Para’Kito Review: These Mosquito Repellent Wearables Are Year-Round Must-Haves

As runners and active people who love to spend a lot of time outdoors, being exposed to mosquitos and other biting bugs is sometimes unavoidable. Yes, you could cover yourself with DEET, but it’s pretty toxic and can damage your running gear, too.

Enter, Para’Kito, a brand originating in France, that specializes in insect repellent products that provide natural, essential oils-based protection from mosquitos and other biting insects.

In this Para Kito review I’m sharing my experience wearing the Parakito mosquito repellent bracelet, their clip on mosquito repellent accessory and their repellent spray.

As someone who reviews running shoes and other gear day in, day out, I increasingly find myself in places (most often on the trails) where I’m stopping mid-run to film video reviews, and suffering for the cause by being eaten alive by bugs – especially when I’m out in the woods reviewing trail running shoes.

If you follow our YouTube Channel, you’ll likely have seen me wearing this mosquito repellent bracelet in my trail running shoe reviews, well now you know what it is! :oD.

Wearing a portable insect-repellent diffuser in the form of the bracelet around my ankle (or the clip on version, on my running shirt or running hydration vest) has been a bit of a game changer for me, and could help you too, if you run, or do anything outdoors including hiking, paddle boarding, swimming and camping, in places where mosquitoes exist. Here’s what you need to know about the brand and their innovative products.

The Key Specifications

• Product options: include a wearable insect repellent bracelet (‘wristband’), a clip-on wearable, spray, roll-on and flip-flops
• Price: From ~$20 for a clip-on or bracelet with 2x refills – available at Para’Kito’s website individually or in various bundles
• Sizing and fit: Wristbands are adjustable hook-and-loop straps, kids sizes are also available, both sizes are available in a wide variety of color options
• Active ingredients: Citronella oil, Rosemary oil, Geranium oil, Mint oil, Clove oil, Peppermint oil, Cinnamon oil – visit the individual product pages on Para’kito’s website for more details on ingredients as the ratios may change over time and between products
• Other notable features: DEET-free, GMO-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, no animal testing
• Best for: Any time you are spending outside and want protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects

An overview of Para’Kito’s insect repellent wearables

Para’kito’s range of wearable insect repellents, which the brand refers to as ‘portable diffusers’, includes wristbands, kids bands, clip on tags for your backpack (or anything else you can think of), and even sandals, designed to suit a variety of outdoor enthusiasts and their activities. Each wearable uses a refill pellet infused with a blend of natural essential oils, promising up to 15 days of constant protection.

These wristbands and clips are not only practical for adults but also offer a kid-friendly size, ensuring that everyone in the family stays protected from mosquito bites and to help keep ticks away when using the spray.

The fact the wristbands are waterproof also makes them ideal companions for any water-based adventures, so if you have some camping or traveling planned with your kids this summer, you may just find that you’re all wearing one of these 24/7 to keep the bugs at bay while you’re out enjoying yourself by the lake, pool or beach.

They also offer spray and roll-on options, which provide a more intensive level of protection than the diffusers, but need to be applied to skin or clothing – you can use these as well as, or instead of the wearables, as you feel necessary – which would usually be in areas of heavy mozzie infestation, or if you’re particularly prone to being bitten.

How Para Kito insect repellents work

It’s first helpful to understand how mosquitoes are attracted to humans in the first place.

Driven by their instinct to feed, mosquitoes are attracted to humans by the carbon dioxide we exhale and the natural odors emitted by our skin. Para’kito’s wearable diffusers tackle this challenge head-on by masking the human scent that draws these insects in, using their refill pellets, which are saturated with a unique blend of natural essential oils. These oils create a protective halo around the wearer, confusing mosquitoes and significantly reducing the likelihood of bites.

The technology behind these products, known as the DiffuControl-System, ensures a regulated and continuous diffusion of the oils, providing round-the-clock protection. This approach has been independently verified by lab tests, offering reassurance about the effectiveness of Para’kito wearables in keeping mosquitoes at bay.

