# Sawyer vs Ranger Ready (2026): Picaridin and Permethrin Compared on the Labels > Sawyer vs Ranger Ready compared on what each maker states: 20% picaridin hours, age guidance, permethrin wash life, outfits per bottle, bottle sizes and who sells them. - Source: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready - Publisher: WildProofLab (https://wildprooflab.com) - Published: 2026-09-29 - Category: bugs-ticks - Tags: Sawyer, Ranger Ready, picaridin, permethrin, tick repellent, insect repellent - Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-29. - Quick answer: Both brands sell 20% picaridin rated for 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, so for skin repellent pick by bottle: Sawyer for a lotion as well as a spray, shipped by Amazon.com, Ranger Ready for a TSA-size spray it rates for kids 1 and up. For permethrin, Sawyer claims longer wash life (6 washes) and Ranger Ready more outfits per bottle (7). ## Key takeaways - Same active, same strength: both skin repellents are 20% picaridin, and both makers say they won't damage plastics or synthetic gear. - Permethrin: Sawyer says 6 weeks or 6 washes and about 5 outfits per 24 oz; Ranger Ready says 5 washes or 40 days of sun and 7 outfits. - Either way, permethrin goes on clothes and gear only, per the CDC, and not near cats while wet, per Sawyer. ## Products (chosen from listings, not tested) 1. **Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, 20% Picaridin, Pump Spray, 4 oz** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B0015KG5NK) — Buy it for a family bottle of picaridin that ships from Amazon.com. - Pros: 20% picaridin; up to 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, 8 against flies, gnats and chiggers, per the listing; Won't damage plastics or synthetic coatings, per Sawyer - Cons: The listing gives no minimum age 2. **Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent, 20% Picaridin, Lotion, 4 oz** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B00VV5KRD8) — Buy it for faces and small children, where the CDC says to apply from your hands. - Pros: Same 20% picaridin and hours as the spray, in a lotion, per the listing; Fragrance free and non-greasy - Cons: Slower to put on arms and legs than a spray 3. **Ranger Ready Picaridin 20% Insect Repellent, Scent Zero, 3.4 oz** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B07T7KF2XY) — Buy it if you fly carry-on or want a label that states an age. - Pros: 20% picaridin; 12 hours against mosquitoes and ticks, 8 against gnats, biting flies, chiggers, no-see-ums and fleas, per the listing; The listing says for kids 1 year and older, and counts 30+ applications per 3.4 oz bottle; Non-aerosol and TSA compliant, per the listing - Cons: Smaller bottle than Sawyer's 4 oz 4. **Sawyer Premium Permethrin for Clothing, Gear & Tents, Trigger Spray, 24 oz** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B001ANQVYU) — Buy it if you wash hiking clothes often and want each treatment to last. - Pros: Up to 6 weeks or 6 washings, whichever comes first, per the listing; About five outfits per bottle at 4.5 oz each, per Sawyer - Cons: Fewer outfits per bottle than Ranger Ready claims 5. **Ranger Ready Permethrin 0.5% Spray for Clothes and Gear, Scent Zero, 24 oz** (details: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B08DR49WS8) — Buy it to treat more garments per bottle, following its label's amount. - Pros: 0.5% permethrin, stated on the listing, matching the CDC's figure; One 24 oz bottle treats 7 outfits; fine-mist trigger, per the listing; Lasts up to 5 washings or 40 days of sun, per the listing - Cons: One wash fewer per treatment than Sawyer states Sawyer and Ranger Ready both sell the two products the CDC recommends for tick country: a 20% picaridin repellent for skin and a permethrin spray for clothing. On the actives they are close to identical. Where they differ is in bottle sizes, what each label says about children, how long a permethrin treatment lasts and how many outfits a bottle covers, and who ships them. **How we chose:** we did not test either brand; we compared the numbers on each maker's listing and Sawyer's product pages, and every product here was in stock on September 29, 2026, sold by Amazon.com (Sawyer) or Ranger Ready's own store. ## Sawyer and Ranger Ready side by side | Product | Active | What the maker says it lasts | Size and coverage | Sold by | Amazon price | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | [Sawyer Picaridin Spray](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B0015KG5NK) | 20% picaridin | 12 h mosquitoes and ticks | 4 oz pump | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Sawyer Picaridin Lotion](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B00VV5KRD8) | 20% picaridin | 12 h mosquitoes and ticks | 4 oz lotion | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Ranger