natural options: Oil of lemon eucalyptus is the only plant-based repellent the EPA considers as effective as low-concentration DEET. But it only lasts 2–3 hours, and it’s not recommended for children under 3. For a quick evening fire in low mosquito conditions, it’s fine. For an all-day camp, you’ll be reapplying constantly, and the sticky residue can attract dirt and dust. Failure mode: If you rely on OLE for a full day of hiking, you’ll likely run out of coverage mid-trail and get eaten. Use it only for short, sit-around-camp scenarios.
Related questions
Is 20% picaridin better than DEET?
For most camping, yes—it provides the same protection time (6–8 hours), doesn’t smell, and won’t damage your gear. The exception is extreme bug pressure: DEET at 25–30% still outperforms picaridin in controlled lab tests, but the real-world difference is small for typical camping.
Do natural repellents work for ticks?
Oil of lemon eucalyptus can repel ticks, but its short duration means you need to reapply often. For a tick-heavy weekend, stick with picaridin or DEET—they provide longer and more consistent protection. Permethrin-treated clothing is the best second line of defense.
Can I use DEET on children?
Yes, but avoid concentrations above 30%. The CDC says 20–30% DEET is safe for children 2 months and older, but many parents prefer picaridin for its lighter feel and lower irritation potential. Always wash off repellent ultimately .
Base your choice on your actual trip conditions and gear—not what’s cheapest or what someone else uses. A 20% picaridin lotion will cover 90% of camping trips. For the remaining 10%, a small bottle of DEET as backup is all you need. If you’re still uncertain, the Sawyer lotion with 20% picaridin is the single most versatile option you can buy.
Camping Bob has spent over 20 years camping across the US — from BLM dispersed sites in the Southwest to KOA campgrounds in the Pacific Northwest. He writes practical, no-nonsense guides to help fellow campers get outdoors with confidence.