If you spend any time outdoors — hiking, camping, hunting, or even just doing yard work in tick country — you know the deal. DEET on your skin is fine for a few hours, but permethrin on your clothes is the real game-changer. It bonds to fabric fibers, kills ticks and mosquitoes on contact, and lasts through multiple washes.
Two names dominate the permethrin spray category: Sawyer SP657 and Ben's Clothing & Gear Insect Repellent. They're both 24oz trigger sprays with 0.5% permethrin. They're both designed to treat clothing, tents, and gear. On paper, they look almost identical.
But they're not the same. We dug into the details — formula, coverage, price, longevity, and what actual users say — to find out which one deserves a spot in your gear bag.
Quick Verdict
Buy the Sawyer Permethrin if: You want the permethrin spray that's been independently tested by universities, recommended by Wirecutter for 6+ years running, and proven to reduce tick bites by 73.6×. It's cheaper per ounce, uses a more consistent trigger spray, and has a slightly better reputation for fabric safety.
Buy Ben's if: You want a solid permethrin spray that's made and tested in the White Mountains of New Hampshire — a region known for brutal tick seasons. The pump spray is effective, and the formula is genuine. It's a good product backed by a less famous name.
Our pick: The Sawyer SP657. It's cheaper, more thoroughly tested, and has a nearly decade-long track record of being the best-in-class permethrin spray. The Ben's is a capable alternative, but Sawyer wins on value, trust, and sheer protection data.
Our Pick 🏆 Sawyer Products SP657 Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent
$18.49 on Amazon (24oz)
The most recommended permethrin spray on the market — and for good reason. Sawyer SP657 has been Wirecutter's top pick for permethrin fabric treatment for years, and a 2017 University of Rhode Island study found that treating shoes and socks with permethrin reduces the likelihood of a tick bite by a staggering 73.6 times.
The trigger spray delivers a consistent, wide mist that coats fabric evenly without over-saturating. It's effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — including ticks that carry Lyme disease, mosquitoes that carry West Nile and Zika, plus chiggers, spiders, mites, and more.
One 24oz bottle treats approximately 4 full outfits (shirt, pants, socks) when following the EPA's recommended 4.5oz per outfit. The protection lasts up to 6 weeks or 6 washes, whichever comes first, and it won't stain or damage fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear.
Key specs: 0.5% permethrin, 24oz trigger spray, bonds to fabric for 6 weeks/6 washes, effective against 55+ insect species, fragrance-free, won't stain fabrics or gear.
Buy Sawyer Permethrin — $18.49 →
🏔️ Ben's Clothing & Gear Insect Repellent
$20.99 on Amazon (24oz)
Ben's is the newer contender in the permethrin spray space, but don't let the newcomer status fool you — this stuff is made and tested in New Hampshire's rugged White Mountains, one of the most tick-heavy regions in the country. The company knows what works because they live it.
The formula is the same 0.5% permethrin concentration as Sawyer, using an ergonomic pump spray for application. Like Sawyer, it bonds to fabric fibers and remains effective through multiple washes, lasting up to 6 weeks per treatment.
Ben's puts a strong emphasis on ease of use with its ergonomic pump design, and the rugged branding is backed by genuine New Hampshire testing. It's a solid product that does exactly what it claims — it just doesn't have the same mountain of clinical data and independent validation that Sawyer brings.
Key specs: 0.5% permethrin, 24oz pump spray, bonds to fabric for 6 weeks/6 washes, tested in New Hampshire's White Mountains, ergonomic pump design.
Buy Ben's Clothing & Gear — $20.99 →Head-to-Head Comparison
| Sawyer Permethrin (Our Pick) | Ben's Clothing & Gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ✅ $18.49 | $20.99 |
| Price per Ounce | ✅ $0.77/oz | $0.87/oz |
| Active Ingredient | 0.5% Permethrin | 0.5% Permethrin |
| Size | 24 oz | 24 oz |
| Spray Type | ✅ Trigger spray (wide mist) | Pump spray |
| Protection Duration | Up to 6 weeks / 6 washes | Up to 6 weeks / 6 washes |
| Insect Coverage | ✅ 55+ species | Not published |
| Outfits Treated | ~4 per bottle (EPA guidelines) | ~4 per bottle |
| Fabric Safe | ✅ Won't stain or damage | ✅ Won't stain or damage |
| Fragrance | ✅ Odorless when dry | Odorless when dry |
| Independent Testing | ✅ URI study, Wirecutter pick | In-house testing |
| Track Record | ✅ 10+ years as category leader | ~5 years |
| Rating (Amazon) | 4.6 / 5 (46,000+ ratings) | 4.4 / 5 (644 ratings) |
Where the Sawyer Wins
Price. At $18.49 vs $20.99, Sawyer is $2.50 cheaper for the same 24oz size. That's a 12% savings right off the bat. For a product you'll be buying seasonally, it adds up.
