Advnture Verdict
Strong-smelling and sticky, with a decent dose of DEET, this spray is a good choice for the tropics, when you really need a repellent that can handle itself and watch your back.
Pros
- +
Long-lasting
- +
Effective protection
- +
Stays put if you sweat
Cons
- -
Sticky
- -
Strong DEET content
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First thoughts
A big smack of 50% DEET makes Pyramid Trek a popular spray a reliable choice for international travels – this is the dosage we recommend if you may be travelling anywhere where dengue fever, zika virus, malaria and other diseases are present.
This spray has a powerful lemony scent, however, and if you don’t like a noticeable aroma from a repellent, this isn’t the best choice for you. That said, a light spray of this rather thick liquid goes a long way to protect skin, making it good value for money and likely to last a two-week holiday.
Caution – this is strong stuff, so avoid using near your eyes, or on children under 12.
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In the field
On test in Africa we found this repellent one of the longest-lasting sprays to stay on the skin if you’re sweating or swimming, too – ideal for very hot countries where sweaty skin is inevitable, and good for applying before bed for all-night protection, especially in conjunction with a mosquito net.
The only downside to all that tough protection? Pyramid is quite sticky on the skin (the stickiest spray of the many that we tested) and can also make clothing and sandals stick to skin in an unpleasant way, so we recommend only spraying onto exposed skin and letting dry before heading out and about.
This spray also has a strong, chemically lemony scent, and causes a tingly feeling when it hits the skin. The pump bottle works upside down, which is great for topping up repellent on feet and ankles, but the plastic bottle is quite flimsy, so you can’t chuck it about like some of the tough aluminium bottles we also tested without risking a leak.
