OFF!
OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent
Spatial Device · EPA-registered spatial repellent device
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Pros
- Meaningful landing/bite reduction (40–70%)
- EPA-registered device
- Active ingredient concentration disclosed
Cons
- Protects only the treated zone, and effectiveness drops sharply in wind or open air
- Highly toxic to fish and aquatic life — keep well away from water
The full review
Battery-powered personal emanator that clips to a belt or bag and runs a small fan over a metofluthrin cartridge, creating a repellent cloud in the air right around you rather than treating skin. It is genuinely hands-free and DEET-free, but the protective cloud is small and personal: it works only very close to the device and breaks down quickly in any breeze. Independent testing has found real-world protection well short of the label duration.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%31This is an area device, not applied to skin: published field trials report roughly 40–70% fewer mosquito landings or bites, over a small personal cloud rather than an area. Scored 60% on that reduction and 40% on how much space it protects, so a larger zone counts for real. Reduction figures come from controlled or semi-field trials, not backyard conditions. Real-world protection drops sharply in wind and open air, so this is scored with lower confidence.
This is an area device, not applied to skin: published field trials report roughly 40–70% fewer mosquito landings or bites, over a small personal cloud rather than an area. Scored 60% on that reduction and 40% on how much space it protects, so a larger zone counts for real. Reduction figures come from controlled or semi-field trials, not backyard conditions. Real-world protection drops sharply in wind and open air, so this is scored with lower confidence.
Evidence & honest claims25%46Metofluthrin is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-10).
Metofluthrin is well-supported by published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 56). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 1 strong, 0 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-10).
Safety15%60This is an area device, not applied to skin, so dermal risk does not apply. Scored on moderate inhalation risk from the vapor (−18); high toxicity to fish and aquatic life (−22). Use it outdoors in the open air only. Keep it well away from ponds, aquariums, and water features.
This is an area device, not applied to skin, so dermal risk does not apply. Scored on moderate inhalation risk from the vapor (−18); high toxicity to fish and aquatic life (−22). Use it outdoors in the open air only. Keep it well away from ponds, aquariums, and water features.
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.
Coverage & effectiveness
This is an area device: it protects a zone around it rather than your skin. Effectiveness is the published reduction in mosquito landings or bites. Real-world protection is best in still air and drops in wind or open space.
Mosquitoes
EstimatedLow- Protected zone
- Personal zone
- Fewer bites
- 40–70%
A 2012 Journal of Medical Entomology study measured roughly 70 percent fewer mosquito landings very close to the device, but protection collapses beyond about 0.3 meters and in any breeze. Independent testing has also found real protection closer to about 2 hours despite the 12-hour label duration, so treat this as a small personal cloud, not zone coverage.
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.
- MetofluthrinActive
Active repellent · 31.2%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Up to 12 hours of protection per refill”
DurationWeakIndependent testing measured roughly 2 hours of real protection versus the 12 hours on the label.
“Hands-free personal mosquito protection, no spray or lotion”
EfficacyWeakAbout 70 percent landing reduction only very close to the unit; the cloud collapses beyond roughly 0.3 meters and in any breeze.
“DEET-free”
Deet FreeStrongActive is metofluthrin (31.2%), not DEET.
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Mainly from Metofluthrin.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →