The Best Tick-Repellent Clothing and Sprays in 2025

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If I could, I would wear the best tick-repellent clothing pretty much every time I went outdoors, regardless of the setting or time of year. That’s because ticks are nasty (controversial opinion, I know). They’re teeny-tiny, they can hop on and bite you without you knowing it, and they can transmit Lyme disease and other dangerous illnesses.

So I’d very much like to avoid these creepy-crawlies while enjoying my time outside—but I don’t want to dress like a beekeeper in order to do so. Luckily, the options for stylish hiking gear, insect- and arachnid-deterring fabrics, and effective bug repellents have only gotten better this season.

“There is definitely a multipronged approach when it comes to warding off ticks, mosquitoes, and biting flies,” Stephanie Barker, a sales specialist at REI Louisville, tells SELF. Meaning, you need to dress strategically and pack the right products if you want to keep ticks, biting insects, and other bugs away. We asked experts and outdoor-savvy SELF editors how to check both of these boxes, and they had plenty of recommendations and tips to share. Shop our picks for the best tick-repellent clothes, sprays, and fabric treatments below.

Our top picksAlo Weekender Bucket Hat, $58Nike ACG Orb Weaver Dri-FIT ADV UV Long-Sleeve Shirt, $135The North Face TNF Easy Wind Pants, $90Eddie Bauer Guide Trex Leggings, $80Hoka Kaha 3 GTX Hiking Boots, $240Sawyer Picaridin Insect Repellent, $11Ranger Ready Permethrin Spray, $17How to dress

Coverage is your friend when it comes to preventing tick bites. “If I’m hiking in an area where ticks are common, everything gets tucked in,” Maggie Peikon, manager of communications at the American Hiking Society, tells SELF. “I opt for light-colored long pants, shirt, socks, and a bandana so ticks are easier to spot. And yes—long socks are a must!” Here are our favorite pieces to wear in the great outdoors, from head to toe.

Snow Peak

Insect Shield Mesh Cap

Alo Yoga

Weekender Bucket Hat

Insect Shield

Bug and Insect Repellent Bandana

Buff

CoolNet UV+ Insect Shield Multifunctional Neckwear

It’s always a good idea to wear a hat when you spend time outside—and if your headwear just so happens to be stylish? That’s another bonus. Bucket hats, like Alo’s top-rated Weekender, offer throwback appeal and genuine sun protection (check out that wide brim). And if you haven’t scoped out Snow Peak’s incredibly clean hiking apparel and gear yet, let the brand’s convertible cap be your introduction. Made with Insect Shield fabric that’s treated with the EPA-approved pesticide permethrin (more on that below), it has a removable mesh panel in the back to cover your neck.

Bandanas and buffs are some of the most versatile items you can toss in your pack. They add coverage around your neck and make cute accessories to an otherwise simple ensemble (“it’s a win-win,” Peikon says). And, in the case of the ones featured above, they’re also made with Insect Shield materials.

Nike

ACG Orb Weaver Dri-FIT ADV UV Long-Sleeve Shirt

REI Co-op

Sahara Shade Hoodie

Athleta

Momentum Seamless Top

Wearing lightweight long-sleeve shirts when hiking in tick country will limit how much skin is exposed and won’t turn you into a swampy mess in the heat—even if you tuck your top into your pants, as Peikon recommends. Nike ACG (which stands for All Conditions Gear) makes some of the coolest gorpcore clothes out there, like the Orb Weaver button-up. It has five chest pockets and a mesh vent in the back to keep air flowing. Plus, it protects you from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.

For more sweat-wicking, UPF (a.k.a. sun protective) options, there’s the Sahara Shade Hoodie from REI (Barker’s pick) and Athleta’s Momentum Seamless Top (a favorite of mine). Barker says the Hoodie is “super cute and functional,” with lots of colors to choose from. And this top from Athleta keeps me impressively cool, considering it’s a fitted long-sleeve—it even has a grippy line along the bottom hem to hold it in place.

The North Face

TNF Easy Wind Pants

Hikerkind

8 Pocket Pants 01

Eddie Bauer

Guide Trex Leggings

Gone are the days of settling for ill-fitting pants or snagging your studio-only Lululemons on branches—we’re in the era of genuinely cute, actually functional hiking bottoms. Katie Gunderman, SELF’s associate social media manager, loves The North Face’s Easy Wind Pants, which cinch at the ankles and protect your lower body from drafts.

Gnara’s Go There Pants can also be worn as joggers or with straight legs, thanks to their adjustable ankle cuffs—but that’s not their true selling point. They have two flies: A standard one in the front and a second one directly behind it, which runs from the crotch to the backside, to let you squat to pee without pulling down your pants. As someone who once had to fully drop trou to relieve herself in the woods, I love that I can stay a little more covered when it’s time to answer nature’s call.

In all honesty, I’ve probably worn the 8 Pocket Pants from Hikerkind around town more than on the trail—but that’s only because they’re just so cool. They’re lightweight, with a stretchy high-rise waist and, yes, plenty of pockets. Speaking of pockets, Eddie Bauer’s Guide Trex Leggings have two roomy side pockets that easily hold a phone, pair of gloves, or any other small necessities you want to keep on your person. I’m always impressed by how stretchy yet tough these leggings are. They move with me and easily wick away my sweat, but don’t instantly fall apart if I slide against a boulder, either.

A quick note: If you’re wondering where the trendy pairs of ultra-baggy cargos are on this list, I focused on pants that you can easily tuck into your socks, in the name of cutting ticks off from access to your skin. More power to you if you can make that work with your favorite wide-legged pants (in fact, please get in touch to share how I can do the same without looking like I have balloons for legs).

Injinji

Trail Midweight Crew Socks

Darn Tough

Hiker Boot Sock

Outdoor Research

Insect Shield Low Gaiters

Hoka

Kaha 3 GTX Hiking Boots

Your feet and lower legs are tick magnets—that’s often where they’ll first latch on before making their way up your body. So don’t forget about them when getting dressed. Barker’s favorite combo is Injinji socks and Hoka hiking boots. The former separate each toe to prevent chafing, while the latter cushions and protects your feet. On’s Cloudrock is another waterproof sneaker-boot hybrid that won’t weigh you down too much.

Not into toe socks? SELF staffers (including myself) swear by Darn Tough. Its socks are made with Merino wool, which helps manage sweat and heat, and are built to last for years of wear and washing. Note that our picks for socks hit your mid-calf—that’s long enough to pull them over your pant legs, but you can always go longer if you wish, Peikon says.

If you want to be extra safe, Peikon also recommends adding a pair of gaiters to your ensemble. Outdoor Research’s Low Gaiters feature Insect Shield’s permethrin-treated fabric, so they’ll definitely help keep ticks off your ankles. That said, always do a thorough tick check when you get back inside—no matter how layered up you were.

How to protect yourself

Any exposed skin should get sprayed down with bug repellent before heading outside, Peikon says. There are tons of bug sprays on the market, made with a wide range of active ingredients. If tick prevention is your top priority, look for products that contain DEET (at a concentration of 20% to 30%) or picaridin (in concentrations of at least 20%). They’re both EPA-approved and effective against ticks. Some people don’t like how DEET smells and consider picaridin a less irritating alternative—ultimately, it’s up to you.

Cutter, Ben’s, and Sawyer are all top-notch brands to check out. A spray will be super easy to apply, but if you’re traveling or want to save a little weight, consider trying wipes instead. Whichever you choose, remember to reapply as needed.

Cutter

Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent