Anyone use those "Thermacell" repellant units?

[C_Tanner]

Seems like everytime I take my Beckers to the play park (the woods) I have to deal with hordes of mosquitos, and I have yet to find something that works that doesn't involve showering in 100% Deet and burning your skin off.

I've been eyeing those thermacell(?) units that take the little propane cartridges for a while now, but have yet to tall to anybody who has actually used one. Since most of us are woods types, does anyone here have experience with these, or have other recommendations?

http://www.amazon.com/ThermaCELL-MR...TF8&coliid=I16NIC7AQMCS1F&colid=2T9B7BIATSC9F

 

[NateO]

Have you tried permetherin?

 

[C_Tanner]

Have you tried permetherin?

No...isnt that the same stuff? I'd prefer not spraying crap all over me.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

No...isnt that the same stuff? I'd prefer not spraying crap all over me.

You don't use permethrin on yourself - you treat your clothes with it. Coincidentally, I just did mine yesterday.

Doc

 

[GSDNPWC]

I use mine all the time in the woods! It works great! Normally I am hunting, so I strap it to my seat in my tree stand. If you are moving a lot, you could strap it to your backpack, hang from your belt, etc.

 

[NateO]

No...isnt that the same stuff? I'd prefer not spraying crap all over me.

It's great stuff. You treat your clothing with it and it lasts up to six weeks. It's odorless and doesn't affect waterproofing qualities of products. You spray it on your clothing, let it sit a day or two, and then you wear the clothing. You can wash your clothing like normal and the stuff will not get washed out. It is a fantastic product. Pretty cheap too, readily available at most camping sites/stores.

 

[orangish ducktape]

I have never used one before, but they look pretty handy and they are rather inexpensive.

-orangish ducktape

 

[secondechomatt]

xwhatever on the perm. I use it on my hammocks, backpacks and other things to keep bugs off of me.

My dad swears by those thermocell things, takes one with him whenever we are outdoors.

 

[RWT]

I give them a 50/50. I've used one many times in my pop up ground blind (so I know wind did not effect it) and still see mosquitos buzzing around me. I believe the device with a new chemical pad is effective at keeping the hoards off you, but there always seem to be a few that get by it. I am certainly not hunting in a thong and relying on the device to keep them off me. If you have to use the chemical pad more than once - say a morning and then afternoon hunt. The 2nd time it is not as effective.

I have had better luck with the bugproof jacket from Cabelas than anything else. Beside it is light weight and can be worn by itself. Much cooler that you would think. Just have a fresh shirt to change into so you don't "neck it out" when you get out of the woods.

 

[Bowman1911]

I use either max deet or my thermacell, or a citronella bracelet. The thermacell works great & surrounds you up to a 25 sq. ft. radius. I strap it to the top of my pack if I'm alone, or if I'm with a group, I'll centralize it in our camp. They usually around $20 for a kit ar basspro, but buy lots of refills. They last about 12 hrs on a full butane canister & a fresh citronella insert.

 

[C_Tanner]

Do they make other inserts that work in it besides the 4-hour ones>?

 

[whopper]

Thermacell down here in the swamps is required equipment while deer hunting. I have used one for years with excellent results. I usually replace the pad every hunt just to be safe.

 

[Bowman1911]

Do they make other inserts that work in it besides the 4-hour ones>?

Unfortunately no. So you end up carryin' 3 pads for every butane cartridge. It would be a great improvement if they were timed equally 1 for 1. I usually take my thermacell when I take my nephew camping. It covers our spot & I don't have to hear him whine about gettin' DEET in his eyes. LOL Which, nothing out there I've found repels skeeters like MAXDEET. But it stinks & is hell in your eye! A decent alternative for an overnighter is the citronella bracelets the sell at wallyworld for $2 a piece in the yardwork section. They're like the silicone "livestrong" bracelets all the kids wear but impregnated with citronella. Not the springy kind they sell at basspro. They're crap. The silicone, if worn 1 on each end, say each arm, or one arm & opposite leg will keep just about all skeeters away for a full overnighter, not quite 24hrs but close enough. If you're really interested in the thermacell, keep your eye on basspro. They put their kits on sale at least once or twice a year with a rebate. I got a plain jane brown one for $19.99 with a $5 rebate & have since seen the same deal repeatedly. It just don't come with the "skin" to mount it on your pack. That's extra. Hope this doesn't count as deal spotting. If so, mods, I apologize & please delete.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

You don't use permethrin on yourself - you treat your clothes with it. Coincidentally, I just did mine yesterday.

Doc

How is this with Ticks? I have pulled 2 of the little bastard off of me this year already...attached that is! I found like 40 or so and thats just from walking in the yard and around the old home stead.
C-Tanner,
My Step Father swear by his little unit, I don't know who makes it, but he bought it at the local hardware store. Pretty cool, it seemed to work for me one day when I was over changing the Tranny out on his lawn mower. ..Lots of bugs at the parents, they live in some wetlands.

 

[One Legged Josh]

Thermacell+bowhunting=good

 

[randori]

I'm a firm believer in thermacells. I keep one with me when I'm in the swamps. A 4 hour insert can last a LONG time because you don't have to keep burning it. You can use it for a few mins then kill it. They are way more effective when you are in one spot than when on the move. When moving, you're better off wearing lightweight long sleeves or spraying crap all over you.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

How is this with Ticks? I have pulled 2 of the little bastard off of me this year already...attached that is! I found like 40 or so and thats just from walking in the yard and around the old home stead.
C-Tanner,
My Step Father swear by his little unit, I don't know who makes it, but he bought it at the local hardware store. Pretty cool, it seemed to work for me one day when I was over changing the Tranny out on his lawn mower. ..Lots of bugs at the parents, they live in some wetlands.

Hey Gene,

It is my understanding that permethrin is really the only thing that works well with ticks. Permethrin is actually a miticide, not a repellant, which means it kills mites (and ticks) not just repels them. I've used it for a couple of years and haven't had any problems yet and I have a big concern about ticks. Without permethrin, I would be staying home.

This is the brand I use.

Doc

 

[C_Tanner]

Unfortunately no. So you end up carryin' 3 pads for every butane cartridge. It would be a great improvement if they were timed equally 1 for 1. I usually take my thermacell when I take my nephew camping. It covers our spot & I don't have to hear him whine about gettin' DEET in his eyes. LOL Which, nothing out there I've found repels skeeters like MAXDEET. But it stinks & is hell in your eye! A decent alternative for an overnighter is the citronella bracelets the sell at wallyworld for $2 a piece in the yardwork section. They're like the silicone "livestrong" bracelets all the kids wear but impregnated with citronella. Not the springy kind they sell at basspro. They're crap. The silicone, if worn 1 on each end, say each arm, or one arm & opposite leg will keep just about all skeeters away for a full overnighter, not quite 24hrs but close enough. If you're really interested in the thermacell, keep your eye on basspro. They put their kits on sale at least once or twice a year with a rebate. I got a plain jane brown one for $19.99 with a $5 rebate & have since seen the same deal repeatedly. It just don't come with the "skin" to mount it on your pack. That's extra. Hope this doesn't count as deal spotting. If so, mods, I apologize & please delete.

I don't think there are any Thermacell dealers on BF that you are screwing over. They are $16.something on A-Zon, and I have prime. I'll check out those bracelets too. I probably have about 30 mosquito bites right now.

Required Becker shot:

Bonus JAB pic with mosquito infested background: