Tick and mosquito repellants in 2024

[Chris]

I’ve not had to use any repellant in a long time but I got eaten alive by mosquitos on Sunday and my dog was crawling with ticks after a trip into the woods. Planning on doing a few overnights and really don’t fancy losing 40% of my blood to the little beggars.

Is DEET still the most effective? Not fancying apple cider or any of that, as I tried it once and just got dive bombed by flies instead.

 

[mikehill]

Recommended lots of times to me is Avon Skin So Soft. No really ! Google it

 

[lou1661]

I have a Seresto collar for the dog, not seen a flea or tick on her since, Didn't work for me though.....

Louis

 

[Broch]

Smidge works just fine on everything I've tried it for including midges

 

[stonepark]

Thermacell or chinese equivalent.

 

[C_Claycomb]

one cannot find the 11% permethrin concentrate to mix your own 0.5% clothing treatment any more, but the pre-mix is still available if you are willing to pay.

Anti Mosquito Spray | Permethrin | Lifesystems

This Anti Mosquito Spray can be used on clothes, tents and sleeping bags to protect you from mosquitoes and tropical diseases.

www.lifesystems.co.uk

I remember reading of tests done by the US Forestry Service where plenty of ticks were found slogging around on boots that were actually wet with DEET, but the folk with permethrin treated clothes picked up none, or nearly none. That said, there is published evidence of DEET working as a tick repellent, it is just that permethrin is more effective on clothes and more pleasant, no melting of plastics.

As for on-skin repellent, I don’t like DEET and have been using something with 20% picradine for a number of years. I find it works, and again there is research showing comparable results to DEET, although it does seem to depend a bit on which product is used.

For camping in tick crawling woods, a tent with sewn in sleeping area, or a hammock, is the way to go. Nets keep the mossies off too.

 

[Tony]

I get eaten alive, does my nut in!
Last year i did loads of research on it and ended up buying Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent, i got the 4oz bottle and it worked very well indeed, I'm impressed enough to buy ore this year and I've jsut seen that it's cheaper than last year which is great!
There's lots of different things that work for different people but they don't generally work for me, hence something with a bit more potency...

 

[Tantalus]

I get bitten by pretty much everything and react with great inflamed lumps at the bite site.

Have found DEET to be utterly useless against Scottish Midgies.

This is my weapon of choice... Sorry for advertising Boots.

Boots Repel Holiday & Home Pump Spray 100ml - Boots

Buy Boots Repel Holiday & Home Pump Spray 100ml and Collect Advantage Card Points when you spend £1.

www.boots.com

 

[Tony]

I wonder how much our own chemical skin/aura mixes with the repellants and affects their effectiveness on individuals

 

[Tantalus]

I wonder how much our own chemical skin/aura mixes with the repellants and affects their effectiveness on individuals

Certainly any kind of perfume has been shown to attact, including all these "smells like a summers day" laundry detergents conditioners and scent boosters. Definitely worth avoiding all that stuff.

To me the best "Summers day" smells are mud and campfires anyway

 

[GreyCat]

Recommended lots of times to me is Avon Skin So Soft. No really ! Google it

Just make sure you get the "old" formulation. Mostly keeps midges off, although in a bad season you really need long sleeves/trousers and a headnet.

one cannot find the 11% permethrin concentrate to mix your own 0.5% clothing treatment any more, but the pre-mix is still available if you are willing to pay.

Anti Mosquito Spray | Permethrin | Lifesystems

This Anti Mosquito Spray can be used on clothes, tents and sleeping bags to protect you from mosquitoes and tropical diseases.

www.lifesystems.co.uk

I remember reading of tests done by the US Forestry Service where plenty of ticks were found slogging around on boots that were actually wet with DEET, but the folk with permethrin treated clothes picked up none, or nearly none. That said, there is published evidence of DEET working as a tick repellent, it is just that permethrin is more effective on clothes and more pleasant, no melting of plastics.

As for on-skin repellent, I don’t like DEET and have been using something with 20% picradine for a number of years. I find it works, and again there is research showing comparable results to DEET, although it does seem to depend a bit on which product is used.

For camping in tick crawling woods, a tent with sewn in sleeping area, or a hammock, is the way to go. Nets keep the mossies off too.

Just be aware, Permethrin is extremely toxic to cats, and some products can cause problems for aquatic life in quite low concentrations.

Pine tar/birch tar salve (and use of birch tar/pine tar soap routinely) seems to be somewhat deterrent of flying bitey bugs, and for me, certainly reduces the itch reaction if bitten.

GC

 

[C_Claycomb]

Just be aware, Permethrin is extremely toxic to cats, and some products can cause problems for aquatic life in quite low concentrations.

GC

Yes, have read that too. My neighbour's cat is a regular fixture around my place and I have to be careful when and where I spray my gear so that I don't leave any overspray on areas he walks through while wet. I tend to throw down shirts and trousers and use them as backing for spraying socks, then work things around so that overspray goes on an under-sprayed area of another garment.

Regarding the effect to aquatic life, I used to use permanganate to treat my rain barrel when it gets too many mosquito larvae in it, but that is hard to find these days. A few years back I put the last little un-sprayable dregs from a 100ml bottle of 0.5% permethrin into the full water butt. It killed every mossie in there and they didn't come back for quite a while. It was quite an eye opener.

 

[October]

An old post. But has the answer.

Avon's spray finds calling as midge repellent for Royal Marines

The old Avon lady dropped around to give the other arf her usual collection of potions. Then I remembered an article I had read in the Scotsman some time back regarding one of their products. A quick search brought up the newspaper article that I copied here that is of interest: Avon's spray...

bushcraftuk.com

 

[Chris]

I bought some Smidge and some Life Systems something-or-other.

So far only tried the Smidge but it seemed to work well, even though it was humid and I was sweating like a BCUK member at a torch auction.

 

[TinkerDave]

I wonder if anyone here has tried "the SMOKIN’ MIDGE " I only found one review online, never tried it myself.