Recommendations for best Tick Repellent?

[Hollow Point]

Good afternoon...I have a black bear hunt scheduled in North Idaho in May '26.

I have researched that Ticks can be a problem in the area particularly at that time of the year. Google Search is saying both 0.5% Permethrin and 20% Picaridin Insect Repellents are both odorless and effective.

Seems the 0.5% Permethrin is sprayed on clothing and gear, and the 20% Picaridin can be used on the same in addition to skin contact.

Looking for experience if one is better than the other???

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[Hnthrdr]

Permethrin. Spray on all your clothes, then the picardin on your skin, you got it. Also I like tucking pants in boots, wearing gaiters, shirt tucked in… try to get those little demons off before they ever get a chance to bite

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Yes permethrin works great and the picidarin for exposed skin. I didn't use the Pic this year in a tick infested area and they kept off my clothes but had one buried in my hand. We tuck our pants into our socks.

 

[ozyclint]

Get a bottle of permethrin from the rural store and soak your clothes then hang to dry.
I found a tick once crawling along the ground while having a break. I put it on my sleeve and it was DEAD within 30 seconds. DEAD not repelled.

 

[iamthenick]

Yeah dont spray the permethrin do the soaking. There's a few different brands and I know one of em smells like straight gas and one is near odorless... I always forget each year. But it keeps ticks off for sure and survives a few washes in the laundry

 

[Ozarkansas]

I use both for different purposes. I live in an incredibly ticky part of the country and have had great luck with permethrin on my clothes and Picaridin on my skin.

I also keep Picaridin in my car to spray on clothes/boots in case I need to get into the woods while wearing clothes that haven’t been treated, and to spray on my kids

 

[Pilsner]

Sawyer makes both products - picardian and permethrin. I use both. Sawyers is the one with zero odor.

 

[limpet]

There are companies that you can send clothes to that do a long lasting permethrin treatment that works longer than the home treatments. I can’t remember who we use at work but a few times a year the company I work for will pay to have our clothes treated. Picaridin works well as an add on and I use the lotion when I’m backpacking and wearing shorts and short sleeves. It’s also pet safe so your dog doesn’t wind up like this. This is from walking down a road a couple hundred yards and my boss forgot his picaridin.

 

[jml49]

Where do you purchase Sawyer products and when you soak your cloths do you use it full strength or cut it with water, thank you.

 

[ozyclint]

The Sawyer path will be more expensive. The rural store or online will sell 1L bottles of concentrate which you dilute to specified rate.
Magnitudes more treatments per dollar

 

[WBT]

I'll x2 the recommendation on permethrin concentrate. My experience is that the 10% concentrate is mostly odorless, the 13% smells like fuel.

 

[throwdarts]

Agree with others.. Sawyer permethrin or mix your own(just don't over do it if you mix your own)I've been using it for 15-20yrs without a tick. Pay attention to the collar, cuffs, waistband & fly. Lasts like 6-8 wekeks