No Tickz
No Tickz Picaridin Tick Repellent Spray
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #66243-4-93920)
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Pros
- Heavy-duty tick and mosquito defense, 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 7 to 8 on ticks from 20% picaridin.
- Fully disclosed, with picaridin's light, gear-safe feel.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
An unscented pump spray that brings 20% picaridin under an EPA registration, this one is recommended for maximum protection. Picaridin's evidence is definitive, the dermal profile reads near spotless, and all 9 audited claims came back strong or moderate. The label's up to 12 hours reflects reduced biting, while our model puts complete protection at a genuinely strong 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 7 to 8 on ticks. The one thing keeping it a step behind its Natrapel sibling is transparency, since the inert ingredients are not fully accounted for. A moderate aquatic toxicity ding is the only safety deduction, and picaridin's light, gear-safe feel makes it easy daily wear.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%100Mosquitoes: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 7–8 h of complete protection. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Mosquitoes: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 7–8 h of complete protection. Protection times are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format (see methodology). Scored on a saturating curve (each added hour counts less than the last), 65% mosquito / 35% tick, with reasonable confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%97Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 9 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 4 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 9 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 4 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
Safety15%96From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
From published dermal toxicology (EPA/CIR/IFRA), scaled by each active's concentration against its leave-on limit: no notable sensitization risk; low irritation; moderate aquatic toxicity (−4).
Transparency15%75This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
How long it protects
Complete protection ends when the first bite gets through; partial protection keeps reducing bites as repellency decays. EPA label times are verified; the rest are modeled from the actives, concentration, and format.
Mosquito estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~18 h as repellency decays.
Tick estimate basis (moderate confidence)
Estimated complete protection time from active ingredient + concentration; the source research used a spray-style formulation, matching this spray (no format adjustment). Partial protection (reduced but real bite suppression) is modeled to extend to ~14 h as repellency decays.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 100% of active concentrations (+40); discloses 100% of all ingredient concentrations (+15); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
- PicaridinActive
Active repellent · 20%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Safe for the whole family, including pregnant women and small children, when used as directed”
SafetyModerateBrand FAQ (nonatz.com) explicitly states low absorption, non-irritant, non-skin-sensitizing, and safe for pregnant women and small children; extends the existing 'use with confidence on the whole family' claim.
“Made in the USA”
EfficacyStrongStated on brand page and Amazon/Walmart titles; crafted in Savannah, Georgia.
“Unscented, non-greasy, non-staining, dries quickly”
OtherModerateCosmetic feel claims; brand FAQ also claims wide material/plastics compatibility.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongActive is picaridin; brand FAQ confirms no DEET.
“Use with confidence on the whole family”
Kid SafeModeratePicaridin is considered low-risk by EPA/WHO; label still restricts application to children's hands and requires adult application for children.
“Up to 12 hours of protection against mosquitoes, including those carrying West Nile Virus”
DurationStrongEPA-registered label claim, consistent with EPA repellency data for 20% picaridin.
“Repels biting flies, stable flies, black flies, gnats, chiggers, sand flies, and no-see-ums for up to 8 hours”
DurationStrongPer registered product labeling.
“Up to 12 hours of protection against ticks”
DurationModerateRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~8 h): the claimed 12 h is 1.5× our estimate, so this duration claim is optimistic but plausible (a label maximum).
“Picaridin 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration from product labeling and EPA registration data for base reg 66243-4.
How to apply it
Hold 4 to 6 inches from skin while spraying, keeping the nozzle pointed away from your face, and slightly moisten skin with a slow sweeping motion. Do not exceed two applications per day; excessive amounts or frequent reapplication are unnecessary. Do not spray directly on the face; instead spray small amounts into your palms and spread on face and neck, avoiding eyes and mouth and applying sparingly around ears. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then to the child; do not apply to children's hands and do not allow children to handle the product. Avoid contact with lips, cuts, wounds, irritated or excessively sunburned skin, and do not apply under clothing.