Sawyer
20% Picaridin Insect Repellent Spray
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. No. 54287-22-58188)
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Pros
- A backpacker favorite, 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 7 to 8 on ticks from 20% picaridin.
- Light, low-odor, and won't damage gear the way DEET can.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
The pump-spray sibling to Sawyer's lotion earns the same maximum protection standing, and it is an easy travel and backpacking pick given that picaridin will not harm plastics, sunglasses, or gear. Our model puts complete protection at 8 to 10 hours for mosquitoes and a strong 7 to 8 for ticks. The evidence and safety pillars are near perfect, and all 7 audited claims check out (6 strong, 1 moderate). The brand's "up to 12 hours" measures repellency rather than bite-free time, so our estimate sits a touch lower by design, not contradiction. As with the lotion, the lone drag is transparency, because the inert list is never published.
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 7 marketing claims audited: 6 strong, 1 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 7 marketing claims audited: 6 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 ~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.
“Named repellent of first choice by Canada's Public Health Agency for ages 6 months to 12 years”
SafetyStrongAuthoritative endorsement on brand page.
“Safe for the whole family; won't damage clothing, gear, plastics, or synthetic coatings”
OtherModerateMaterial compatibility is well documented for picaridin; family-safety positioning is consistent with public-health guidance for picaridin at 20%.
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile, Dengue, and Zika viruses, and ticks that may carry Lyme disease”
EfficacyStrong20% picaridin (doseAdequacy 1.0) supports ~8–10 h mosquito and ~7–8 h tick complete protection, matching the EPA-registered vector-repellency label claim.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongWell supported by published evidence
“Up to 8 hours of protection against biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and sand flies”
DurationStrongConsistent with EPA-listed protection times for this registration.
“Effective up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~10 h).
“Picaridin 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by EPA registration.
How to apply it
Apply evenly to all exposed skin, avoiding eyes and mouth; to apply to the face, spray onto hands first and spread carefully. It can also be applied to clothing, where it remains effective longer than on skin. Do not apply to children's hands; when using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child. Reapply after about 8-12 hours or after swimming, sweating, or toweling off, and wash treated skin with soap and water after returning indoors.
The label
Ingredients, warnings, and directions from the package label. Read it before you buy.
