Bug Spray for Bug-Out-Bags and Every Day Carry

We're well into the hot, humid summers and ever changing weather here in Ohio... weather that's about as easy to predict as catchin' a greased pig at the county fair. We live a fair ways out in the country and since we don't have the level of regular pesticide use typically found in urban and suburban areas, it seems like the bugs are thicker out here. Mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs have invaded like a planned attack in War of the Worlds. While many are afraid of the West Nile virus and Lyme disease, it really just gets annoying having itchy insect bites to scratch in the middle of the night.

While there are a lot of good products out on the market to repel insects, it seems only recently that they're getting small enough to make Every Day Carry (EDC) a no-brainer. We've been using the Repel products found at the local Wally World the last few years with pretty good success. The small, Sharpie-sized sprays don't contain a lot of spray, but they're easy to carry and most are only a couple of bucks each.  If you're really want to travel light and kill two birds with one stone, try the bug spray/sunscreen combo... if you're stuck with no other options and only need bug spray, the sunscreen won't hurt, and if you only need sunscreen protection, the bug spray won't hurt and you've got a small unit that does two things and takes up little space in a bag, purse, or pocket.

Consumer Reports did a review and test of bug repellant products a while back if you're interested... and it seems like the products with deet work the best. My understanding is the more deet, the longer it lasts and the better it repels insects, particularly mosquitoes and ticks. Seems like the most common "natural" product that shows good results contains lemon eucalyptus oil. Interestingly, according to the government... the chemical deet is OK to use on kids of any age, but the lemon eucalyptus oil products should only be used on children over the age of three.

You need to educate yourselves and make your own decisions, but having some insect repellant handy at the range, in the woods, on a hike, during a bug-out, or while fighting zombies at night seems like a good idea. With the variety of brands and options in these small, easy to carry products... and unless you're one of those operators who can shoot the nads off a mosquito at two-hundred yards... there's no reason not to have it handy, so don't forget... Bug Spray for Bug-Out-Bags and Every Day Carry.