Ready Picaridin](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B07T7KF2XY) | 20% picaridin | 12 h mosquitoes and ticks | 3.4 oz pump, 30+ uses | Ranger Ready | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Sawyer Permethrin](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B001ANQVYU) | Permethrin | 6 weeks or 6 washes | 24 oz, about 5 outfits | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Ranger Ready Permethrin](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready#product-B08DR49WS8) | 0.5% permethrin | 5 washes or 40 days of sun | 24 oz, 7 outfits | Ranger Ready | see the current Amazon price on the page | For the rest of the field, including DEET, IR3535 and oil of lemon eucalyptus, see our [DEET vs picaridin guide](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/deet-vs-picaridin-insect-repellent). ## Picaridin: the same 20%, different bottles Both skin repellents use 20% picaridin, one of the six actives the CDC's [mosquito bite prevention page](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html) recommends. Both makers give the same hours: up to 12 against mosquitoes and ticks, and 8 against smaller biters. Sawyer names flies, gnats and chiggers; Ranger Ready adds no-see-ums and fleas. Both also make the gear claim that sets picaridin apart from DEET. Sawyer's listing says its formula "won't damage plastics or synthetic coatings" and is safe on packs, sunglasses and fishing line. Ranger Ready says its spray will not stain or damage clothing, plastic, synthetic materials or fishing line. So the choice comes down to form and size: - **Sawyer** sells a 4 oz pump spray and a 4 oz lotion with the same formula, both shipped by Amazon.com. The lotion is the easier one for faces and children. - **Ranger Ready** sells a 3.4 oz non-aerosol pump, which its listing calls TSA compliant, and says each bottle holds 30+ applications. It calls its unscented formula Scent Zero. ## Bottle sizes each brand sells On Amazon, both brands sell their sprays in more sizes than the ones we carded. These are the sizes their listing titles showed when we searched on September 29, 2026: - **Sawyer picaridin:** 3 oz and 4 oz pump sprays, a 3 oz and a 4 oz lotion, a 6 oz continuous spray in a twin pack, and a 1-quart lotion pump dispenser. - **Ranger Ready picaridin:** 3.4 oz, 5 oz, 8 oz and 24 oz pump sprays. - **Sawyer permethrin:** a six-pack of 4.5 oz trigger bottles, a 12 oz and a 24 oz trigger spray, and an 18 oz aerosol that Sawyer rates for 4 outfits. - **Ranger Ready permethrin:** 8 oz, rated for 3 outfits, and 24 oz, rated for 7. Ranger Ready also lists a P2Pak that pairs its permethrin and picaridin in one box, per the listing title. Ranger Ready's results showed no lotion, which is the clearest practical difference between the two lines: if you want to rub picaridin onto a child's face, Sawyer makes that easier. ## How to put picaridin on, whichever brand The label directions for both brands follow the same federal advice. The EPA's [safe-use page](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively) says to apply repellent only to exposed skin or clothing and never under clothing, to spray your hands and rub it on your face rather than spraying your face, and to wash treated skin with soap and water once you are back inside. If you also wear sunscreen, the [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html) says to put the sunscreen on first and the repellent second. Reapply the picaridin when its label says, not when you reapply sunscreen. ## Children and age labels The CDC's rules apply to both brands: no insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months, per its [mosquito bite prevention fact sheet](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/pdfs/mosquitobitepreventionus_508.pdf), and repellent put on a child's face from an adult's hands, never on their hands, eyes or mouth. Beyond that, the labels differ. Ranger Ready's listing says its picaridin is "suitable for adults and kids 1 year and older." Sawyer's listing calls its picaridin "safe for use on the whole family" and gives no minimum age. Read the bottle you buy before using it on a toddler. ## Permethrin: wash life vs outfits per bottle Both are clothing and gear treatments, and both come with the CDC's rules for [permethrin-treated clothing and gear](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/about-permethrin-treated-clothing-and-gear.html): use 0.5% permethrin, and never put permethrin products on skin. Ranger Ready prints 0.5% on its listing; Sawyer's listing and [product page](https://www.sawyer.com/product/permethrin-fabric-treatment-insect-repellent-24-oz-trigger-spray) describe it as a fabric treatment without stating the percentage. Here the two makers' numbers diverge: - **Wash life.