DEET vs Picaridin vs Permethrin

These three products get grouped together and are not interchangeable. DEET and picaridin are skin-applied repellents that keep insects from landing. Permethrin is a clothing treatment that kills ticks on contact and must never be applied to skin. Used together they cover more than either alone.

1. 1

   DEET: the long-established repellent

   DEET has decades of use behind it and works against mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies. Higher concentrations extend duration rather than increasing effectiveness — around 20-30% is effective for most conditions, with very high concentrations reserved for extreme exposure. The practical drawback is that DEET dissolves plastics and synthetic fabrics, which is a real problem around sunglasses, watch bezels, dry bags, and technical clothing.

2. 2

   Picaridin: comparable protection without dissolving your gear

   Picaridin at 20% provides protection comparable to similar-strength DEET against mosquitoes and ticks. It does not damage plastics or synthetics, has little odour, and feels less greasy. For hikers surrounded by synthetic gear, this is usually the better skin repellent.

   Tick avoidanceBuilding a full prevention approach

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3. 3

   Permethrin: clothing only, and it kills rather than repels

   Permethrin is applied to clothing, boots, and gear — never skin — and bonds to fabric through several washes. Ticks that contact treated fabric are killed rather than merely deterred, which is why it is the strongest single measure against tick-borne illness. It must be applied at home and allowed to dry completely before wearing.

4. 4

   Combine them rather than choosing

   The standard approach for tick country is permethrin on clothing and picaridin or DEET on exposed skin. The two layers address different exposure paths — the clothing treatment catches ticks climbing from vegetation, the skin repellent handles what reaches bare skin.

5. 5

   Safety points worth taking seriously

   Permethrin is toxic to cats while wet and must be dried fully away from them. Follow label directions for children's use on all three. If you have concerns about a specific product for yourself or a child, the label and a pharmacist or doctor are better sources than a gear site.

Three Products Compared