Coleman
Coleman DEET Insect Repellent 50% DEET
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #79533-9)
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Pros
- High-strength 50% DEET for buggy backcountry, 6 to 8 hours that holds up to sweat.
- Fully disclosed, with the deep DEET evidence base behind it.
Cons
- This much DEET feels oily and can damage plastics, sunglasses, and synthetics.
- Overkill for casual backyard use.
The full review
Despite the 50% DEET in the product name, this spray lands a clear recommended in our maximum-protection tier. The high concentration buys durability and a longer window, with modeled complete protection of 6 to 8 hours against mosquitoes and 3 to 6 against ticks, backed by DEET's definitive evidence and clean skin safety. All 4 audited claims hold up, so it reads steady across the pillars, and the label's up to 8 hours counts repellency rather than bite-free time. The one real deduction is transparency, strong on active disclosure but short of accounting for inerts. At this strength it can soften plastics and synthetics, and it should not be used on infants, so it is a deep-woods tool rather than an everyday spray.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%96Mosquitoes: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–6 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: 6–8 h of complete protection. Ticks: 3–6 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%97DEET is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 3 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 4 marketing claims audited: 3 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 ~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.
- DEETActive
Active repellent · 50%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Also repels gnats, chiggers, ticks, biting flies, no-see-ums, and fleas”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered DEET efficacy claim per manufacturer labeling.
“Unscented, fast-drying, non-greasy, and non-staining”
OtherModerateManufacturer cosmetic/feel claims.
“DEET 50%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by the EPA master label for Reg. No. 79533-9 and the manufacturer page. (Corrected from a prior 'DEET 40%' claim that belonged to the discontinued 40% Sportsmen product, Reg. No. 79533-5.)
“8 hours of protection against mosquitoes”
DurationStrongPer manufacturer labeling; consistent with EPA-accepted protection times for high-concentration DEET products. This 2025 registration is not yet in the EPA repellent search tool snapshot reviewed.
How to apply it
Apply to exposed skin, using just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not spray directly onto the face - spray on hands first and then apply, avoiding eyes and mouth and applying sparingly around ears. Do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin, do not apply to young children's hands, and do not use on infants. After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water and wash treated clothing before wearing again.