Want to switch from DEET to picaridin

I did an almost two year trial of Picaridan. At first I really liked it. It is actually rated a little better at keeping ticks off you than DEET. But the big thing is it is much less stinky than DEET and won't melt some plastics. Also I won't hesitate to put some on unlike DEET.

I am back on DEET again though for hiking. For my kids and when I am going to a back yard party I will likely keep using Picaridan. But I went on a multiday trip last summer and the mosquitoes were very bad. The Picaridan kept them away for like a half hour then faded. I think it is a little too water soluble and washes off with sweat. The backs of my arms near my sweaty armpits ended up horribly bitten up. I mean really bad.

So on my recent overnight I DEET'd up at the car and was good for the two days without having to put more on. I could still smell the DEET on me when I got home but in a way that's what I want. That's what stops the mosquitoes and ticks. It does make me feel a little funny when I first put it on. I have been using Ben's %30.

Ernie, thanks for that feedback. I got both DEET and picaridin today so I'll bee able to compare them. Walmart only had 15% picaridin, which I think isn't strong enough.

I swapped out to permethrin in 2001 when we went to Kenya. It works like a charm for what tries to get on or through your clothing. That eliminates most of the areas, as I never wear shorts or short sleeves if going into buggy areas.

I've used both. Picaridin is more comfortable on my skin, but DEET is more effective when mosquitos are thick and tenacious.

Found an interesting comment on the web. Many of you know what cedar gnats are but for those who don’t they are the national bird from hell and they come in droves and cover bare skin with hundreds of welts.

“Reporting back on picaridin as a cedar gnat repellent. It was mildly useful and only temporarily.”

For ticks (what I'm most concerned about - I've had Lyme disease twice), I'd recommend Permethrin rather than Picaradin or DEET. It's the active ingredient in the Sawyer spray that you can buy to treat your clothes yourself and the ingredient within the service provided by Insect Shield.
There are now several scientific studies of the efficacy of Permethrin, here's one
academic.oup.com/jme/article/55/5/1217/4999656
There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence of hikers being coated with DEET and still picking the deer ticks off of themselves at the end of the day. Note - Permethrin is to be applied to your clothing, not your skin.