A few years ago when a work trip sent me to the Dominican Republic, I woke up one morning, looked at my red polka-dotted legs, and was certain that my hotel room had bedbugs. After calling a coworker to help me inspect my room, we determined that it wasn't bedbugs I was up against but mosquitoes.

Whatever type of blood chemistry or energy mosquitoes are drawn to, I have it. Whether I'm on a patio or in a Caribbean climate, they find me. And while you can buy safe bug sprays to wear [1], nothing sounds as appealing to me as creating a bug-free zone that they simply cannot penetrate.

The Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repeller [2] (£37) creates a 15-foot round shield that mosquitoes can't penetrate. It's also scent-free and DEET-free. Now you can finally spend time outdoors without burning stinky Citronella candles and more important, without worrying that the bugs are going to ruin your fun.