Zone Protects
Zone Protects Picaridin Insect Repellent
Spray · EPA-registered repellent (Reg. #93362-1)
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Pros
- Strong all-day defense, 8 to 10 hours on mosquitoes and 7 to 8 on ticks from 20% picaridin.
- Light, low-odor, and gear-safe.
Cons
No significant downsides for its role.
The full review
Built on 20% picaridin, this DEET-free spray is the top performer in this group and a recommendation in the maximum protection tier. Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, two of three audited claims are strong with the third moderate, and skin safety reads near-perfect with no notable sensitization or irritation. The label touts up to 12 hours, which reflects reduced biting; our own model is more conservative but still generous, estimating roughly 8 to 10 hours of complete mosquito protection and 7 to 8 against ticks (EPA Reg. #93362-1). The lone soft spot is transparency, where the active percentage is fully disclosed but the inert ingredients are not accounted for, with a minor aquatic-toxicity note trimming safety slightly. Light, low-odor, and gear-safe, it is strong all-day defense.
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%94Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+9).
Picaridin is backed by definitive published evidence, weighted by how close its concentration is to the studied effective dose (base 85). Of 3 marketing claims audited: 2 strong, 1 moderate, 0 weak, 0 unsupported (+9).
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.
“DEET-free”
Deet FreeStrongActive is picaridin, not DEET.
“Up to 12-hour protection”
DurationModerateManufacturer claim consistent with 20% picaridin EPA efficacy data.
“Repels mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, chiggers, gnats, no-see-ums, and fleas”
EfficacyStrongPicaridin at 20% is an EPA-registered active (reg 93362-1) at full dose adequacy (1.0), giving ~8–10 h complete mosquito and ~7–8 h tick protection.
How to apply it
Spray on skin and rub to spread evenly. For the face, spray into hands and apply to face and neck. Apply to all exposed skin when outdoors.