13 Best Bug Zappers for Camping

Are you scared of being bitten by crawlies in your campsite? Without bug zappers or pesticides to defend yourself, your perfect camping day can turn into a bad memory. Imagine you stumble across what looks like a nice cozy place to set up camp, there’s a lot of flat ground, and the daytime serenity is unmatchable. What could go wrong? Well, as soon as the sun starts to set, the creepy crawlies come out to ruin your day. If you don’t want to spend the night killing mosquitoes and scratching your skin, it’s better to bring a quality bug zapper along with you.

However, the thing with these zappers is that not all of them work as efficiently as you need them, but lucky for you, we have analyzed the best bug zappers for camping for your convenience.

MILLENNIALS OUTDOORS Camping Bug Zapper

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Let’s start the list with a product precisely designed for camping needs. The MILLENNIALS OUTDOORS Camping Bug Zapper is not only a critter killer, but it fills in like a lamp and also acts as a reliable power bank. So now you’ll have more space for other things in your bag. The 30-hour battery life will suffice, but recharging is also reasonably convenient if needed. It comes with a USB charger that can be fitted to any power source, making it a vital gadget, especially if you’re RV camping. 

AiMoxa Portable Bug Zapper & Camping Lantern

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Most zappers use a light source to pull in the crawlies, but unlike other zappers, AiMoxa Portable Bug Zapper & Camping Lantern up the game by adding mosquito attractant cartilages made from natural plant essence (environment friendly). The light works as an attractant, too, if you want to save the cartilages for when things get hairy.

The product guarantees that it can get rid of mosquitos, beetles, gnats, ants, and even spiders, a sigh of relief for arachnophobes. It is entirely waterproof so that you can wash it with tap water. It comes with a USB charger that can easily be attached to a power bank when you’re in the camp. It’s incredibly lightweight, and you’ll have no problem hanging it in the tent or on a tree.

Bug Bulb 2 in 1 Camping Lantern by Boundery

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Probably the most mobile and lightweight bug zapper on the list. It weighs less than 30 grams, easy to store, can be placed in any suitable storage container. Works as both a light source and bug zapper. Its short recharge time makes it best for suddenly planned camping trips. By the way, you get a 15-20 hour battery time on a full charge. Other than that, the campsite will remain smell-free as the Bug Bulb does not use chemicals. If it gets dirty, a simple rinse with water is enough, don’t worry, it’s waterproof.

Solar bug zapper by Elechome

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Just another portable lantern? Nope, the Solar bug zapper by Elechome is equipped with solar chargers, so while you set up camp, the lantern will keep on charging, and when it’s night, you’ll see it in action. And that’s not all. If the day is dusty or cloudy and you have a power generator, you can charge it using the USB recharging cord that comes with it. Check out these 13 best generators for camping if you plan to bring electronic devices such as this one. You can also leave it running all night without worrying about the rain because the Solar bug zapper by Elechome is entirely waterproof. Besides, the easy cleaning feature makes it a lot easier not to have to clean it time and time again.

Protecker’s Electric Bug Zapper

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This one’s more like the traditional bug zappers with a simple yet elegant design. It is a bit more time-tested, and therefore our list would be incomplete without it. Protecker’s Electric Bug Zapper uses two tube lights to lure the little monsters into the electric coil, zapping them instantly. Completely odorless and noise-free, so don’t worry about getting disturbed at night. The only concern is its portability; as this is a classic product, it’s not battery-powered and a bit larger in size compared to other zappers. On the other hand, this makes it more effective.

White Kaiman’s Bug Zapper Outdoor

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Having to turn the zapper on and off can be bothersome, especially when you’re snoozing in your camp like a baby. Well, this is the solution to your problems. White Kaiman’s Outdoor Bug Zapper is unlike others; it has a light sensor attached on top of it. It activates the zapper when night falls and turns it off as soon as the sun rises; pretty convenient, right? Plus, if you want to keep it working during the day, just simply cover its light-sensitive sensor.  Although the company guarantees a 1500 square feet safety net, keeping it closer to your tent would be a good idea. Hanging the lantern instead of placing it at ground level will yield better results, so the company equipped it with a hook to hang it. It’s completely chemical-free and portable, which makes it very user-friendly. But, keep in mind that it requires a plugin to work.

4250V Bug Zapper by Keuomy

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When choosing the best bug zappers for camping, device effectiveness is usually the primary concern. This product by Keuomy is scientifically designed to give you the best during your camping trips. It comes with a light of 365 nm wavelength, ideal for diverting mosquitos’ attention from your skin. In addition to that, the potent electric grid fries the pesky crawlies making your campsite safer. It could be hung from trees or placed on a flat surface. It covers a large area, and don’t worry about the fire from short circuits; this bug zapper is made from plastic fireproof material.

Sahara Sailor Camping Lantern

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This one is more of a lantern than a bug zapper, but it does the job equally well. The Sahara Sailor Camping Lantern makes it to our list of best bug zappers for camping because it’s a 3 in 1 product. It works as a Stretchable Lantern, a Camping Flashlight, and a powerful Bug Zapper. There are 360-400 nm bulbs attached that emit UV light which shines at different intensities per user requirements. You won’t even have to worry about carrying an extra load because the product is very light and comes with a USB recharge option. However, suppose you’re still concerned about carrying a heavy load in your backpack. You should check out the best backpacks for camping here for better storage options.

BLACK+DECKER Indoor/ Outdoor Electric UV Bug Zapper

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An aesthetic solution to your camping bug problem, BLACK+DECKER Indoor/ Outdoor Electric UV Bug Zapper uses a unique blue light that not only looks pleasing to the eye but also zaps the critters just as well. The functioning is physical without using any chemicals, so you don’t have to worry about any contamination of your campsite. And if you’re not a fan of heavy cleaning, then you’re lucky since the product is designed with a removable tray specifically for easy cleaning. Simply plug in and enjoy the zapping!

GTOCS Bug Zapper

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While there are many cheap bug zappers in the market, they often fail to prevent you from getting bitten, but the next zapper on our list zaps critters with 4200V of pure electricity. The GTOCS Bug Zapper is a real-life bug terminator, extremely effective at doing its job. In its core, the 15 W UV light lures the bugs to the 4200V electric grid, making the vicinity safe and secure from any blood-sucking disease-carrying bugs. The area coverage is around 1500 square feet, so even if you place it in the middle of the campsite, it’ll get you covered. The operation is pretty simple, just plug it in, and it’ll start working in no time. It comes with a hook on top so you can even hang it on trees. The removable insect tray makes cleaning a lot less stressful.

FVOAI Bug Zapper Outdoor

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The third best zapper in our list eliminates bugs in a flash, covering an area of 1500 square feet. The FVOAI Bug Zapper is a nightmare for every mosquito, gnat, or fly. All you have to do is plug it into a power source, sit back and watch the critters fry. Use it in darker areas; that’s where it works like a killing machine. It can thin the overall presence of biting bugs and make your camp pest-free just like a shield. However, after a night of zapping, you’ll have to discard the insect bodies that build upon its collecting tray (it’s easy!).

TOMPOL Bug Zapper for Indoor and Outdoor

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Number 2 in our list is a product from Tompol, a compact bug zapper with an excellent safety profile and high kill rate, fitted with a 15 W bulb and 4200 V electric grid to fry the pesky bugs. The coverage area isn’t too bad as well. 1500 square feet is enough to keep your entire campsite free from all kinds of biters. Even the smallest of the bugs can’t escape the power of Tompol’s Bug Zapper. So no more biting or stinging when you’ve got this device in your vicinity. It’s also waterproof, noise-free, and equipped with a collection tray that can simply be rinsed with water. It’s not battery-powered, though, but can be attached to a power source quite easily via a 3 ft cord.

Flowtron BK-40D Electronic insect killer

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And the champion of our list is the Flowtron BK-40D Electronic insect killer which uses the power of a UV light 15-watt bulb, combined with a non-clogging electrified grid to get rid of any pests within 1 acre so that you can stroll around your campsite with a sense of security. Pure electricity makes it a safer and hygienic alternative to chemical bug killers. It can be kept outside even during a dust storm because it’s rustproof and weatherproof. The product also comes with a bonus feature, a 30-day Octenol Mosquito Attractant cartilage. Overall, what we love is that this non-clogging nature of the product gives it a safety advantage since grid clogging is linked to incidences of short-circuiting.

How to choose the best bug zapper for camping?

Purchasing the best bug zappers for camping depends on the location of your camping trip. If you’re in a bug-free area, then a tiny rechargeable zapper might suffice, but if you set up camp in Florida, you might need something with more juice.

Portability

Suppose the device is rechargeable, lightweight, or has extra features like solar sensors or solar chargers. In that case, you can carry it anywhere. But, if it’s a full-sized high-powered plugin lantern, then you would need to bring along extra stuff like a source of power to make it work. Not to mention the object’s size decides how much room you have for other essential stuff.

Dual featured

Instead of carrying a lantern, a zapper, and a power bank separately, why not get something that has all of it. Indeed, there are bug zappers in the market (find the best ones in the list above) with multiple features. The downside to such products is comparatively less efficient than the regular bug zappers.

Durability

As opposed to indoors, you’re going to need more durability in your product during your camping trips. If the zapper is waterproof, fireproof, or rustproof, that’s a big plus because you won’t have a controlled environment outside the house. Therefore, the bottom line is, the more durable, the better.

Battery timing

This is perhaps one of the most critical factors. Most people prefer devices that run long after a single charge. Low battery timing is always an added stress, no matter how conveniently your device recharges. A long-running battery guarantees that you won’t be bothered to recharge it in the middle of the night.

Size Matters

Since you’re not indoors, you’ll need something that can destroy entire hordes of insects, especially if you’re camping out in places with high insect populations. A small portable bug zapper will do its job well in a calm environment, but you might need something bigger and more powerful for areas with a high insect population. You might also want to consider a zapper that you can easily clean if there’s a swarm of bugs in your area.

What if the zappers don’t work?

 All products in our list come with a user manual with detailed instructions on how to get the best results. But suppose the product doesn’t live up to your expectations or gets damaged. In that case, you can always use the product’s warranty protection or return it for a refund.

What should you do to get the best results?

Although all the zappers in our list work effectively, if you want to double down on the bug-killing, each zapper has its particular ways of increasing efficacy. Some zappers provide the best results when the night is darkest. Others come with a replaceable bug attractant to lure more pests into its zapping grid. You can view detailed information about each zapper and its zapping qualities in the list above.