Coleman
Coleman Picaridin Insect Repellent 20% Picaridin
Spray · EPA-registered
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Pros
- Near-perfect all-day defense, an EPA-label 10 hours on mosquitoes and 8 to 10 on ticks from 20% picaridin.
- Picaridin's light, low-odor feel won't harm gear or plastics.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
This 20% picaridin spray is one of the strongest performers here, earning a recommended, maximum-protection verdict. Picaridin pairs settled evidence with notably clean skin safety, and unlike high-strength DEET it will not damage plastics or synthetic gear. We model a long window of 8 to 10 hours of complete mosquito protection and 8 to 10 against ticks, and all 6 audited claims hold up. The only thing keeping it from a flawless read is transparency, where the active is fully disclosed but the inert list is not, and the label caps use at two applications per day. Light, low-odor, and gear-safe, it is about as easy as all-day protection gets.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%100Mosquitoes: 8–10 h of complete protection. Ticks: 8–10 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: 8–10 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 6 marketing claims audited: 3 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 6 marketing claims audited: 3 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 ~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 ~18 h as repellency decays. Buchel 2015: 10% picaridin tick CPT ~5 h (I. scapularis) to 8 h (I. ricinus), equal to or better than 20% DEET. Carroll 2010: 20% kept ticks off through the full 12 h test against the lone star tick; we cap at a defensible ~10 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.
- PicaridinActive
Active repellent · 20%
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Safe for children over 2 months when used per label”
Kid SafeModeratebrand page
“Fragrance-free, lightweight, not oily or greasy; won't damage plastics or synthetics”
OtherModerateManufacturer claims; picaridin (unlike DEET) is generally non-damaging to plastics and gear.
“Protection for up to 12 hours”
DurationStrongConsistent with our complete-protection estimate (~10 h).
“Repels mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, no-see-ums, and fleas”
EfficacyStrongEPA-registered picaridin efficacy claim per manufacturer labeling.
“Use with confidence on the whole family”
Kid SafeModerateManufacturer FAQ cites EPA guidance that picaridin is suitable for children over 2 months when used as directed, but the label says do not use on infants and limits applications to two per day.
“Picaridin 20%”
EfficacyStrongActive ingredient concentration confirmed by manufacturer page and registration records.
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →