Thermacell Mosquito repellents, do they actually work?

[gomotomoto]

During our last trip, we got annihilated by the mozzies one night. I'd like to beat them with this as long as it's not a gimmick. Do they work???

[Airtandem]

I have 3 different models, 2 lanterns and a belt. One lantern works in my 10x10 screen house. Yes they work they are pricey and one refill lasts about 6 hours. Sorry, got typing before i noticed on caps.
Mike

[Protagonist]

The Gulf Coast is the home of skeeters that are as large and aggressive as a WWII Stuka dive bomber. I've used a Thermacell against them with good success, the belt model. My Interstate doesn't have screen doors, so I can clip a Thermacell to the edge of my windshield cover (that wraps around the front doors) so that it's positioned next to the sliding door to keep skeeters out of the van when the door is open. I've also tried clipping one to the back of my folding chair at a potluck to keep skeeters away while I'm eating.

Thermacells aren't nearly as effective against houseflies, horseflies, deerflies, or no-see-ums. For that, there's no substitute for DEET on one's skin and Permethrin on one's clothes.

[StreamRollin]

Thermacell ??? what is a thermacell

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by StreamRollin

Thermacell ??? what is a thermacell

Mosquito Repellent Appliance – Olive | Thermacell

[bolerama]

The thermacell does work very well. What works on these types of products, is the chemical they are using, "Allethrin". Any product using this ingredient will work the same. The new type of mosquito coils also have this ingredient. The front of package has the chemical ingredients listed on all of these products.

We have the Thermacell and the Off Lantern and they both work amazingly well. One camping trip, the mosquito's were so bad we had a hard time opening the locked door of the trailer. I put an Off lantern outside and in a few minutes I could go outside with no mosquitoes in site . We swear by them (Lanterns). The Thermacell is convenient but pricey to operate because you must use the gas cylinders as well as the Allethrin pads. Which can add up.

Link to Amazon for the Off lantern
http://www.amazon.com/OFF-635524-Pow...dp/B000BQK4YA?


Paul

[Thalweg]

I'd never heard of these before, so I did a little research and found this study regarding area wide skeeter repellents. It's a little long winded, but interesting. I hope the link works.

http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.2987/13-6379.1

[HilaryStep]

Compliment your Thermacell with Sawyer Picaridin insect repellant and you'll be good to go. Sawyer gets Consumer Reports best score but good on flies, knots, chiggers, and ticks as well as mosquitoes. Best of all, it has no DEET, no smell, and won't harm gear and equipment.

[B00merang]

Thermacells do work well on mosquitos. But confine their use to the outdoors (i.e., don't light them inside the AS). And there are strip and cylinder refill packages available which keep the costs down. On the other hand, I bet all of us would pay whatever it took to keep southeastern US...especially saltmarsh...skeeters at bay. jon

[spclkaz]

Thermocells are invaluable on the tree stand during hunting season... but as a previous poster wrote ... do not use them inside...

[cegardner]

We use the off lanterns and the thermacell with great success. Worked in the woods of Wisconsin

[happycamper2]

Yes, they work. We have two belt models and one lantern. (The belt models seem to work best). We had all 3 running last years in the Keys at Bahia Honda State Park. The no-see-ums were brutal and we could actually sit outside as long as we kept the Thermacels on. We were skeptical too. We are very happy with ours. Our experience is that they work on mosquitoes and no-see-ups.