Repel
Tick Defense 15% Picaridin
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. No. 121-92-305, a distributor registration of United Industries Corp. product 121-92)
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Pros
- Strong tick and mosquito cover, 4 to 6 hours on ticks and 5 to 7 on mosquitoes from 15% picaridin.
- Picaridin's light, gear-safe feel with no DEET odor.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
This DEET-free aerosol leans on 15% picaridin for a strong recommended, and it doubles as a genuinely gear-friendly option since picaridin will not damage plastics or synthetics. Effectiveness is high for the concentration, with our model showing 5 to 7 hours of complete mosquito protection and a real 4 to 6 hours against ticks, the headline for tick country. The evidence and safety pillars both sit near the top, and all 8 audited claims hold up. The label's "up to 10 hours" measures repellency rather than bite-free time, so our window reads shorter by design. The only meaningful drag is transparency, reflecting undisclosed inert ingredients.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%95Mosquitoes: 5–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 4–6 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: 5–7 h of complete protection. Ticks: 4–6 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 8 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 3 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 8 marketing claims audited: 5 strong, 3 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 ~12 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 ~11 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 · 15%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Won't damage cotton, wool, nylon, acetate or spandex”
OtherStrongA gear-compatibility attribute, not an efficacy claim; picaridin is documented as safe on fabrics and plastics (unlike DEET).
“Repels ticks and mosquitoes on both skin and clothing”
EfficacyStrongStated on the official Repel brand page; can be applied to skin and clothing.
“Won't damage clothing or gear”
OtherModerateConsistent with picaridin's known material compatibility.
“Up to 10 hours of protection against ticks”
DurationModerateRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~6 h): the claimed 10 h is 1.7× our estimate, so this duration claim is optimistic but plausible (a label maximum).
“Repels mosquitoes that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered label claim; repellency does not guarantee disease prevention.
“DEET-free formula”
Deet FreeStrongWell supported by published evidence
“Up to 10 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationModerateRe-evaluated against our corrected complete-protection estimate (~7 h): the claimed 10 h is 1.4× our estimate, so this duration claim is optimistic but plausible (a label maximum).
“Picaridin 15%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by EPA registration.
How to apply it
Hold the can 6-8 inches from skin and clothing and spray, keeping the sprayer pointed away from the face; use just enough to cover exposed skin and/or clothing, and do not use under clothing. Do not spray directly onto the face — spray on hands first and apply sparingly, avoiding eyes and mouth. Do not apply to children's hands or allow children to handle the product; when using on children, apply to your own hands and then put it on the child. Reapply after about 10 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.