** Sawyer says a treatment lasts up to 6 weeks or 6 washings, whichever comes first. Ranger Ready says up to 5 washings or 40 days of sun exposure. - **Coverage.** Sawyer says to use about 4.5 oz per outfit (shirt, pants and socks), which its listing says is what the EPA now recommends, for about five outfits per 24 oz. Ranger Ready says its 24 oz bottle treats 7 outfits. Seven outfits from 24 oz is about 3.4 oz each, less than Sawyer's 4.5. The honest reading is that each label tells you how much to use with that product. Follow it. Stretching either bottle further than its label means an under-treated garment. Sawyer adds two points on its [permethrin FAQ](https://help.sawyer.com/retail/products/permethrin-repellents): let items air dry for at least 2 hours, and don't apply permethrin near cats, which have "a very unique and sensitive central nervous system." Dry treated items are safe around them, it says. Our [permethrin guide](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/permethrin-clothing-spray) covers treated clothing from Insect Shield, rated for 70 washes, as the alternative to spraying. ## Who each suits **Pick Sawyer** if you want Amazon.com as the seller, a lotion as well as a spray, or the longer permethrin wash life. Its permethrin comes in several sizes, and a six-pack of 4.5 oz bottles puts one outfit in each. **Pick Ranger Ready** if you fly with carry-on bags, want a label that states an age for children, or want more outfits from a permethrin bottle, used at its label's rate. It sells both sprays from its own Amazon store. **Mixing is fine.** Both brands use the same two actives, so a Sawyer permethrin on your clothes and a Ranger Ready picaridin in your pocket is a sound pair. So is the reverse. Neither brand makes a difference to the basics that matter more: reapply picaridin as the label says, treat footwear and pants first, and do a tick check when you get home. Our [tick removal guide](https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/tick-removal-tools) has the CDC's method if one gets through. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are Sawyer and Ranger Ready picaridin the same formula? They share the active and the strength, 20% picaridin, and the same hour claims. The inactive ingredients are each maker's own, and the listings describe them differently: fragrance free for Sawyer, Scent Zero for Ranger Ready. ### Can I use Ranger Ready permethrin on my dog? The Ranger Ready listing here is for clothing, sleeping bags, gear and tents, and says nothing about pets. Sawyer sells a separate permethrin labeled for dogs; its [FAQ](https://help.sawyer.com/retail/products/permethrin-repellents) says not to use it on puppies under 12 weeks. Neither brand's permethrin should go on a cat. ### Where can I check the hours myself? In the EPA's [repellent search tool](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you), which lists registered products by pest, protection time and active ingredient. The EPA notes that protection times vary with how each product was tested. ### Which lasts longer in the sun? Only Ranger Ready gives a figure: 40 days of sun exposure. Sawyer's listing says its permethrin breaks down with UV exposure and washing-machine agitation, without a day count, so re-treat sun-exposed gear such as hats and tent flies sooner. --- *WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.* ## Sources - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [CDC](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/index.html) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: [Using insect repellents safely and effectively](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-insect-repellents-safely-and-effectively) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [Mosquito bite prevention fact sheet](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/pdfs/mosquitobitepreventionus_508.pdf) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: [About permethrin treated clothing and gear](https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/prevention/about-permethrin-treated-clothing-and-gear.html) - Sawyer Products: [Product page](https://www.sawyer.com/product/permethrin-fabric-treatment-insect-repellent-24-oz-trigger-spray) - Sawyer Products: [FAQ](https://help.sawyer.com/retail/products/permethrin-repellents) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: [Find repellent right you](https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you) --- Last updated: 2026-09-29 Canonical URL: https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready How to cite: "Sawyer vs Ranger Ready (2026): Picaridin and Permethrin Compared on the Labels", WildProofLab, https://wildprooflab.com/bugs-ticks/sawyer-vs-ranger-ready (checked 2026-09-29). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate WildProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.