If Your Summer Schedule Is Filled With Fresh Air, These Are the Outdoor Essentials That Should Always Be in Your Bag

Al fresco, all season.

A few short months ago, you sat snuggled in your living room with two hands wrapped around a steamy mug of coffee and daydreamed about a heat wave. Remember that?

Flash forward to now, and yes—you’ve luxuriated in open-sandal season, perhaps lounged at the beach, or even crossed off a bucket-list hike—and also had your fair share of less-than-preferable side effects: mosquito bites, humidity overload, sunburn, and more mosquito bites.

But those common challenges don’t have to keep you confined to the AC—with the right outdoor essentials, you can get outside safely and enjoy the season. One thing you can cross off your worry list right away? A smattering of itches from mosquito bites. OFF!^® repellents are formulated to help you protect yourself before the first bite from pesky insects, so you can spend all the time you want outdoors without stressing or swatting.

When you’ve patiently waited all year for forecasts that allow you to break hibernation, you deserve to really bask in the fresh air. From SPF to OFF!^® repellents, these are the can’t-live-without items that’ll help you take advantage of the rest of the season outdoors, and protect yourself from the elements while you do. Those summer side effects have nothing on you.

1. Insect repellent

One version of a horror film: You’re lounging in the backyard with friends—music playing, snacks flowing, a canopy of trees overhead. Then bam, the pang of a mosquito bite. It’s a common buzzkill in the summer months, when mosquitoes are looking for cues like body heat, perspiration, and skin odor to find their potential host.

Keeping insect repellent on hand is essential. Whether your summer schedule includes lots of solo trail walks, lake days with your family, or hammock naps, OFF!^® repellents are formulated with various active ingredients to keep you protected from mosquitoes, ticks, and other kinds of biting insects.

DEET, the active ingredient in repellents like OFF!^® Deep Woods^® and OFF!^® FamilyCare, works by confusing and interfering with mosquito receptors before they even land on your skin. DEET has been studied by the CDC and EPA and found to be an effective mosquito repellent for adults and children when used as directed.*

DEET offers strong protection from insects during hikes or deep-woods outings, but if you’re looking for an alternative that can keep you protected for everyday activities like going on a run, walking the dog, or enjoying a summer BBQ, OFF!^® has you covered. Picaridin is the active ingredient in OFF!^® Clean Feel, a fragrance-free repellent that’s non-irritating and feels great on your skin.

Shop OFF!® Outdoor Essentials

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FamilyCare Insect & Mosquito Repellent Aerosol

$7.50

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Deep Woods® Insect Repellent Aerosol

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Clean Feel Insect Repellent Aerosol

$10

2. Sunscreen

Rewind: Before you apply insect repellent, you’ll want to kick off your protection routine with SPF. No matter how cooped up you felt leading into summer, no amount of direct sunlight is good for your skin. Consider this permission (um, a strong suggestion) to upgrade your SPF drawer with a few new goodies.

3. Lightweight, protective clothing

Sunscreen and insect repellent work hard to protect your skin from damage and discomfort, but to create an additional skin barrier, don’t leave home without some extra protection. Mosquitoes seem to be more attracted to dark-colored clothing, so try wearing lighter colors if you’re heading outside.

4. Water bottle

With sweat levels at an all-time high, dehydration during the summer is common—and it can lead to all kinds of very unfun symptoms. Rather than relying on intermittent public fountains or purchasing single-use plastic bottles every time you’re out, keep a reusable vessel in your tote 24/7.

5. Electrolyte packets

For an extra hydration boost—and a hit of flavor if plain water just isn’t cutting it—pack your bag with a handful of powdered electrolyte packets. In addition to helping you properly absorb the liquids you’re taking in, experts say that electrolytes can actually help increase your energy levels throughout the day, too.

6. Vitamin C

Whether you reap its benefits from citrus-flavored dissolvable tablets, a daily supplement, a topical cream, or all of the above, don’t skip on vitamin C. Research shows that its antioxidant properties help protect against free-radical damage from the sun—and who doesn’t pine for an ice-cold lemony bev when the sun’s out?

With your outdoor essentials kit complete, you can sit back and savor the fresh air, no side effects included. Grab your OFF!^® Deep Woods^®, FamilyCare, or Clean Feel, your SPF, and your thermos—because al fresco summer is officially back on.

*The U.S. Government, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Environmental Protection Agency do not endorse or recommend any commercial product, manufacturer, company, trademark or brand.