Insect Repellent Reviews and Buying Guide:

Growing up in California mosquitos weren't an issue during the summer months and it was only when I vacationed up to Edmonton, Alberta one summer did I realize how bad most of the world has it when it comes to mosquito problems. I was only about 10 years old at the time and definitely was not prepared for the hordes of mosquitos (we're talking clouds of them) I would come across. We tried sprays, dressing from head to toe with jackets, socks, etc. In the summer who wants to have to dress warmly just to avoid the constant buzzing of mosquitos and bugs. There are dozens of products on the market that claim to repel insects, but not all perform as advertised. Those insect repellents with DEET have proven to be the most successful at keeping bugs and mosquitos to a minimum, but how safe is DEET in high levels on your skin. Consumers are now more aware of natural insect repellents and the natural oil of lemon eucalyptus is a leading ingredient in mosquito repellents.

---

If you have happen to live in an area where mosquitos are rampant, then you will want the best protection you can buy. Mosquitos carry diseases like encephalitis and the West Nile virus so concerns have grown amongst parents trying to protect their children. Insect repellents with DEET are not recommended for children under 2 months old and the newer lemon eucalyptus oil products is not meant for kids under 3. Parents have a dilemma, put DEET on their kids to keep the bugs and mosquitos away or stay indoors during the peak hours of the day for mosquito activity. I have always found it hard to apply some of the sprays, especially around my face without risking it going into my eyes. I usually have to spray it into the palm of my hands and then dab it around my eyes, cheeks, and face. When shopping for a quality insect repellent, most people want something that doesn't need to be applied every hour and they want a product that is not to pungent. Some scents are overpowering even to humans which makes them less appealing. There is even insect repellent clothing available which certainly solves some issues, but if it's a hot day or evening, who wants to be fully dressed to enjoy the outdoors. There have been several studies on bug sprays and insect repellents including one by Cosumer Reports where they rated 18 products and one by Good Housekeeping in accordance with ABC's Good Morning America but it only tested 2 mosquito repellents. Slate Magazine's Andria Lisle did some research of her own with friends in Mississippi to determine which repellent worked best. I was also able to read reviews on Amazon and Epinions to get more consumer feedback on which sprays and products perform up to par. Most insect repellents are less than $10 at your local drug store or online at Amazon.com. The top brands are Cutter, Repel, Off!, 3M, Sawyer, and Avon Skin So Soft. Beyond mosquitos, many of these insect repellents claim to offer support from black flies, sand flies, gnats, chiggers, fleas, ticks, and more. If you have a larger yard with mosquito problems, experts recommend looking into mosquitio traps which tackle a much larger area with fairly good results. There are more brands offering insect repellent wipes or towelettes which make applying them to your face area much easier than with sprays. Down below we have listed the top selling and expert recommended insect repellent products when it comes to controlling insects, bugs, and mosquitos when outdoors.

Best Insect Repellent:

Nobody wants to deal with mosquito bites or irritating bug bites that itch and make you want to scratch. The best insect repellent on the market is Off! Deep Woods which has 25% DEET and lasts up to 5 hours without having to reapply. Repellents with 25% DEET can be safe for infants 2 months or older but some pediatricians say a lower concentration of DEET is probably better (see below for top rated kids insect repellent). As with many of these chemical repellents, the smell can be too much and a large % of users say the odor associated with this product is pretty severe. Off! Deep Woods is recommended for those hiking or camping in the woods and the manufacturer claims it can repel ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, sand flies, chiggers, fleas, gnats, and no-see-ums. It comes packaged as a pump-spray, in towelettes, or an aerosal can. You can find more details online at Offprotects.com.

Top Rated Natural Mosquito Repellent:

As noted in several articles we read on insect repellents, parents were concerned about the levels of DEET their children would be exposed to with popular mosquito repellents. A relatively new product is Repel Lemon Eucalyptus and this plant based insect repellent is natural compared to the chemical based DEET repellents. Medical experts say that kids under the age of 3 should not be using this product. Although it is not as effective as products that contain DEET, it does perform better than non-DEET repellents. The manufacturer says this product will show results for us to 6 hours, but consumers say it closer to 4 or 5. Reviews on Amazon were very positive with one couple having used Repel Lemon Eucalyptus on a safari in Africa with no problems from bugs. A few people did mention that the lemony scent is a touch strong. Go to Repel.com for more details.

Bug Repellent for Kids:

For those of us concerned with using insect repellents with high concentrations of DEET, there is Off! Skintastic IV Insect Repellent Family Unscented ($8). Skintastic has about 7% DEET which is considered safe for kids 2 months or older. It will repel mosquitoes, biting flies, ticks, no-see-ums, gnats and chiggers up to 2 hours. The spray pump is easy to apply and the unscented version is great on the nose. You can find this product online at Drugstore.com or in your local pharmacy like Rite Aid.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors