Best bug repellant?

[Shoemoo]

Warm weather is finally here, and around here that means skeeters. We had an unusually long cold snap in January that reduced their starting numbers quite a bit, but they are beginning to bounce back. One of them got me on the leg while I was outside last week. I still have part of a can left over from last year, but it's not going to last longer than the next fishing trip or two.

We seem to have two types of mosquitoes around here. One of them leaves little itchy bumps, the other leaves bites that turn into huge golf ball sized red welts. I don't particularly like the idea of spraying chemicals directly on my skin, but I'd rather put up with the chemicals than get bit.

My criteria:

1.) Not greasy.
2.) The less smell, the better. Not sure if the smell puts fish off, but I don't want to smell like bug repellant until I bathe either.
3.) Direct application. I can't use the kind that diffuses the repellant into the air because they give me headaches.

What works for you guys?

 

[plateboater]

Therma-cell and good to go!

 

[Fatman]

x2 and get the stretchy off wrist bands, I use them on my grand daughter and they don't bother her skin

 

[redman]

This will sound crazy but it works like a charm. Listerine mouth wash!!!! put it in a spray bottle and spritz away. It works for me out on the swamp where insects come in swarms. They seem to not like the smell and get very few bites if any at all while out on the lake. BTW this is the regular kind not the minty stuff. I never have had a bit of trouble catching fish with it on me. The smell is not offensive to me and it is not greasy ether.

Redman

 

[Hawnjigs]

Never heard of Thermacell so Googled it. Mostly good reviews, but still a fair amount unsatisfied.
http://www.amazon.com/ThermaCELL-Co...?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0
If I need repellant, I use minimum 25% Deet. I know, its greasy, stinky, and melts plastics but the gentle alternative skin app stuff doesn't work for me, and Consumer Reports also reviewed that Deet was the only reliable repellant.

 

[Shoemoo]

I actually have a Thermacell lantern, and unfortunately it doesn't work well for me. I move around a lot while fishing, and we often have breezes in the evening that are strong enough to disperse the fumes but not deter mosquitoes. Plus there's no way to tell when it's run out of fuel until hordes of ravenous bugs start feasting on you, and the refills are $$$. The wristbands sound like they might be a solution though.

 

[Lost Pole]

Haven't been anywhere where mosquitoes are worse than here. But you sorta get used to them. Thermacell works when conditions are right, like you said. But, to me, best protection is clothing. Breathables. Your face n neck are priority at night. Im minimal and go with fitted cap backerds and dude rag over my face plate. Gnats are impossible.

I like to hang my lantern close to me. They go to it first and usually torch themselves.
Spent a good majority of my hard days on some water or another at night fishing and had grown to like it more than day fishing. Wish I had more time to do it now.

 

[redman]

Lost Pole You are right down there the mosquitoes are worst than they are here. When all that you can hear is a big buzz you know that they are bad. Lols. All kidding aside there are very few safe products that can repel them. It is my understanding that the Native Americans would use Alligator fat. I like your Idea that you need to cover up from head to toe. I have heard that a coat of mud on your face will and hands will work to keep them off. This is a old Mountain Man trick. I don't like DEET of any kind as it can cause cancer. I will just keep using as natural a repellent as possible. The wife swears by Avon Skin so Soft she says it is great for the skin and repels the bugs too.

Redman

 

[Ron Don]

Thermocells work A lot better for hunting where you aren't moving around. I generally find the product with the highest DEET level. I did just read that scientists are finding that DEET is becoming less effective on skeeters as they are getting use to it. If I remember correctly the military developed it for Vietnam. I imagine the stuff worked insanely back then.

 

[toadfrog]

X2 on Listerene and skin so soft . My daughter uses Skin so soft .Says it makes her feel special . It just makes me feel a little weird.

 

[StumpHunter]

X2 on Listerene and skin so soft . My daughter uses Skin so soft .Says it makes her feel special . It just makes me feel a little weird.

When I worked construction we used 'skin so soft' to keep the gnats and sand fleas off us. Worked and everyone smelled good too :icon14:

 

[Hawnjigs]

Maybe diff area bugs are different? The one time I tried Skin-so-Soft was one of my most miserable outings into our tropical rain forest.

Also, some of us tend to get swarmed while companions aren't bothered. I myself am delicious.

Deet causes cancer? Uh oh.

 

[Shoemoo]

There's no indication DEET causes cancer. There is some evidence it can cause neurological problems, but only with really high exposure. Not that you'd want to drink or inhale it or anything. The diseases mosquitoes transmit, on the other hand, are much much worse than the side effects of DEET when it's used properly, and from what I've read it's still the best contact bug repellant on the market. So I use it anyway.

Also, DEET is not becoming less effective as far as we know. There was an experiment in the lab that showed mosquitoes can develop the ability to acclimate to DEET a couple of hours after the first exposure by selective breeding, but mosquitoes in the wild have other animals they can fly off and bite so there's not much selective pressure for this trait.

 

[Helianthus]

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/08/best-insect-repellents/index.htm (can't believe everything you read but may help)

 

[JSC]

Repellant is as bad as fishing lures .. thru the years have sold a lot of both and it boils down to a matter of choice ... and who people belive that are suppose to be the expert recomends ... Definition of an expert ..... any one from out of town wearing a suit and carrying a brief case (course this day and time that description can be modified some what on the suit part.)

 

[redman]

Jim I Try to never call myself a expert on anything. EX= a has been and A SPERT= and drip of water. That is a has been drip of water. Still will use what I have been using for years. If it aint broke don't fix it.


Redman

 

[Fatman]

My wife who is like a bug magnet tried the new Deep Woods Off (Dry) spray and she really liked it.

 

[JSC]

RM said "If it aint broke don't fix it"

You got that right

 

[hookup]

Ben's 100% deet

 

[papaperch]

As everyone can probably tell by now. Opinions are going to vary differently. Because everyones body chemistry is unique. So what works great for one person may not work at all for another person. Most prime example is the Avon skin so soft. Those that it works for think its great for a mosquito repellent others think its a big scam.

My Dad used to smoke those nasty " parodi " little cigars. I don't think he ever had a mosquito even try and nibble on him. Not recommending these at all just making an observation.

Cutters works great for me but no OFF products have ever even come close to doing the job on me.

I happen to be one of those individuals who mosquitoes regard as " prime rib ". One of my biggest fears when I went to Vietnam was being sucked dry by hordes of those ravenous pests. My fear was quickly put to rest ( yeah right ) by a flightline fuel jockey. Asked him about size of the mosqutoes around in that area. He said sarge I ain't saying they are the biggest I ever seen. But the other night one landed on the flight line and we put a 55 gallon drum of JP-4 up its its butt before we realized it wasn't a Huey .By the way the " bug " juice we had at the time seemed to attract the skeeters. But it did work great on leeches to get them off of your body. Applied directly to Mr. Leech and he couldn't wait to let go.