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When the weather is beautiful, the patio, the park, or the beach can seem like the perfect place to be. We settle into our chairs, smile…and then the bugs descend. We could coat ourselves in bug spray or spend the day swatting and scratching, but I’ve found a few bug-repelling devices to help make time outdoors more enjoyable.
I tested two types of these devices: 1) devices that used a mist of insect repellent to keep bugs away, and 2) those that used light or fans to repel them. Consumer Reports notes that clip on foggers “can do a decent job repelling mosquitoes” as “the device produces a cloud of protective repellent around you.” Of course, you need to make sure that you’re comfortable with the safety of the insect repellent used in the device. As for bug zappers, some sites, like Wirecutter, say they can kill bugs, though not mosquitoes, but I tried them anyway, and you’ll find my verdict below.
My pick: Thermacell, $49.99 on Thermacell (free shipping over $29) or on Amazon
Thermacell
I recently posted about anti-bug gadgets in a Facebook group packed with lifestyle experts. The most-recommended brand: Thermacell. It’s also my favorite of the devices I tried, and what’s more, the Thermacell’s Radius Zone Mosquito Repellent Gen 2.0 is Wirecutter’s pick for the best bug repeller device as well.
Thermacell’s stylish devices disperse a light mist of its no-mess repellent (in one of them, for example, it uses metofluthrin to help repel bugs; you can see the EPA’s assessment of that here), This scares away bugs for an area of 15-20 feet, depending on the model. Just fire up the power source — USB charge, butane, and/or batteries — and within minutes, the number of bugs is way down. There are several models, including the rechargeable E55 ($39.99 on Amazon) you can choose from.
My verdict: This is my pick for the best bug-repelling device I tested. Though the devices all require eventual replacement of repellant (get 120 hours of repellant for $39) and/or power source like batteries, they worked so well for me that I plan to stock up on supplies so that I’m prepared when they run out.
LEARN MORE: Thermacell, $49.99 on Thermacell (free shipping over $29) or on Amazon
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If you want to treat a large area: Cutter Propane Insect Fogger ($73.47 at Home Depot)
Home Depot
Home Depot sent me this one to try, and it treats an area as large as 5,000 square feet, so it’s an effective solution for large yards or picnic areas. The fogger requires a small propane tank (14.1oz or 16.4oz) and Cutter, Black Flag, or Repel insecticide. (The Environmental Working Group offers a great guide on which insecticides it recommends as safe.) Treating the area takes just a few minutes, and people can enter the area just 5 minutes after fogging. I used it in my yard recently, and we enjoyed a bug-free gathering with friends for several hours — with the exception of some little “no-see-ums” that didn’t bite.
My verdict: I like that you have a choice of different insect repellants so you can use the one you’re most comfortable with. I would use this fogger again for a gathering that required full use of our yard, and I’ll probably take it up to the Catskills for a group trip this summer.
LEARN MORE: Cutter Propane Insect Fogger ($73.47 at Home Depot)
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If you don’t want to use insect repellant: Dynatrap, $34.99 – $189.99 at Home Depot
Home Depot
This device captures bugs instead of repelling them. It arrives assembled, or nearly so, and is nice looking and unobtrusive. It gets mounted on your house or hung from a stand, and you make your purchase based on how large of an area you are looking to provide protection for. For example, there’s the Ultralight Sonata ($34.99 at Home Depot) for 300 square feet, and the XL for 1 acre ($189.99 at Home Depot). Dynatrap devices use a combination of blue light (the bulb needs replacing once a season or so), CO2, and a fan with a trap to lure and capture unwanted pests. For optimum impact, keep it plugged around the clock during prime bug season, and empty the trap weekly.
My verdict: I’ve had mine for a few years, and it worked at first, but less so after a while. In fairness, the diminishing effectiveness could be due to the fact that my husband keeps unplugging it and I’m not great about emptying the trap.
LEARN MORE: Dynatrap, $34.99 – $189.99 at Home Depot
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If you want an old-school zapper: Black Flag 2000-Volt Bug Zapper Insect Killer at $24.97 at Home Depot
Home Depot
This device arrives assembled, save for the hook that you hang on the body of the zapper. You plug it in and hang it from a plant hanger, a tree…anywhere, really. It attracts bugs with a blue light and starts zapping them almost immediately. I recently tested this on a very buggy patio near the beach.
My verdict: I have to say, listening to the sound of bugs being zapped wasn’t really for me, but it worked. But just so you know, I am the person who captures spiders in the house and brings them outside, and though I’m admittedly less sympathetic to bugs that bite, overall I do prefer the concept of repellent devices, like the Thermacell and the Cutter Fogger, to the trapping or zapping from the Dynatrap or the Black Flag Zapper.
LEARN MORE: Black Flag 2000-Volt 1/2 acre Bug Zapper Insect Killer at $24.97 at Home Depot
About the author: Trae Bodge is a journalist and TV commentator who specializes in smart shopping, personal finance and retail. She has appeared on TV hundreds of times, including on Good Morning America’s GMA3 and Inside Edition. In 2018, she was named a Top Voice in Retail by LinkedIn; she has also been named a top personal finance expert by GoBankingRates and Flexjobs.
