Thoughts on Permethrin Mosquito Repellant

[working on it]

In Texas mosquito and West Nile virus country, we use the lemon eucalyptus spray. You do have to re-spray periodically throughout the day though.

+1 on this one. It's also fairly effective on the little gnats we get here in the Albuquerque foothills. It's pretty strong, but works really well.

+2 here. I use Repel lemon-eucalyptus in a non-aerosol spray. I seem to be more allergic to mosquitoes than to brown recluses, so I have to use a repellent to mow or even work in the garage. I used Deep-Woods Off until I found the Repel (next to the Coleman stuff at Wally world). Great stuff, love the smell too.

[Verna]

We'll have to take a closer look at the Therma Cell. I'm a little leary about the vannilla extract, I've heard that it works. But most of our camping is in bear country and they have already had several issues with bears this year. I can see the headlines now "Campers attacked by bear. Bear commented that they had a tasty hint of vannilla"

Hey, Steve, you know, we don't have a bear problem here in Hoosierland, so I do need to be reminded that the bears might love to get nearer to that vanilla odor

So, no offense taken for your humor--I do have a sense of humor....some call it a real sick sense of humor, but it's a sense of humor non-the-less.

So, if you're in the Midwest, we haven't had many bear sightings, so the vanilla is good. We've had unconfirmed sightings of mountain lions, and a leopard was killed in Southern Indiana a couple of weeks ago (probably someone's escaped pet). So, for those coming to the CRA, try vanilla extract. If it doesn't work, at least you'll smell good.

I looked at those Thermacells last week. $32 + tax plus somewhere between $5 to $10 for refills .... I'll buy one as a last resort. I have a couple of citronella candles, and 8 oz of vanilla extract, plus some sort of natural spray-on repellant. Burt's Bees something or other. If worse comes to worse, I'll put jeans and long sleeves on!!!!

Keep all of those ideas coming--I'll be at the CRA on Sunday through the following Sunday, and if my remedies don't work, I'll be looking for others. I need a break and the CRA is my ticket

[Rainier70]

Because of lung problems I can't use regular repellents, Deet, dryer sheets and many of the others.

I used first the vanilla. It worked pretty good, but needed to be renewed a lot. I also was concerned about the bear issue. Then I started using a squirt bottle of regular (original) Listerine. It worked better and lasted longer.

Lately I got brave and tried the picaridin based repellents. Non oily and don't smell. Cutter Advanced is 7%. Sawyers is 20% Great stuff! It really works well.

http://www.amazon.com/averPak-Pack-Sawy ... +picaridin

[Bogo]

They say the Permethrin actually lasts through a couple of washings. That sounds unlikely to me.

I was dubious at first, but it does survive a few washings. I'm outside in tick & chigger country all the time. I treat my clothes every 3 to 4 weeks, don't worry about the number of washings, and I know they can go longer between treatments. Permethrin really takes care of the ticks and chiggers. I don't even bother to treat my shirts anymore. I maybe should. It's my legs and feet that are in tick & chiggervil.

[S. Heisley]

You'll enjoy it all; however, #6 is pertinent to this discussion:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/absolutel ... or-camping

[Nobody]

You'll enjoy it all; however, #6 is pertinent to this discussion:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/absolutel ... or-camping

That's some pretty good info Sharon. The repellant times are pretty much spot on in my experience. I do lots of hunting in wooded bottomland here in Arkansas where there're lotsa 'skeeters! (& ticks, chiggers, & other creepy crawlies ). Seeing that the permethrin based stuff is for use only on clothing, I've found it does absolutely NO good in repelling mosquitoes from my exposed skin & around my head. I use the Sawyer brand permethrin clothing treatment (sprayed on to 'dampen' the article) well before use. It has consistently protected me from tick/chigger bites over the past few years (I started out using the readily available 'Permanone' brand but many places don't sell it anymore??) & true to claims, it does last thru several washings. In warm weather I spray my exposed skin with at least 30% DEET & it works very well in keeping mosquitoes away for several hours (3-4) during a morning or afternoon hunt. I have found that the Thermacell works well around my camp, repelling most all 'bugs' within its range of approx 10-15' radius. When there are several of us sitting around camp in the evening a couple of Thermacells hung on shelter poles keep us 'bug free' 'til time for bed.

I'm not particularly susceptible to 'skeeters but my wife can just hear one 'buzz' & she starts to itch. The above methods have worked well for her also...

[nevadatear]

Fyi thermacell is available from amazon for $18.

[Verna]

Thanks, I hated Walmart's price, and it was the same at Camping World. I order that when I get back home.

[desertmoose]

I was going to get the Thermacell for Kat, until I saw it's not for use at elevations over 4000 feet.

Since we're at 5000 feet at home, and generally go higher to camp, I decided to not get it for her.

Sam

[PSBreen]

Sharon that list was pretty close to what we experianced this weekend. The Avon "Skin So Soft" Repellant worked well for about 30 minutes, then just smelled good. The Permethrin I tried on a hat. It didn't faze the mosquitos but kept the flys away from my face. After seeing the note about Thermacell, it won't work either. Most of our summer camping is above 8000 feet. Hopefully the mosquitos will be dying off soon.

[nevadatear]

Sam, according to the website, not functioning well is a function of the automatic ignition. They recommend the mini lantern, which starts with a match. http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repe ... 2006-model

[stumphugger]

I've been experimenting with those little OFF fans. I thought they helped when I was sitting in a chair. But they do not seem to work when I'm moving around with it clipped to me. More research is needed (scratch scratch) . Mosquitoes are annoying here when the wind is not blowing.

[Verna]

Gnats, Mosquitos and flies quit bothering me about an hour ago when I put the vanilla extract on here at the CRA. I haven't tried the Burt's Bees All Natural spray that I have, yet. I think I'll use it on the horseback riding.