OFF!
OFF! Deep Woods Sportsmen Insect Repellent I
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- Maximum-strength backcountry DEET, 98% active for 6 to 8 hours that handles the worst bug pressure.
- The deep DEET evidence base and a clean safety read at this level.
Cons
- Pure DEET feels oily and damages plastics, lenses, and synthetics.
- Far more than a backyard evening calls for, and not for infants.
The full review
At 98.25% DEET this is about as much active as you can buy, and it lands firmly in our recommended, maximum protection tier. The evidence behind DEET is as settled as repellent science gets (4 of 5 claims strong), the safety read is clean, and transparency is strong because nearly the whole formula is quantified. Complete protection models at 6 to 8 hours against mosquitoes and a real 5 to 7 against ticks, the genuine payoff of going this high alongside durability against sweat and rain. The label's up-to-10-hours claim counts reduced biting rather than bite-free time. The lone knock is a minor transparency gap, since the inert list is not fully accounted for, and this strength feels oily, can damage plastics and synthetics, and is not meant for infants.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%97Mosquitoes: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–7 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: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 5–7 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%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+12).
DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 5 marketing claims audited: 4 strong, 1 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 ~14 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 ~12 h as repellency decays. Ticks only: estimated against Ixodes scapularis (the US Lyme vector). DEET is notably weaker against the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and some dog-tick (Dermacentor) populations, and weaker on ticks than on mosquitoes. Anchors: Burtis 2024 (CDC), 25% DEET held >=97% skin repellency through 6.5 h; Buchel 2015, 20% median tick CPT ~4-4.5 h.
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.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 98.25%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Up to 10 hours of protection against ticks”
DurationModerateWithin the partial-protection window: complete (bite-free) protection is ~7 h, with reduced protection persisting to ~12 h. The claimed 10 h is optimistic but plausible as partial protection.
“Repels chiggers, fleas, stable flies, black flies, gnats, biting flies, and sand flies”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered label claim per the off.com product page.
“Repels mosquitoes that may carry the Zika, Dengue, or West Nile virus”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered label claim.
“DEET 98.25%”
EfficacyStrongCurrent off.com label states 98.25% (other ingredients 1.75%); EPA's repellent search data rounds this to 98.3%.
“Up to 10 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~8 h).
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 DEET.
Mainly from DEET.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →
The label
Ingredients, warnings, and directions from the package label. Read it before you buy.
