Repellents$
OFF! Deep Woods (25% DEET)
The classic. DEET has 70 years of receipts, and Deep Woods is the drugstore-anywhere version.
National
> Loading next level...
Spawning pixels. Hold tight.
> Repellents · NYC + National
Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent
The repellent for people who hate repellent. DEET-grade protection, no grease, no melted sunglasses.
Best for: Daily wear — stoop season, park picnics, backyard dinners · Price: $
Buy on Amazon →
Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Details
Why it made the arsenal.
Picaridin at 20% is the modern default: CDC-recognized, as effective as DEET against mosquitoes in head-to-head trials, but it doesn't stink, doesn't feel like salad dressing, and doesn't dissolve plastics or technical fabrics. Sawyer's lotion version is the crowd favorite because it lasts up to 12 hours and rubs in like sunscreen. If you're going to actually wear repellent to the cookout instead of leaving it in the junk drawer, this is the one you'll actually apply.
+ Power-ups
- CDC-recommended active ingredient, comparable to DEET in efficacy
- Non-greasy, low odor, safe on synthetic fabrics and gear
- Lotion format lasts up to ~12 hours per application
− Drawbacks
- Lotion takes a minute to apply vs a quick spray
- Like all topicals, it protects you — it does nothing about the yard
Affiliate link — as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Details
Complete the loadout.
Repellents$$
Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Repeller
A 20-foot no-spray force field for your stoop or patio. Charge it, click it, sit in peace.
NYC + National
Traps$$
Ovi-Catch AGO Mosquito Trap
The CDC-designed autocidal gravid ovitrap. Egg-laying mosquitoes check in; nobody checks out.
NYC + National
Gear is level 2. Level 1 is free: the Prevention Playbook. And if you're in Bed-Stuy, the pilot will hand you a trap.