This spray keeps the ticks away

It's used on clothing, not skin, and provides long-lasting protection Michael Murtaugh This Sawyer repellent is used on clothing, not skin, and provides long-lasting protection against ticks. by Doug Mahoney There is absolutely nothing to like about these awful, disease-ridden insects. They range in size from a sesame seed to a poppy seed. And they can infect you with any number of terrible ailments, such as Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, or Powassan virus. Because ticks are so small, it’s difficult to feel them on the skin. And their actual bite—which they perform with a horrific, [saw-like mouth]( often undetectable. My [loathing of ticks]( is based on personal experience. I live in a rural area and spend a lot of time outdoors in the woods and in my fields. I’ve been treated for Lyme and other tick-related ailments on at least five separate occasions, and two of those involved full, 30-day courses of doxycycline, which is its own special nightmare. I conduct nightly tick checks on my kids, and I watch them like a hawk for Lyme symptoms. I pull ticks off of my cats and my sheep, and anytime I’m outdoors with someone, I remind them to check themselves when they get home. Regular bug repellent works on ticks (we recommend [Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent]( but I supplement that with [Sawyer Permethrin Premium Insect Repellent](. Permethrin is a completely different repellent compared with regular repellents, like those that contain picaridin and DEET. For one, permethrin is applied to clothing and gear (such as backpacks and tents), not to your skin. Once an item is properly sprayed, it holds repellency for about six weeks, or through roughly six washings. Unlike picaridin- and DEET-based sprays, permethrin is actually an insecticide, so it can kill ticks instead of just shooing them away. Permethrin is like the wall around the castle: It’s always there offering protection. Permethrin is also effective. People who wore permethrin-treated sneakers and socks were nearly 74 times less likely to get a tick bite than those who wore untreated footwear, according to [one study](. I take the hint from that study and concentrate on the feet because it’s impractical to treat the entire summer wardrobes of the six people in my immediate family. All summer long, I soak my family’s shoes in Sawyer permethrin spray every month or so (if someone has a favorite pair of shorts, I’ll do those too). It takes only a few minutes, but once it’s done, I am confident I’ve put up a solid barrier where it counts the most. For the legs and upper body, we rely on [Sawyer’s picaridin spray](. Before I understood the joys of permethrin, I just used regular bug spray. But the problem was I was only protected when I remembered to spray myself down, and even then, the spray was often quick and incomplete. And don’t get me started on how hard it is to properly apply repellent on young kids. Permethrin is like the wall around the castle: It’s always there offering protection and doesn’t need much maintenance at all. A 24-ounce bottle of Sawyer permethrin, which treats five complete outfits, is $15. I have no issues with the cost. And honestly, even if the price were three times that, I’d still think it was worth it. After having gone through the aches and malaise of Lyme multiple times—not to mention a brutal 30-day course of antibiotics—paying less than $20 for protection is totally worth it. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more]( → How it compares We tested 19 different bug repellents, including four permethrin sprays. And of those sprays, we favored the Sawyer’s the most. - Sawyer simply has more options than the other brands. We enjoyed the nice trigger spray, wide availability, and variety of sizes. - If you’re treating a large piece of gear like a tent, Sawyer repellent comes in an aerosol bottle to keep you from wearing out your index finger on the spray bottle. - As much as we like using Sawyer’s repellents, brand loyalty shouldn’t get in the way of proper tick protection. Other sprays with EPA approval and the presence of 0.5% permethrin will repel ticks, such as [Ben’s Clothing and Gear Insect Repellent]( or [Coleman’s Gear and Clothing Permethrin Insect and Tick Repellent](. Read more in our guide to [The Best Bug Repellents](. When to buy Ticks are active whenever it’s above freezing. So depending on your location, the best time to buy permethrin spray may be the spring—or even year-round. The numbers $15 Average street price for a 24-ounce bottle $11 Best price we’ve ever seen Use it better Sawyer’s permethrin spray can get used up quickly because the treated gear really needs to be dampened—you don’t just apply a light mist, as you do with a regular repellent. So it’s a good idea to limit overspray when possible. The nozzle is similar to that of a household spray cleaner in that it has options for a wide spray or a narrow stream. We recommend experimenting with those until you find a method that suits what you’re treating. It’s also important to note that permethrin is highly toxic to cats when freshly applied. There should be no issue once dried, but make sure to lock the kitties in a bedroom when you’re treating gear. And if you want to be extra-cautious, keep your treated gear in a closed closet—or anywhere your kitties can’t reach. You are receiving this email because you signed up for Wirecutter’s Newsletter. Getting too many emails from us? [Unsubscribe here](. 
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