The best mosquito repellent overall
Here are some things you need to know about diethyltoluamide, better known as DEET: It has been available to the public since the 1950s, and in all that time and after countless tests, it is still considered the most effective mosquito repellent formula. The AAP considers it safe for use on children as young as two months old in concentrations up to 30%. It effectively repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats, flies, and many other bugs, too.
Now here is what you need to know about OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent: It has a DEET concentration of 24% and a proper application provides up to eight hours of protection. And really, what else do you need to know?
It might not smell like roses, but it works well and it's safe for humans of every age above eight weeks. We keep a can in the house, one in the car, and I always bring OFF! when I go hiking or camping, especially when my son is with me.
Beyond mosquitoes, note that one customer reminds us that OFF! Deep Woods is also "effective against deer ticks," another bite you very much want to avoid. The product-testing experts from Consumer Reports hail its "excellent performance at repelling mosquitoes" and heartily recommended the spray.
Pros: Time-tested efficacy, safe for use on people of all ages, good price for a great product
Cons: Smell is less than great, but you get used to it
Buy a two-pack of OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent from Walmart for $15.94The best mosquito repellent for yards
I tried to go the natural route, I really did. Last summer, the first summer we lived in this house here in New York, I sprayed down the entire yard with two different natural anti-mosquito sprays that were filled with things like clove oil, cedar oil, sesame oil, and so forth. You know what happened? Nothing.
Well, OK the yard smelled crisp and fresh for a day or two, but there wasn't any appreciable diminishment in the concentration of mosquitoes. Then I hooked a bottle of Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate to the hose, soaked every square inch of the property, front yard, backyard, bushes, trees, mulch beds, and more. And to my pleasant surprise, for the next week or so, there were remarkably fewer mosquitoes around.
While I can't vouch for the brand's claim that the spray prevents bug issues for four weeks, I can say that with twice monthly sprays, our yard we much more habitable even during peak mosquito season. As this stuff is safe for use around kids, pets, and even near food plants, and as it's affordable, too, I honestly plan to spray the property every Friday so we can enjoy maximum protection each weekend.
With hundreds of reviews posted on Amazon, Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate has a solid four-star average rating. Most customers echo my own sentiments as well expressed by a user named William who said: "It works ... and that surprised me." A lady named Sarah was a bit more effusive when she left a review saying: "I have never seen a yard spray work like this in my life."
Pros: Multiday effectiveness, one bottle treats 5000 square feet, safe for people and pets
Cons: Also kills lots of other insects
Buy a 32-Ounce Bottle of Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate on Amazon for $7.24The best mosquito repellent wipes
The founders of the Aunt Fannie's brand have an interesting take on many of the products most of us take for granted: They're too effective. That is to say, many of the cleaning products we use to wipe down countertops or showers don't only clean away grime and bacteria, they also kill off the healthy microscopic "allies" found on our skin, the helpful bacteria that create each person's microbiome.
To that end, the company has created everything from all-purpose cleaning formulas to glass cleaners to anti-pest powders and sprays that perform their dedicated function without the unnecessary wholesale slaughter of harmless and even beneficial bacteria.
The Aunt Fannie's Mosquito Wipes come individually packaged so they stay moist and potent right up until you need to use one. To do so, you simply rip open the packet and then rub the wipe over any exposed skin you want to make unappealing to mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, and more. While not as robust a repellent as a DEET-laden formula, my testing so far has returned positive results. And what a pleasant, minty scent, too.
Pros: Repels insects without harming helpful bacteria, pleasant odor, compact packets great for travel
Cons: Rather expensive for daily use
Buy a Box of Aunt Fannie's Mosquito Wipes on Amazon for $9.99The best bug zapper
Look, in a perfect world I'd solve all of this with words, but mosquitoes can't talk and they don't seem to be listening, so sometimes repelling just won't work, and they have to die. When their death comes as a result of contact with the Stinger Insect Zapper, at least it's instantaneous.
This cordless, rechargeable, and lightweight zapper uses both light and a scent lure to attract mosquitoes, creating an effective coverage area measuring 625 square feet. When hung about ten feet away from people, the zapper will entice mosquitoes more compellingly than the scent of the mammals, leading them to approach and ultimately be killed by the zapper.
