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These mosquito repellent bracelets mean I can finally enjoy summer again
Hate sticky sprays? These DEET-free wearables are infused with essential oils that bugs hate, and you can reuse them.
Among my memories of summer camp as a kid? Being covered in red, swollen mosquito bites that made me want to rip my skin off. Anyone who's been bitten — especially multiple times — knows there's no torture quite like mosquito bites that won't stop itching. Even now, I still have scars in spots I scratched raw. Mosquitoes have — quite literally — sucked all the fun out of summer for me.
Earlier this year, I was researching a story about how to stop bug bites from itching when I came across these mosquito repellent bracelets. I knew feasting season was upon me, so I decided to give them a try — and they actually work! You can get a pack of 10 for only $10 while they're on sale at Amazon — that's just $1 a pop!
At just $1 per bracelet, this is a summer investment most everyone can afford. Each bracelet is packaged in its own resealable bag so you can use it multiple times.
Why is this a good deal? 💰
If you plan to spend any time outdoors, these mosquito repellent bracelets are a must even at full price. But while they're more than 20% off, I say buy a few packs to have around the house. Everyone in your immediate family should have a few, plus you'll want extras for when friends and family come over for backyard barbecues and parties. The price has only been lower twice in the last 90 days, and just barely.
Why do I need this? 🤔
Silly question: Do you like getting bitten by mosquitoes? (I'll wager that I know the answer.) And that, my friends, is why you need these bracelets. Not only are they handy for extended outdoor time like beach days and camping trips, but they're ideal even for quick errands because you don't have to stop to douse yourself in bug spray.
The stretchy coil bracelets may look like nothing special, but they're infused with essential oils that repel mosquitoes — no DEET or harsh chemicals required — without leaving any residue or lingering fragrance on your skin or clothes. Think of them as a wearable citronella candle.
I first started testing these bracelets during walks with my puppy. I take him out several times a day, and inevitably, I'd wind up with a mosquito bite or two after his evening walk. I now know that dusk is prime time for mosquitoes, so I started wearing a scented bracelet every time I took him out. No more bites!
Convinced I was onto something good, I decided to up the ante. I normally avoid backyard gatherings like the plague because I don't want to get eaten alive, but I accepted a recent invite. Rather than wear just one bracelet, I wore one on each wrist and one on each ankle. I was outside from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and was absolutely flabbergasted to find zero bites later that night.
Now, I never leave the house without my mosquito repellent bracelets. I have a bunch sitting on my entryway table so I always grab a few before I walk out the door. It's been three weeks and I don't have any mosquito bites. I can finally enjoy summer again!
What reviewers say 💬
These bestsellers have over 13,000 five-star reviews, and many shoppers say they're a great alternative to sticky, smelly bug spray.
Pros 👍
One shopper who lives "in the mosquito capital of the USA — Alaska," wrote, "We had our doubts about these but I hate bug spray. My thoughtful wife got these for us. Well, they work quite well and I think they smell kinda good too. They are super easy to use, last longer than one time, come in a Ziploc bag for storage between uses. I highly recommend these."
Another one-time skeptic commented, "We were having a backyard party and I ordered these for all of our guests. Most everyone put it on their ankle and we pretty much stayed bite-free. I was skeptical at first, but they seem to work. My girlfriend took hers home and she wore it the next day while watering and doing some other stuff in the yard and she said she did not get one bite! These are reusable and come in a resealable package. I was quite pleased with the results."
"I hate bug spray. Icky and sticky," said a final fan. "Sometimes I will just take my chances. These things are perfect for me. Just put it on your ankle and go. We used these on our trip (Yucatan peninsula). Others were getting bug bites, but we did not. We had a couple of extra bands and shared them. Everyone else was surprised and grateful."
Cons 👎
Many shoppers agree with me that one bracelet likely won't cut it for adults. "I did try just the one bracelet first and quickly realized I did need two," this buyer said. "[I wore] one on my right wrist and the other placed on my left ankle. I was only bit the time when I was wearing only the one bracelet. My son had to wear two as well to keep the mosquitos at bay but my youngest daughter who is 5 was able to get away with just wearing one on her wrist."
Other shoppers say the stretchy design is flawed, especially for little ones. "I loved the idea of these for our kids and thought it would be easy to slip around their ankles. My concern is that if you stretch it once, it's very loose and doesn’t go back to size well. So if I try to then put it on our toddler or older child it just slips off," another reviewer explained.
To keep your bracelets effective for as long as possible, avoid storing them in direct sunlight.
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
