I went for a hike Saturday and got eaten up by bugs. You’ll be out there shortly, hiking down to the river or camping, and you’ll suffer the same fate if you don’t spray down.
While I don’t like to use repellent, you should. Insect bites aren’t just itchy and uncomfortable; mosquitoes and other insects can transmit Lyme disease, West Nile virus and other nasty stuff.
In the latest tests by Consumer Reports, here are 4 top repellents to use this summer.
Non-DEET:
Sawyers Fisherman’s Formula ($9.99 from Cabela’s), with active ingredient 20 percent picaridin
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, which contains 30 percent oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Both of the above non-DEET products repelled mosquitoes and ticks for at least 7 hours, Consumer Reports found.
DEET products:
Repel Scented Family (15 percent DEET)
Off! Deepwoods VIII (25 percent DEET)