Royal Robbins, the outdoor apparel brand whose mission is to feed the soul through nature and adventure, is proud to announce that its Mosquito Protection Technology™ (MPT) has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, which features extraordinary innovations changing consumers’ lives today.
Royal Robbins’ MPT apparel, launched in spring 2025, is a tightly woven, engineered fabric that acts as a robust barrier to mosquitoes without the use of chemicals, repellents or biocides. This makes MPT a better choice for people and the environment versus existing chemicals such as permethrin. In 2023, Royal Robbins partnered with Vector Textiles, a leader in the research, development and testing of chemical-free textiles, to rigorously test its MPT fabrics. Based on the results of multiple controlled laboratory tests, MPT fabrics demonstrated 92% effectiveness in preventing mosquito bites.
TIME’s editors write: “Mosquitos are the world’s deadliest animal—and their threat is likely increasing. Traditional defenses such as spray-on clothing insecticides like permethrin or skin-applied repellents like Deet, not only demand frequent reapplication but have also faced scrutiny as potential health hazards. As an alternative, outdoor apparel maker Royal Robbins launched its proprietary Mosquito Protection Technology this spring: a tight-weave fabric with an imperceptibly contoured structure that’s 92% effective at preventing mosquitos’ proboscises from penetrating it.”
“This award, along with the previous award from Popular Science and the growing list of positive product reviews, reaffirms what retailers and consumers around the world have already told us; MPT is a paradigm shift for mosquito protection,” said Erik Burbank, Brand President at Royal Robbins. “It reminds us that innovation and a thoughtful approach can deliver equal or better results versus the existing standard of continued chemical treatments.”
Founded in 1968 and rooted in the environmental ethos of founders Liz and Royal Robbins, pioneers of the clean climbing movement, the Royal Robbins brand remains committed to creating long-lasting outdoor gear with a lighter footprint. Fiber and material production account for the largest portion of a product’s footprint on ecosystems and the environment, which is why Royal Robbins carefully chooses lower-impact fibers, technologies and processes that help reduce waste, chemical use, water use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Royal Robbins’ MPT has rapidly grown in popularity and awareness among consumers and outdoor industry editors, and, last fall, earned Popular Science’s Greatest Innovations of 2024. Apparel collections featuring MPT are available now on the brand’s website. These products comprise a range of shirts and pants in Expedition, Amp Lite and Wilder styles that provide highly effective and durable protection from mosquito bites. Next Spring, Royal Robbins will grow its line of products featuring MPT with the launch of the Salathé Sun Hoody, the world’s first lightweight, breathable hoody to combine chemical-free mosquito protection with UPF 40+ sun protection. For more information about Royal Robbins MPT, please visit RoyalRobbins.com/MPT.
To compile this year’s list, TIME solicited nominations from in-house editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as health care and AI. TIME then evaluated each contender on a number of key factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact.
To see the full list of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, visit time.com/collections/best-inventions-2025/.
About Royal Robbins®
Born in Yosemite, the brand was founded in 1968 by world-renowned climbers and adventurers Royal and Liz Robbins. Royal Robbins is a leading designer, manufacturer, and retailer of versatile, durable, and stylish apparel for the next generation of adventurers. The brand maintains a commitment to environmental and social responsibility by prioritizing natural fibers and maintaining carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. Royal Robbins gear can be found in outdoor and specialty retail partners throughout the world. We believe nature and adventure are good for the soul. To learn more, please visit royalrobbins.com.