Ironically, one of the reasons the Stinger Insect Zapper is such an effective tool in fighting back against bugs is that it's not all that powerful. Some of the larger insect elimination tools, both those that use light and/or CO2 to attract bugs, can have the inverse effects desired by attracting more mosquitoes to your property than would have been present in the first place! Sure, they still kill lots of insects, but you may well get more bites in the process. This zapper is perfect for use on the porch or patio, at a campsite, or moved around the yard with you while you garden, grill, or play.
I've used ours in the yard several times already, and the grisly results speak for themselves. You can bet this thing is coming camping with my son and me next month because out in the woods, we need all the help we can get. Here at least we can just run back inside.
Pros: Uses two-pronged approach to luring insects, compact and portable
Cons: Burns through batteries quickly
Buy a Stinger Insect Zapper on Walmart for $37.19The best mosquito repellent candles
There are lots of mosquito-repelling citronella candles out there, and all of them do essentially the same thing: They create a scent that mosquitoes dislike, thereby driving them away. Many such candles are large and potent, with a thick wick set into a bucket or big glass container. I much prefer these 1.25-inch-tall votive-style candles, and for less than $20 I get 72 of them.
The Light in the Dark Votive Citronella Candles are a lovely shade of yellow and give off a citrusy scent that most people enjoy. When strategically deployed around your property on days where the wind isn't too strong, they can help create a no-go zone for mosquitoes that's all the more pleasant and atmospheric for humans thanks to the scent and the gentle flicker of firelight.
(If you grow actual citronella grass, or lemongrass, as part of your anti-mosquito regimen, make sure to rough them up from time to time, pulling off leaves and snapping a few branches. Otherwise, they won't emit much of a scent.)
With a few dozen reviews posted on Amazon, the Light in the Dark Votive Citronella Candles have a 3.9-star average rating.
Pros: Great price for large supply, safe and natural repellent, pleasant scent and appearance
Cons: Effects minimized by breeze
Buy a 72-Count Box of Light in the Dark Votive Citronella Candles on Amazon for $17.99The best mosquito traps for standing water
Yes, the best thing to do to eradicate mosquitoes around your property is to remove all standing water so they have nowhere to breed. But what about the water you actually want around? The water in the birdbath, in the lily pond, or in a decorative fountain? If you want to keep some standing water present on your property but don't want to make the place a nursery for mosquitoes, then drop a Summit Mosquito Dunk into each pocket of still water and you'll kill of the larvae before they're ever old enough to draw blood.
While these Dunks are lethal to mosquitoes, they are harmless for birds, fish, squirrels, rabbits, cats, dogs, and other animals you might have around your property, including human animals. Each Dunk can treat about 100 square feet of surface area, and they last for about a month. If you can't remove water, at least you can make it deadly for unwanted insects.
An Amazon's Choice product with more than 400 customer reviews, Summit Mosquito Dunks have a commendable 4.5-star average rating. A customer said she was "so happy she found" the Dunks, which have "worked really well to fight off" a serious mosquito population.
A writer with MosquitoReviews called the Summit Mosquito Dunks effective for "once a month" use thanks to their slow-release design, and said they can effectively "get rid of larvae wherever you put them."
Pros: Kills off larvae quickly and reliably, safe for people and pets, each Dunk lasts a month
Cons: Not effective against adult mosquitoes
Buy a six-pack of Summit Mosquito Dunks on Amazon for $8.52The best outdoor fan for warding off mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are many things — annoying, dangerous, invasive — but one thing they are not is strong fliers. Most travel at only a few miles per hour and they are easily blown off course by even a modest breeze. When the course they had set was to bite your skin, you'll appreciate them being sent reeling. And until you can command the winds, the best way to do that is with a good outdoor fan.
The Designer Aire Outdoor Standing Pedestal Fan is handsome, durable, and effective, creating a steady breeze at all three of its speed settings and offering oscillation that creates a wide swath of moving air. Set at the edge of a patio or deck, this fan can blow mosquitoes away from an area measuring several hundred square feet. And if it just happens to keep some humans cooler and more comfortable at the same time, so much the better. Yes, there are cheaper outdoor fans available, but this is one you'll be pleased to place prominently thanks to its looks. (Admittedly style is a personal preference, so it's subjective.)
