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Mosquito Repellent Ratings


Jim Gell

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I was interested in having a good repellent for Alaska and was going to post this in an Alaska thread, but it could helpful to others, particularly those in areas vulnerable to Zika virus.

 

Consumer Reports Tested several brands of repellents.

 

Article and ratings here.

 

Jim

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2001 Volvo 770, Detroit 60 Series, Gen 2 Autoshift

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'05 Travel Supreme Select 40 RLQSO 5th wheel

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We started full timing on December 1st 2014

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness - Mark Twain
Not all that wander are lost - J. R. R. Tolkien

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None of it works for very long in Texas 'cause you end up sweating it off if you are outside in the summertime!!!! After all the rains we have had this year you better tie off to a tree if you weigh less than 150 pounds cause them suckers are huge and come in droves...they'll swoop in and carry you off before you know what hit ya!!!




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Isaw this earlier today in another article and it struck me these companies would be a good investment with the Zika virus looming. I got as far as determining Sawyer was a privately held company and dropped it.

Dave and Lana Hasper

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Mosquitos love me but my sensitive skin does not like most repellants. Off makes a dispenser you can hang on your belt that surrounds you with a cloud of repellant. Clipping this to the arm of my chair allowed me to join extended family for a dinner on the deck next to a river. It kept the mosquitoes away from me and the neighbor in the chair beside me. Since I don't move about much I'm not sure how it would work for hiking but for sitting around the campfire I like this one: http://www.amazon.com/SC-Johnson-615976-Clip-on-assorted/dp/B00DF970FQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464128083&sr=8-3&keywords=off+repellent+clip+on

 

Linda Sand

Blog: http://sandcastle.sandsys.org/

Former Rigs: Liesure Travel van, Winnebago View 24H, Winnebago Journey 34Y, Sportsmobile Sprinter conversion van

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We always use Deep Woods Off - from the Michigan Upper Peninsula to Alaska. Hopefully, you'll have a summer like we did on our last Alaskan trip. According to the news it was the driest warmest year. Honestly, we didn't use repellant one time. We returned our head netting when we returned.

 

Keep in mind that the mosquitoes love the thick forests and inland water, including waterfalls. If you camp more in the open you'll have a better chance of avoiding them. Good luck and have a fantastic trip!

Full-timed for 16 Years
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Motorhome
and 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

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We only encountered mosquitoes in one place in Alaska ...at the CG in Elmendorf AFB. in anchorage. Bought a screen room, repellant & the little propane mosquito lantern there. Was on the Kenai peninsula most of the time after that, but did make the big loop to Denali & Fairbanks. Other than in Anchorage we never saw another mosquito! Good insurance, huh!

Ron

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Several scientific studies point to the efficacy of geraniol ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20836800 ), which would also repel ticks.

Lyme disease reaching epidemic proportions.

Any experience with this natural product or any other?

And also about making your own spray with natural products and essential oils, especially for young children?

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10 yrs or so ago, there was a product available to the Military which had 100% Deet.

 

The strongest I was able to find at the time was 34%, called Ultrathon,. Splash and sweat resistant for up to 12 hrs. Made by 3M Short fat toothpaste tube.

Look on EBay, there are lots of them.

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10 yrs or so ago, there was a product available to the Military which had 100% Deet.

 

The strongest I was able to find at the time was 34%, called Ultrathon,. Splash and sweat resistant for up to 12 hrs. Made by 3M Short fat toothpaste tube.

Look on EBay, there are lots of them.

At the time meant 10 yrs ago, not now.

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I had some repellent labeled 100% DEET that was actually 95%. DEET is the only thing that I have found effective. But it smells bad and can melt, soften or degrade a lot of polymer products and synthetics. Carry it in a form that is convenient to you to apply and apply often when the bugs are bad. Wind or a nice breeze is you friend as it keeps you cool when hiking and is a great deterrent to full range of flying insects, especially mosquitoes.

Later,

J

 

2012 Landmark, San Antonio

2013 Silverado CC, 3500HD, Duramax, DRW, 4x4

Backup, side and hitch cameras, Tireminder TPMS

 

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Keep in mind that deet can be fatal to animals.

<p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well.

IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR.

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Wind or a nice breeze is you friend as it keeps you cool when hiking and is a great deterrent to full range of flying insects, especially mosquitoes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

True, given the choice of parking close to a river - body of moving water or back in the bushes, take close to the moving water. Moving water moves air and the bugs in it.

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We've lived a total of more than 7 years in the USA. Mexico to Alaska. One of our many observations is that repellent, and spray, sold in the USA isn't very effective. Why? No idea why. But we suspect it has something to do with your product regulation. In Australia flies are a part of life. A REAL part of life in many areas. Our spray and repellent is far stronger and works. Many sprays available in the USA work best on the flies and mossies if you club em to death with the blunt end of the can!!!

 

Maybe products sold in Canada work better.

 

regards

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Spent a month in Mexico on the beach this last winter. Had ALL of the top rated stuff in the report with us. Only one that was effective for Everything including NO-See-Ums was the Coleman SkinSmart. Only took two cans with us and we were going thu a can per week between the two of us. Nothing purchased locally was effective so had someone bring down two more cans for us and several cans for other Rvers in the Campground as they were being eaten alive by the No-See-Ums. We purchased at Walmart as well as 100% deet. We found the SkinSmart was the most comfortable to wear, not oily or smell. After we returned home, first visit to Walmart we purchase all they had on the shelf (5 cans). Have NO connection with the company, just like the stuff. Will be taking SkinSmart to Fld & Mexico with us next trip as last time in Fld we also were attacked by the no-see-ums.

 

rocmoc n AZ/Fld/Baja

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Muskol hasn't been sold with that concentration in years. Currently ranges from 23.5% aerosol, to 30% in pump liquid or solid.

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
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"Muskol hasn't been sold with that concentration in years"...mine must be close to ten years old, glad I bought several when I was there last....but deet is deet, any 95% stuff, like Ben's should work as well. Deet.

 

Regards

Gemstone

'06 Elite Suites, '08 Softail Classic, '06 Softail Deuce.

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10 yrs or so ago, there was a product available to the Military which had 100% Deet.

 

 

When I worked for the Forest Service in 1972 they gave us military issued 100% Deet. I did NOT use it....something about the warming not to use on plastic surfaces.

 

As for the Kenai Pennisula in early October I was standing with a bunch or Russian and Alaskan foresters swatting bugs. I turned to one of the Alaska foresters and asked "its October haven't you had a killing frost?" The reply was TWO.

 

Those that had a trip to Alaska without bugs have been truly blessed.

Vladimr Steblina

Retired Forester...exploring the public lands.

usbackroads.blogspot.com

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