It just got expensive to keep replacing after a while. I made the switch because I got sick of the damage that DEET made to my outdoor navigation gear including watches, compasses, and GPS units. I switched to Sawyer Picaridin five years ago, after using Ben’s 100% DEET for many many years, and there’s no difference in its effectiveness as an insect repellent. It’s also safe for children over 2 years of age and pregnant women.
The most effective concentration of Picaridin is 20% and will last up 8-12 hours before repeat application is required. It repels mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, sand flies, gnats, chiggers, and midges. Picaridin became available in the United States in 2005 and is used widely in Europe as a replacement for DEET. Unlike DEET, Picaridin is safe to use around plastics, synthetic apparel, and gear with synthetic coatings such as sunglasses, watches, GPS units, or phone screens. It can also damage or even dissolve rain gear and any clothing or gear that includes spandex, rayon (also known as viscose), rubber, latex, vinyl, and elastic. If you do get it on your finger and hands, it acts as a solvent and may dissolve or permanently fog plastic glasses lens including sunglasses, watch crystals, or GPS and Satellite Communicator screens. While DEET is safe to apply to your skin as an insect repellent, it’s not designed to be applied or sprayed-on clothing or gear. It doesn’t harm outerwear or gear made with natural materials, however, including cotton, wool, aluminum, or steel.
DEET in all concentrations can harm outdoor gear and clothing made with synthetics, like nylon and waterproof/breathable membranes, as well as plastics.
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