The Best Insect Repellent for Hiking and Trekking
TL;DR — the short answer
- For hiking and trekking, choose a repellent with a recognised active ingredient — PMD (the plant-based active in Citrepel®), DEET, picaridin or IR3535. These are the ingredients public-health bodies such as the CDC and EPA recommend.
- Match protection time to your route: a full-day trek needs a product you can reapply, not a one-and-done spray.
- A compact 100 ml spray or a spill-proof roll-on packs better than a bulky bottle and survives being crushed in a rucksack.
- Cover mosquitoes and ticks — most trails in Europe and North America carry both. Look for a repellent tested against ticks, not just mosquitoes.
- Layer smart: repellent on exposed skin, long sleeves at dawn and dusk, and a tick check after every hike.
The right insect repellent for hiking and trekking is one that uses a proven active ingredient, lasts long enough for your time on the trail, packs light, and protects against both mosquitoes and ticks. Below is how to choose, what the ingredients actually do, and how to apply repellent so it keeps working from the trailhead to the summit.
What makes a repellent right for hiking?
Day hikes and multi-day treks put different demands on a repellent than an evening in the garden. On the trail you sweat, brush against vegetation, cross damp valleys where mosquitoes swarm, and walk through long grass where ticks wait. A good hiking repellent needs four things:
- A proven active ingredient — something health authorities actually recommend, not an untested ‘natural’ oil that wears off in twenty minutes.
- Realistic protection time — long enough to cover the stretch between rest stops so you can reapply on your own schedule.
- A packable, robust format — leak-resistant, light, and cabin-bag friendly if you are flying to the trailhead.
- Broad-spectrum cover — effective against mosquitoes, ticks, midges and horseflies, which you may all meet on a single walk.
Which repellent ingredient should hikers choose?
Four skin-applied actives are recommended by the EPA and CDC. Here is how they compare for someone spending long days outdoors.
| Active ingredient | Origin | Notes for hikers |
|---|---|---|
| PMD (para-menthane-3,8-diol) | Plant-based | The plant-derived active in incognito’s Citrepel® formula; DEET-free and recommended against mosquitoes and ticks. A good choice for hikers who want a natural option without giving up performance. |
| DEET | Synthetic | Long track record and widely available. Can damage plastics and synthetic gear — awkward around watch straps, trekking-pole grips and technical fabrics. |
| Picaridin | Synthetic | Effective and less likely than DEET to harm gear. Odourless and non-greasy. |
| IR3535 | Synthetic | Gentle profile; often found in family products. Reapplication may be needed more often in heavy mosquito pressure. |
PMD sits in the same class of proven repellents that the CDC lists alongside DEET and picaridin. For hikers who dislike the smell of DEET or worry about it marking their kit, a plant-based PMD repellent delivers recognised protection without those trade-offs.
Spray, lotion or roll-on — which format packs best?
Format matters more on the trail than at home. Each has a place:
- Spray — fastest to apply and easy to share; a 100 ml bottle covers a multi-day trip and stays under the 100 ml cabin-bag limit.
- Lotion — precise, no overspray, good for the face and for windy ridgelines where spray drifts.
- Roll-on — the most rucksack-friendly: no leaks, no aerosol, and small enough for a hip-belt pocket for quick top-ups.
Many trekkers carry a 100 ml spray as their main supply and a roll-on for reapplication without unpacking. Whatever you choose, keep it somewhere you can reach without taking your pack off — a repellent you have to dig for is a repellent you will not reapply.
How to apply repellent on the trail
- Apply to all exposed skin before you set off — ankles, lower legs and the back of the neck are easy to miss and popular with biting insects.
- Reapply according to the label, and sooner if you are sweating hard or after crossing water.
- If you use sunscreen, apply sunscreen first, let it absorb, then apply repellent on top.
- Wash your hands after applying, and avoid the eyes and mouth.
- At camp, reapply before dawn and dusk — the peak biting window for many mosquito species.
Don’t forget ticks
Mosquitoes get the attention, but on wooded and grassland trails ticks are the bigger long-term concern because of Lyme disease and, in parts of Europe, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Repellent helps, but pair it with simple habits: walk in the centre of the path, tuck trousers into socks, wear light colours so ticks are easy to spot, and do a full-body tick check after every hike. The CDC recommends using an EPA-registered repellent and checking for ticks the same day you come indoors.
How incognito® helps
incognito® makes a DEET-free range built around PMD (Citrepel®), a plant-based active clinically tested and recommended against both mosquitoes and ticks — exactly the broad-spectrum cover a hiker needs. The Insect Repellent Spray 100 ml is a practical main supply for a trek: cabin-bag friendly, vegan and biodegradable, and gentle on gear because it contains no DEET. For quick top-ups without unpacking, the compact, spill-proof Roll-On Insect Repellent slips into a hip-belt pocket. Both are made in the UK and won the King’s Award for Enterprise 2026 for Sustainable Development.
FAQs
What is the best insect repellent for hiking?
The best hiking repellent uses a proven active ingredient — PMD, DEET, picaridin or IR3535 — protects against both mosquitoes and ticks, and packs light enough to reapply on the trail. A DEET-free PMD spray suits hikers who want recognised protection without harming their gear.
How often should I reapply repellent while hiking?
Follow the product label, and reapply sooner if you are sweating heavily, have crossed water, or notice bites returning. On long treks, top up before dawn and dusk when mosquito activity peaks.
Does insect repellent protect against ticks as well as mosquitoes?
Repellents recommended against ticks — including PMD — help reduce bites, but no repellent is a substitute for a tick check. Combine repellent with tucked-in trousers, light clothing and a full-body check after every hike.
Is a natural insect repellent strong enough for trekking?
Yes, if it uses a recognised active. PMD is a plant-based ingredient in the same class of proven repellents the CDC lists alongside DEET, so a well-formulated natural repellent can hold up on the trail.
Can I take insect repellent in hand luggage?
A 100 ml or smaller bottle fits within standard cabin-bag liquid limits. Roll-ons and 50 ml sprays are convenient for flying to a trailhead, but always check your airline’s current rules.
Sources
- CDC — Prevent Mosquito Bites
- CDC — Preventing Tick Bites
- EPA — Skin-Applied Repellent Ingredients
- EPA — Find the Repellent that is Right for You
- NHS — Insect bites and stings
This article is for general information and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read and follow the product label, and consult a healthcare professional about travel health, tick-borne illness or a reaction to a bite.