The Designer Aire Outdoor Standing Pedestal Fan has a fine 3.8-star average rating on Amazon, with one owner calling it a "beautiful fan" that "works great." Another appreciated that it was "easy to assemble."
We do have to note that many folks said the fan is rather noisy, so despite its billing as an indoor/outdoor unit, it's probably only suitable for the latter.
Pros: Creates powerful airflow, elegant styling, oscillation covers large area
Cons: Noisy even on lower settings
Buy a Designer Aire Outdoor Standing Pedestal Fan on Amazon for $179.99-$199.99Now that all the mosquitoes are gone, enjoy the outdoors with our other gear guides
It's not a picnic without a picnic blanket, so we've done the research to find the best ones you can buy. Here are our top picks for the best picnic blankets you can buy:
- Best picnic blanket overall: Picnic Time Outdoor Picnic Blanket Tote XL
- Best picnic blanket for comfort: Nemo Victory Blanket
- Best picnic blanket for kids: MIU Color Blanket
- Best picnic blanket for colder weather: Down Under Stadium Blanket
- Best compact picnic blankets: Matador Pocket Blanket and Mini Pocket Blanket
The gas grill is the centerpiece of your backyard during summertime barbecues, so you should invest in a great one. Here are our top picks for the best gas grills you can buy:
- Best overall: Broil King Regal S590 Pro 5 Burner Natural Gas Grill
- Best value: Weber Spirit II E-310 LP Gas Grill
- Best portable grill: Coleman Road Trip Propane Portable Grill LXE
- Best compact grill: Dyna-Glo Smart Space Living 3 Burner LP Gas Grill
- Best charcoal and gas grill: Char-Griller Double Play 3 Burner Gas and Charcoal Grill
There's nothing like food cooked up al fresco and served hot off the grill. But only a thoroughly cleaned grill can properly cook smoky, savory meats and veggies that diners will devour. The Kona 360° Grill Brush is our top choice because its triple coil design allows it to scour large swathes of the grill with each pass, cleaning the surface on top and bottom. Here are our favorites.
- Best grill brush overall: Kona 360° Grill Brush
- Best grill brush and scraper for stubborn residue: BBQ-Aid Grill Brush and Scraper
- Best low-cost grill brush: Room Essentials Tough Brush
- Best cleaning tool for charcoal grills: Charcoal Companion Safe Scrape Non-Bristle Cleaning Tool
- Best grill cleaning brick: KegWorks Grill Cleaning Brick
Charcoal grills sear meat and veggies to perfection and fill food with that perfect smokey flavor. Of all the grills we researched, the Weber Original Kettle 22-inch grill stands out because of its classic, successful design and excellent price point.
- Best overall: Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch
- Best grill with a smoker: Char-Griller Akorn Kamado Kooker
- Best high-end grill: Broil King Keg 5000
- Best portable grill: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Sportsman
- Best big grill: Char-Broil American Gourmet 840
- Best charcoal and gas grill: Char-Griller Double Play 3 Burner Gas and Charcoal Grill
- Best single-use, disposable, eco-friendly grill: CasusGrill
Perhaps nothing signals that summer has started quite like getting the charcoal grill going. There are several different kinds of charcoal, including briquettes, lump charcoal, flavored briquettes, and more. The type of charcoal that's best for you varies by your grilling style and personal preferences. We break down which charcoal is best for different scenarios in our guide.
- Best charcoal overall: Royal Oak Ridge Briquettes
- Best all natural charcoal: Weber Natural Hardwood Briquettes
- Best lump charcoal: Fogo All Natural Premium Hardwood Lump Charcoal
- Best charcoal for ceramic grills: Kamado Joe Natural Lump Charcoal
- Best affordable charcoal: Kingsford's Original Charcoal Briquettes
When you're car camping, on the other hand, you only need to haul your gear a short distance from the back of your vehicle, so go ahead and bring along a big, bulky tent with all sorts of special features. Here's how to pick one, and some of our favorites tents.
- Best tent overall: Coleman Carlsbad Fast Pitch Dome Tent
- Best tent for bad weather: Kelty Gunnnison 4 Tent
- Best affordable tent: Wenzel Shenanigans Teepee Camping Tent
- Best tent for three seasons: Slumberjack Roughhouse 4-Person Tent
- Best tent for big groups: Ozark Trail Family Cabin Tent