For many, the start of summer symbolizes the commencement of several beloved outdoor activities including camping, hiking, kayaking, cycling, and so many more. But, as many outdoor enthusiasts know, it also marks the return of mosquitos and other pesky insects — and with that, legs and arms ridden with itchy, red bumps.
To buy: amazon.com, $10 (originally $12)
Created with portability in mind, the travel-friendly mosquito repellent bracelet mimics the shape of a hair elastic, easily slipping onto your wrist (or ankle) to enclose you in an invisible protective barrier against insects. But don’t worry, it doesn’t sacrifice performance to achieve its hassle-free design. It’s formulated with a blend of bug-fighting geraniol, lemongrass, and citronella essential oils in place of chemicals like DEET.
The mosquito-repelling band is stretchy to accommodate different wrist sizes and is made of durable plastic — meaning it can be submerged in water without hindering its effectiveness, so you can bring it along on trips to the beach or lake. It’s also designed to be reused; just store the bracelet in its airtight carrying bag in between uses to preserve its essential oil-fortified formula, which lasts up to 250 hours according to customer testimonials.
After testing them out, a reviewer recalled seeing “a bug flying towards my wrist [that] turned around after smelling the bracelet from a few inches away.” They added that they had “not been bitten” since they began wearing the bracelet, and the one time they forgot to slip one on their wrist, they were bitten in two places. “Lesson learned!”
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Another user was happy to report that the bracelets “have been working better than DEET” bug sprays on their hikes: “[I] haven’t had to use bug spray since purchasing these. Even when the scent weakens it still works pretty good. Bugs literally do a U-turn.” Their review was followed by a customer who shared that “these bracelets worked like a charm” and they had “no bites” after hiking in Thailand. Not to mention that they also work to repel flies and gnats as well, according to reviewers.
They’ve also earned a seal of approval from plenty of parents. One said that it’s the “perfect substitute” for aerosol bug spray (especially if your child isn’t a fan of them) and shared that “my daughter is at an outdoor camp all day and this bracelet keeps her free from bug bites all day.” Several reviewers also highlighted that the Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets are pet-friendly.
