Skin so soft is useless. Years ago I tried a controlled test in the boreal forest of northern Alberta. After geting dropped off in the muskeg by helicopter, I used one arm with skin so soft and the other with deet. Needless to say I was putting on deet on the skin so soft arm within minutes after the downwash of the helicopter blades was gone. Since then I only use the bottle of skin so soft to remove sticky residue from labels on plastic.
You don't have to slather the stuff on either. As a field biologist for over twenty years, I have seen numerous newbies melt pencils, gps, etc. Put a little on the back of one hand. Rub the backs of the hands together, then use the backs of the hands to wipe the face, back of neck and ears. I am assuming the rest of you is covered (i.e. long sleeve shirts and pants.). This saves on the equipment cause it not in your hands.
Thre have been a few days where bug jackets are the only way to keep your sanity.
I don't know what kind of critters you guys run into, but in northern Canada they can be ferocious.
