These are the best products to help keep ticks off of you
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You can prevent tick bites by being diligent about protection and using the right products. Insect Shield; Amazon Table of contents Our top picks The best tick prevention products How I picked the best tick preventive products How to shop for tick preventives How do you avoid tick bites? Frequently asked questions Meet our tick prevention experts Why trust NBC Selected? See 5 More When summer arrives, you probably have nothing but vacation, beach days , travel and barbecues on your mind. The last thing you’re worrying about is remembering to check yourself for ticks. While it’s not a fun task, preventing tick bites is important, particularly when it comes to avoiding conditions like lyme disease.
With this in mind, I spoke with entomology experts for their advice on how to find the best tick prevention products — including socks, hats, and tick repellent sprays — and the best methods for preventing tick bites.
Best apparel Insect Shield Packable Hat $20.00 $39.95 Insect Shield Learn more Best body spray Ben's 100 Tick & Insect Repellent $undefined $22.98 Amazon Learn more Best clothing/gear spray Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent for Clothing, Gear and Tents $31.78 $35.10 Amazon Learn more Related selected selected 9 best insect repellents: DEET and DEET-free bug sprays Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
All of the products below are either direct recommendations from experts or NBC Selected staff, and/or highly rated on Amazon or another retailer.
$ 13.95 Amazon What to know Active ingredient: permethrin What we like They cover the ankle Available in multiple sizes Available in multiple pairs Something to note Only available in crew These socks from Insect Shield are EPA-registered and treated with permethrin, the active ingredient in tick repellent. In addition to ticks, they help repel mosquitoes, ants and flies , according to the brand. They’re made from a mix of bamboo viscose, polyester, spandex and rubber so that they’re durable yet soft. They’re great for wearing with any shoe, but particularly hiking boots, since they come up above the ankles. Plus, their protection lasts for up to 70 washes, according to the brand.
They have a 4.8-star average rating from 340 shoppers at Insect Shield, and shoppers mention that they’re both effective and comfortable to wear.
$ 22.98 Amazon What to know Active ingredient: DEET What we like Easy to apply 10 hours of protection Doesn’t have a smell Something to note May run out fast This tick and insect spray has DEET as its main active ingredient, which is another effective defense against ticks, according to Eva Buckner, associate professor and extension specialist at the University of Florida’s Medical Entomology Laboratory . Ingredients like DEET help avoid tick bites and related illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever (a bacterial disease that causes a rash) and lyme disease.
While products with permethrin are meant for application on things like clothes, tents and shoes, DEET-based products like this can be applied directly to the skin, including the face and hands. This spray provides up to 10 hours of protection, and people who bought the spray love that it prevents bites without having an off-putting smell.
$ 31.78 $ 35.10 Amazon Now 9% off What to know Active ingredient: permethrin What we like Also works on mosquitoes Lasts for over a month Smell fades Something to note Chemical smell while applying While you can spray DEET- and picaridin-based products directly onto your body, such as ones from brands like Off! and Murphy’s , this spray is meant to be applied to your clothing, shoes, tents and chairs and other outdoor equipment that may come in contact with ticks. One application lasts up to six weeks and six washes, according to the brand. It’s worth noting that many people who love how well it works did say that it has a chemical smell during application, though that goes away after it dries.
$ 20.00 $ 39.95 Insect Shield Now 50% off What to know Active ingredient: permethrin What we like Has 50+ UPF Has a strap for the chin Dries quickly Something to note Doesn’t cover face This hat from Insect Shield is treated with permethrin, helping it repel ticks that could climb up to your face and scalp after getting on your other clothing. It has an adjustable strap that helps you keep it in place on windy days or during physical activity, and the top of the hat has mesh on the sides, allowing for air to circulate through it. Additionally, it has UPF 50+ , so it helps protect against sun damage in addition to repelling ticks. Shoppers say that it’s comfortable and that they appreciated the ventilated mesh.
$ 9.49 Amazon What to know Active ingredient: DEET What we like Great for mosquitoes too Doesn’t have a greasy feel Also works while upside down Something to note Has a smell Another DEET-based option, this aerosol spray from Off! helps repel ticks, as well as biting flies, mosquitoes and no-see-ums, according to the brand. While shoppers who spend a lot of time outdoors say it has a usual “ bug spray ” smell, they also say that it works well. It doesn’t have a greasy feel to it and you can spray it directly on your skin. Plus, it sprays easily with the bottle pointed upside down, which is a huge bonus when you need to apply it to your back and back side of your limbs.
$ 119.00 Tick Socks What to know Active ingredient: permethrin What we like Available in fun styles Lasts a long time Doesn't have a bug spray smell Something to note Only available in multiples Similar to the socks from Insect Shield, these socks are treated with permethrin to help repel ticks, and they’re available in a few fun designs, like pretzels and doughnuts, making them great for kids. They’re available in packs of four and sizes small, medium, large and…
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