Our Picks Best overall aerosol insect repellent Cutter Dry aerosol spray View details $24 at Amazon View details Best overall pump spray insect repellent Proven picaridin insect repellent View details $10 at Amazon View details Best natural insect repellent Natrapel lemon eucalyptus insect repellent View details $13 at Amazon View details Best insect repellent for clothes and gear Sawyer permethrin aerosol and pump spray insect repellent View details $10 at Bass Pro View details Best insect repellent lotion Proven picaridin lotion View details $13 at Amazon View details Best insect repellent wipes Ben's 30% DEET wipes View details $28 at Amazon View details Best DEET-free insect repellent wipes Natrapel picaridin wipes View details $14 at Amazon View details Table of Contents Is there anything worse than going off on an outdoor adventure only to feel the sting of a fresh bug bite not even 10 minutes later? We don't think so. No matter whether you're camping or hanging out in your backyard, it's paramount that you bring protection against the wilds with bug spray. In fact, if you travel to a country where malaria and other diseases are spread by mosquitoes, it is crucial that you take insect repellant. The CDC recommends that you use only insect repellents approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency. For children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using insect repellents that contain no more than 30% DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients.But which is the best bug repellant for you and your family? To narrow the search for the best bug spray money can buy, our experts at CNET have tested over 20 wipes, lotions, sprays and DEET-free insect repellents from different brands to see which is the best of the best. When you live somewhere it's so hot you start sweating upon opening your back door, adding an additional layer of stickiness is not an option. Cutter Dry insect repellent is the best bug spray by far in terms of feel.The aerosol nozzle sprays wide and evenly, and the formula dries nearly instantly on your skin. You don't have to rub this spray into your skin at all.The bottle says unscented, but Cutter Dry does have a slight smell to it. It's not overpowering like many other sprays, though, and definitely not intolerable.Made with 10% DEET, this insect repellent will do its job in most environments. I would consider taking something stronger, such as a 20% or 30% DEET repellent, for backcountry adventures in buggy environments. If you prefer to avoid aerosol sprays, Proven makes a great picaridin-based pump spray insect repellent. Picaridin is a synthetic compound derived from piperine, a chemical compound found in the family of plants that produce black pepper. It's not as odorous as DEET, and according to some research, picaridin is equally as effective at repelling bugs as DEET.The Proven picaridin pump spray is the only one I found to be truly odorless during my testing. I probably would have looked crazy to bystanders if they saw me smelling my skin and clothes to catch a whiff of this stuff. For a pump spray, it doesn't have a bad texture -- plus, it goes on pretty light and I only had to rub it in a tiny bit. It absorbed quickly. Of all the bug sprays I've used in my life, this was my first time trying Proven, and I'll likely buy it in the future. $13 at Amazon For those who want to avoid chemicals altogether, a lemon eucalyptus insect repellent is a gentler way to stave off bugs and their bites. I tried a few different lemon eucalyptus bug sprays, and Natrapel came out on top.Free of the two chemicals proven to repel insects, it's natural to think this bug spray isn't as effective as its DEET- or picaridin-containing counterparts. The CDC and EPA recognize lemon eucalyptus oil as an effective insect repellent. The Natrapel bottle does say it offers up to six hours of protection versus the typical eight to 12 in DEET and picaridin products.Anyway, if you don't mind applying more often, Natrapel's aerosol or pump spray is a good option. Despite the fact that the active ingredient is an oil, this bug spray doesn't feel as oily as you might expect. It is slightly tougher to rub in compared to DEET and picaridin sprays, but it's not bad overall. Both types of bottles are easy to spray. Plus, the smell is nice (if you like lemon eucalyptus).