My experience wearing the Parakito insect repellent bracelet and clip on diffusers

You can buy a clip-on, bracelet, or various bundles (e.g. 2x bracelets, a bundle of a clip on + bracelet, a spray + a bracelet, etc) by shopping them directly on Para’kito’s website.

I have been using the bracelets, clip-on and spray repellent, and have found the bracelet most useful (and easiest to use) for wearing while running specifically – you can see an example of how it looks when running in my HOKA Speedgoat 6 review, for example.

You can often see me wearing one on my ankle in my running shoe video reviews on our YouTube Channel – it’s been a great way to reduce bites while I’m standing in one place, filming, and not running (because when I run, I’m too fast for them, mwahaha! Not really, they still seem to get me somehow).

The wristbands and clips are available in understated colorways such as black and grey, so it’s not even obvious you’re wearing one; alternatively you can go for a fun pattern or bright colorway, or get a couple to change between. They also come in a brighter red color, if you prefer.

Wearing the diffuser on my wrist definitely helps repel biting bugs around my arms and head – especially if I wave my arm around my head periodically!

I wouldn’t say the repellent is strong enough to keep bugs away from my ankles when it’s on my wrist, although that’s not a particular issue when I’m running or hiking, only when standing or doing something not on my feet such as enjoying a drink or food outdoors at a time of day when the mosquitoes are most active.

On those occasions (such as when I’m filming running shoe reviews in the woods) I will wear a second bracelet around my ankle.

The scent of the essential oils doesn’t bother me and I actually find it quite pleasant. It’s definitely infinitely nicer than having DEET (which is a synthetic chemical) on or around my body, or being bitten incessantly, for that matter.

It’s also important to me that when it comes to my young son, I am not exposing him unnecessarily to chemicals, and I have felt more comfortable using these essential oils-based bug deterrents around him. My wife and I can happily clip one on our baby carrier or jogging stroller, for example, when we take him out on hikes and runs, and not worry about exposing him to chemicals.

When not wearing the bracelet, following Parakito’s advice, I’ve been storing my active diffuser pellet in a sealed tupperware box I have dedicated to it. It’s big enough to fit multiple pellets if I have a couple on the go, or need to store my other family members’ pellets at the same time. You could also use a zip bag.

Either way, sealed storage like this can help prolong their lifespan, which is stated as 15 days, however I’ve found the refills to last several days longer than that if I store them in this way. Here’s what the pellet looks like on the bracelet, and a replacement pellet in a packet.

It’s worth noting that some people seem to be more attractive to mosquitoes than others. If you’re one of those people you may want or feel the need to wear multiple wearables, or use the spray or roll-on in conjunction with a bracelet or clip on, and, of course, a sensible approach to covering up exposed skin with clothing!

Other ways to wear these DEET-free mosquito-repellents

How to wear these bracelets and clip-ons is pretty much limited to your imagination.

It’s so great that they’re waterproof and will continue to work when wet, given that so many mozzies like to hang out around lakes where I enjoy activities like swimming and paddleboarding. I haven’t tried it yet, but attaching a clip or band to a hat while swimming could be a great way to keep them off your face, for example!

These wearables are also ideal for gardeners, campers, and anyone spending time outdoors, especially in areas prone to mosquito activity. Plus, their DEET-free formulation means they’re a great choice for those looking to avoid chemical-based repellents, offering a more natural way to keep mosquitoes at a distance.

The wearable sandals are also a great idea for those who want to bare their feet and ankles without wearing a band around one leg.

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Para’kito review summary

This product is such a great find – an affordable, natural, chemical-free way to help reduce instances of mosquito bites while running, traveling or simply hanging out in places where biting insects are a nuisance. I love that it’s something that I can use to help protect my young son from these insects, too, and the versatility the clip and bracelet wearables offer.

At less than $20 for a bracelet and two refills, and a range of other affordable bundles and options, getting a few for this summer and beyond is a must for anyone who wants to try a simple way to reduce bug bites! If you choose to get some, be sure to stock up on refills so you always have them handy when you want to use your bracelet or clip.

Para’kito clip on and bracelets image gallery