Ben's 100 Max Tick & Insect Repellent (1.25 oz)
Published · Researched 2026-09-21
Ben's 100 Max Tick & Insect Repellent (1.25 oz)
2026 lineup note: Current. Ben's 100 Max is Adventure Medical Kits' maximum-strength repellent — 100% DEET, no alcohol or additives, in a 1.25 oz pump spray. The "when other repellents won't cut it" option for high bug density. No known recalls.
Version lineage (2023–2026)
- Pre-2023 (established): Ben's 100 has been sold for 30+ years under Adventure Medical Kits; the 1.25 oz Max pump is the long-running travel size alongside 3.4 oz and 6 oz formats.
- 2023–2024: Continued; label generations vary (older labels read "Ben's 100" / newer "Ben's 100 Max" — same formula).
- 2025–2026: Continued unchanged. Exact year of the "Max" label refresh is UNVERIFIED. No successor announced as of Sept 2026.
Overview
Ben's 100 Max is 100% DEET — nothing else in the bottle, no alcohol, no fragrance, no filler — and it's the maximum DEET concentration sold for consumer use. One application claims up to 10 hours of protection against mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, biting flies, black flies, and no-see-ums, including species that may carry Lyme, Zika, West Nile, dengue, malaria, and EEE. The 1.25 oz pump is the pocket/travel size: enough for several days on the trail, TSA-friendly, and it fits anywhere. Ben's is made in New Hampshire and marketed as torture-tested in the White Mountains — the brand's whole identity is "bug country" credibility.
Key Specs
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Pump-spray insect repellent |
| Active ingredient | 100% DEET (no alcohol, no additives, fragrance-free) |
| Protection claim | Up to 10 hours per application |
| Targets | Mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, biting flies, black flies, no-see-ums, fleas, stable flies |
| Size | 1.25 fl oz (37 mL) pump spray |
| Fluid weight | ~1.3 oz ≈ 37 g (DEET density ≈ water) |
| Carry weight | ~2 oz with bottle — UNVERIFIED exact gross |
| Maker | Adventure Medical Kits (Ben's), made in New Hampshire |
| MPN / UPC | 0006-7070 / 044224102058 |
Pricing
- MSRP (Sept 2026, USD): ~$7.99 (Backcountry list).
- Street price (Sept 2026, USD): ~$6.39–8.99 (Backcountry $6.39 sale; CopQuest/Sportsman's/Pack Rat $7.49; Pasteur $6.69; Idaho Mountain Touring $8.99). Re-verify live before publishing.
In the Box
One 1.25 oz pump-spray bottle.
Warranty
Consumable — no warranty beyond standard retail defective-product returns. Re-verify if needed.
Support & Parts
Standard retail product; Ben's/Adventure Medical Kits customer service for questions. No parts.
Community Verdict
Ben's 100 is the "nuclear option" the community reaches for when picaridin and lemon eucalyptus aren't enough — deep-woods hunting, Boundary Waters portages, Alaska, tick-heavy spring. The recurring community notes: it works, full stop, but 100% DEET melts synthetic fabrics, nail polish, and some plastics — apply carefully and keep it off gear. The 10-hour claim is the label's; real-world reapplication depends on sweat and conditions. The smell is minimal (no fragrance added) but the feel is oily — that's the trade for no alcohol. Nobody buys this for a backyard barbecue; it's for bug country. Qualitative pulse only — no fabricated scores.
Images
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All six visually verified 2026-09-21 as exact-product Ben's 100 Max Formula, 1.25 oz (image 6 is an older label generation of the same product).
Research date: 2026-09-21. Specs and prices from retailer listings (Backcountry, Sportsman's, CopQuest, Pasteur Pharmacy, 2026). Re-verify live: pricing, gross weight.
Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality (enrichment — Sept 2026)
It's a consumable with a multi-year shelf life — DEET doesn't go bad quickly, though the pump can clog if stored half-used for years. No warranty to claim. The durability question is the bottle in your pack: the small pump cap can crack — keep it in a zip bag so a leak doesn't eat your headlamp lens.
Version history — year by year (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- 2023: Current; "Max" label generation in market.
- 2024: Continued.
- 2025: Continued.
- 2026: Continued; no successor announced. "Max" rebrand year UNVERIFIED.
Head-to-head vs closest rivals (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- vs Sawyer Picaridin Repellent (
/library/gear/insect-sun/sawyer-picaridin-repellent/): the modern rival — 20% picaridin, gear-safe, nearly as effective on mosquitoes, weaker tick story. Sawyer wins for gear safety and feel; Ben's 100 wins for maximum-strength tick country. - vs Cutter Backwoods Insect Repellent (
/library/gear/insect-sun/cutter-backwoods-insect-repellent/): the drugstore rival — 25% DEET, cheaper, everywhere. Cutter wins on price and availability; Ben's 100 wins on concentration and duration. - vs Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus (
/library/gear/insect-sun/repel-plant-based-lemon-eucalyptus/— same group): the natural rival — OLE, pleasant, DEET-free. Repel wins for families and daily use; Ben's 100 wins when the bugs are genuinely dangerous.
Care & maintenance (enrichment — Sept 2026)
Apply to exposed skin only (not under clothing); wash hands after applying. Keep away from synthetics, plastics, leather, and painted surfaces — DEET dissolves them. Store upright, cap on, out of heat. Don't apply to children's hands; follow the label for kids under 2 months (don't use).
Buying traps (enrichment — Sept 2026)
- DEET melts gear: the #1 trap — one careless spray near a tent, sunglasses, or a watch face causes real damage. Apply away from gear.
- 100% isn't "3× better" than 30%: higher concentration extends duration, not strength — 30% DEET protects nearly as well for fewer hours.
- Label generations: "Ben's 100" and "Ben's 100 Max" are the same formula — don't pay a premium for the word "Max."
- Size math: the 1.25 oz is the travel size; heavy users should price the 3.4 oz or 6 oz formats per ounce.
Community Verdict — additional voices (enrichment — Sept 2026)
The throughline across hunting and backpacking communities: Ben's 100 is what you pack when the trip depends on not getting eaten — the "I've tried everything else" repellent. The respect is grudging — nobody loves applying 100% DEET, everybody respects that it works. The gear-melting warnings are the most repeated community advice, ahead of any efficacy discussion. The 1.25 oz size gets specific love as the always-in-the-pack insurance policy. No fabricated scores.
Key Specs gap-fill (enrichment — Sept 2026)
100% DEET, no additives, fragrance-free. Up to 10 hours claimed protection. 1.25 fl oz = 37 mL; fluid ~37 g / 1.3 oz; carry weight ~2 oz — UNVERIFIED exact gross. MPN 0006-7070, UPC 044224102058. Pricing: MSRP ~$7.99; street ~$6.39–8.99 — re-verify live.