Imagine a world with no more sticky bug sprays, no more mosquito nets, and best of all – no more itchy bites.
That’s exactly the lure of the mosquito repellent bracelet. Just strap one of these brilliant bands on your wrist and you’re ready to go – no fuss, no muss, no bites.
It sounds too good to be true – but is it?
Do Mosquito Repellent Bracelets Work?
A few years ago while traveling with my partner, I picked up a 2-pack of mosquito repellent bracelets at a convenience store and gloating about my wonderful new discovery, I slid them on our wrists.
We both got bit pretty badly over the next few days.
After this debacle, I stayed away from mosquito bracelets. Once bitten (a lot), twice shy, as they say.
Until recently. This past summer, my sister got a 5-pack of mosquito repellent wristbands and passed them around to the whole family. I was the only one who passed – and the one who seemed to be getting bit the most.
So I slid one on for awhile…and then a few days…and then ordered more…and now, I won’t take them off especially during peak mosquito season.
Does this mean mosquito repellent bands actually really work? Um, yes and no.
Here’s what you need to know about choosing the most effective mosquito repellent band:
- Instead of DEET, mosquito bands use natural essential oils that have a scent mosquitoes don’t like. You’ll typically find one or a a combination of these oils – citronella, lavender, geranium, and peppermint – to discourage blood suckers from getting near you. Thanks to this, these bands are natural mosquito repellents and can be used safely on pets and children.
- Because the scent is the deterrent – the stronger the scent, the better. This is why although most wristbands say they last for around 5 to 7 days, you should switch to a new one when you notice the scent fading away.
- Some repellent wristbands aren’t waterproof and can lose their efficacy if you get them wet. Consider this when you’re choosing a band.
- If you’re going out to walk the dog, one mosquito bracelet should be sufficient to ward off mosquitoes. But if you’re trekking in a tropical jungle that’s known to be endemic to mosquito-borne disease – wear them on your wrists and ankles and make sure you’re protected with other forms of mosquito repellents as well!
Keep in mind that mosquito repellent bands aren’t the perfect mosquito solution but then again, nothing really is. Even DEET – the gold standard in mosquito repellents – can only reduce the number of mosquito bites you’re likely to get but it can’t eliminate bites altogether.
Mosquito repellent bands are the same – they reduce the likelihood of mosquitoes landing on you, which results in less bites. And they do all this in an extremely convenient, toxin-free way.
Of course, it really depends on which mosquito bracelets you get – you don’t want to try a dud like the first ones I put my faith in.
What is the Best Mosquito Repellent Bracelet?
In the interest of saving you some time, effort, and itchiness – here’s my list of the most effective mosquito bracelets on the market!
Hoont™ Mosquito Repellent Wristband
Although not as stylish as some of the mosquito repellent wristbands currently available, this one is my current favorite – and not just because I love Hoont’s repellent products.
No, it’s because it works extremely well. It’s probably the most effective repellent bracelet I’ve ever tried.
This effectiveness might be due to the fact that this is one of the only mosquito bands I’ve found that uses citronella and eucalyptus oil.
Eucalyptus oil is amazing for warding off mosquitoes and just might be the reason that this band works so well.
The band is also waterproof and completely stretchable so you can wear it on your wrists, ankles or even use it as a hair tie if you’re in a pinch.
The only downside is that each band only lasts for around 150 hours, which is roughly 6 days total.
The good news is that they’re quite affordable and should last you awhile!
Moskeeper® Mosquito Repellent Bracelet
Another damn good wristband, the Moskeeper uses a potent combination of Citronella-10.05%, Peppermint-10.05%, Lavender 6.9%, Geranium-3% that works really well for discouraging mosquitoes.
It also lasts up to 15 days – which is double the longevity you’ll get with most bands -and it comes with 4 refills so you get 2 month’s worth of use before having to order new refills.
But the best thing about it is that unlike most repellent bands, it’s not just simply infused with mosquito repelling essential oils – these bracelets use thermoplastic rubbers (TPR) that absorb the essential oils to extend their efficacy and which also prevents them resistant to water.
The band is also completely adjustable so you can attach it to your wrist as well as your ankle and the purchase comes with a free clip-on so if you’re going into especially mosquito infested areas, you can wear the band and attach the clip to you for extra protection.
Microfiber Insect Repellent Bracelet
This one’s adorable and if you’ve got kids, they’ll love the little bears on each of the bands. Plus, these bands are made of soft, breathable microfiber so you’ll actually enjoy the feel of having them strapped to your wrist.
And it’s not just soft and cute – it’s also a really potent mosquito deterrent, thanks to its blend of citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and lavender extract.
You can wear each band for up to 168 hours, which is 7 days.
But as effective as it is – it’s not as functional as the top 2 choices, which is why it’s ranked last on the last.
For starters, it’s not waterproof. It might be able to stand a little spray, but going swimming is out of the question since immersing the bracelet in water will remove the natural oils coating the bracelet, making them ineffective.
They’re also only somewhat adjustable so if you’ve got bigger wrists, these might be a bit cozy on you – go with one of the above choices and get these for your kids.
Moskeeper is the best, I always carry them when on tour in Africa.