The trigger spray. This is a bigger deal than it sounds. The Sawyer uses a trigger spray that delivers a wide, consistent mist. It covers fabric evenly without over-wetting in one spot. Ben's uses a pump spray that's more of a narrow stream — you have to work harder to get even coverage. Multiple users who've tried both say the Sawyer trigger is noticeably easier to use, especially when treating larger items like tents or sleeping bags.
Independent validation. The University of Rhode Island study on permethrin effectiveness specifically tested Sawyer's formula. The finding — 73.6 times reduction in tick bites — is a jaw-dropping number that no competitor can match with their own data. When you're putting your health on the line in tick country, that kind of proof matters.
Wirecutter's pick. The New York Times Wirecutter has been recommending Sawyer Permethrin for years, calling it the best permethrin spray for clothing and gear. That kind of sustained recommendation from a publication that doesn't take ad money carries weight.
More insect coverage. Sawyer claims effectiveness against 55+ insect species. Ben's doesn't make the same claim publicly, which suggests a more limited testing scope. When you're in the backcountry, more coverage is better.
Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study, 2017).
Where Ben's Wins
New Hampshire testing. Ben's is made and tested in the White Mountains. For East Coast outdoorspeople who deal with the brutal tick seasons of New England, there's something reassuring about a product that's literally tested in the same conditions you're facing. It's not a lab test — it's real-world validation.
Ergonomic pump. While the Sawyer trigger spray is better for wide coverage, some users prefer the Ben's pump for precise application. If you're spot-treating specific areas (cuffs, collar, waistband) rather than doing a full outfit, the pump gives you more control.
Slightly newer formula. Ben's being a newer product means it's not using decade-old manufacturing processes. The formula is solid, and the company seems responsive to customer feedback. It's a modern take on a proven concept.
Good backup option. If Sawyer is out of stock (which happens, especially during peak tick season), Ben's is a genuinely good alternative. The 0.5% permethrin is the same concentration, and the protection duration is the same. You won't be compromising on safety by choosing Ben's.
Ben's Clothing & Gear Insect Repellent is made and tested in New Hampshire's rugged White Mountains.
What the Research Says
The science on permethrin is clear: it works. A 2017 University of Rhode Island study found that treating shoes and socks with permethrin reduced tick bites by 73.6 times compared to untreated clothing. The CDC recommends permethrin-treated clothing as a key part of tick bite prevention.
But here's the thing — permethrin is permethrin. Both Sawyer and Ben's use the same 0.5% concentration. The difference isn't in the active ingredient, it's in the application system, the coverage, and the confidence you can have in the product.
Sawyer's formula has been independently tested in peer-reviewed studies. Ben's hasn't. That's not to say Ben's doesn't work — chemistry says it does — but Sawyer has the receipts.
Who Should Buy Each
✅ Buy Sawyer if you...
- Want the best-tested permethrin spray on the market
- Care about independent research and clinical data
- Prefer a trigger spray for even, wide coverage
- Want to save $2.50 per bottle
- Live in tick-heavy areas (Northeast, Upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest)
- Spend extended time outdoors backpacking, camping, or hunting
✅ Buy Ben's if you...
- Want a solid permethrin spray tested in real New England conditions
- Prefer a pump spray for precise spot treatment
- Can't find Sawyer in stock
- Want to support a smaller brand with regional roots
- Are a casual outdoor user who treats clothes a few times a season
The Bottom Line
Our Take
Ben's Clothing & Gear Insect Repellent is a perfectly good permethrin spray. It uses the same active ingredient at the same concentration, it lasts just as long, and it's tested in one of the toughest tick environments in the country. If you buy Ben's, you're getting a solid product.
But the Sawyer SP657 is the complete package. It's cheaper ($18.49 vs $20.99), has a better trigger spray system, is backed by independent university research, and has been the permethrin spray that outdoor professionals and reviewers have trusted for over a decade. When you're dealing with tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease, choosing the product with the strongest evidence base isn't just preference — it's peace of mind.
The $2.50 difference is nothing compared to the confidence that comes from knowing your protection has been rigorously tested. Sawyer wins this round.