This is another natural repellent that claims to be effective in malarial zones, but we would recommend using a stronger repellent such as LifeSystems or Jungle Formula on tropical trips. A cream version and repellent-infused wet wipes are also available. An excellent option for people, families and small groups who don’t want to cover themselves in oils or sprays. Thermacells MR 300 contains a fuel canister and repellent soaked pad. Hit ‘on’ and ‘start’, and a small flame inside the repeller heats the repellent to keep mosquitoes away within a 15-foot radius. The benefit of no DEET is that Incognito feels light and grease-free on the skin and has a pleasant scent of bergamot and citral.

You’ll need to regularly reapply Theye, especially after sweating or swimming, as it fades faster than a DEET-based spray, but it does have a fresh summery scent that we found made it pleasant to use, and there’s no alcohol in the formula, so it won’t dry out skin. Note that natural repellents are never as effective as stronger ones, and evaporate faster, but are ideal for mild climates or for use on children or people with sensitive skin. Type of applicationJungle Formula Dry Protect is a DEET free, non-greasy insect repellent aerosol with soothing ingredients and a pleasant fragrance for strong, skin friendly protection, without the greasy feel. This formula is ideal for anyone who finds DEET irritates or dries out their skin, but still needs hardworking insect protection on their travels or in places where it’s important to avoid mosquito bites. You can also use this spray on children and delicate skin. We recommend using a Jungle Formula most suited to your skin sensitivity and where you are travelling to. Jungle Formula Plug In, Kids Bracelet and Bite & Sting Spray can be used with the other Jungle Formula products.

The overall design of the range of Jungle Formula products has changed, there have been updates to the instructions for use to help you get effective use from the product, and to comply with updates in regulations.

Uses / Instructions

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ As a rule of thumb, you should apply a repellent containing DEET or Picaridin once or twice a day or after you swim or sweat heavily. Reapply natural repellents every two hours. We currently have a warning against the use of Jungle Formula products around materials such as synthetics, fabrics, plastics and lacquered surfaces. Unfortunately, we are not able to recommend a specific product to help remove the stain but we would suggest that a regular laundry detergent should help.

In the USA, repellents with more than 35% DEET aren’t recommended for use on children. We advise using DEET only on adults, and primarily when avoiding mosquito bites is imperative, such as when travelling in countries where malaria and other insect-borne diseases are present. DEET-free alternatives The only spray we reviewed offering 24 hour protection (well, if diligently reapplied three times), Lifesystems Expedition Max may be overkill for a ramble in the Lake District but it’s ideal for jungle conditions or anywhere where you’ll be exposed day and night to illness-carrying insects.We advise to read the label in the first instance, as it should state if you cannot use other skin products like sunscreen at the same time. Where simultaneous use of sunscreen and insect repellents occurs, the sunscreen should be applied before the repellent. Once the sunscreen is dry the insect repellent spray can then be applied. This method of application should avoid the sunscreen masking the smell and efficacy of the repellent. The best insect repellents contain active ingredients that the little nasties hate. The most notable is DEET, though this can be irritating for sensitive skin in large doses and can even react with synthetic materials, such as watch straps. Other active ingredients in repellents include Picaridin (also known as Saltidin), which is found in Smidge That Midge, a spray offering good protection from midges.

Ben’s is also available in a spray bottle. Ben’s ‘Max’ spray contains a hefty hit of DEET (50% in Europe, the highest percentage allowed under EU law, but up to 98% in the US), which means that despite its dinky size, you don’t need to spray too liberally to keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay. Avoid using the strong spray on delicate skin – spray it in your hands first and avoid your eyes and mouth if you’re applying to your face. As mentioned, being equipped with the best insect repellents when you set forth in your hiking boots can be vital. Not only can some insects be a nuisance, depending on where you are in the world, they can also give you some pretty nasty illnesses. Mosquito-borne diseases continue to be a scourge across the globe with the Zika virus, dengue and malaria among the most notorious.A DEET-free alternative is Life Systems’ Expedition Sensitive spray, which uses 20% Saltidin (also known as Picaridin) as an active ingredient instead. The good news is, if you want to go DEET-free, there are plenty of hardworking alternatives on the market. The most effective active ingredient for sale as a viable alternative to DEET is Picaridin (also marketed as Icaridin and Saltidin), which isn’t known to cause any skin irritation. It may not be quite as effective as DEET, but it still works at protecting from bites – and isn’t known to have the side effects of DEET. Repellents come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re likely to find one that suits you. We usually recommend spray bottles, especially those that still work when sprayed upside down, as they give full, even coverage, allow you to reapply on the go and are usually clear, so they can be applied to clothes as well as skin. If you prefer a cream based repellent, many brands also come in lotion form. Jungle Formula Dry Protect is ideal for travel in areas with no known risk of malaria or other insect transmitted diseases. It has been specifically formulated for Europe and the UK, having an Insect Repellent Factor (IRF) 3, the aerosol format provides up to 7 hours protection*, whilst the pump spray format provides up to 6 hours protection* from mosquitoes and other biting insects.