I'm a big fan of using a Permethrin clothing soak on ALL my tripping clothes. I use a kit that is made for military/aid workers in foreign countries. I also cut the recommended dosage in half and it still works good.

There right about using something on your exposed skin becasue the insects are going to find a way to bite you if they can.

I have DEET it's 100% a surplus military bottle that I bring as a FAIL SAFE but so far I've never needed it.

ALL my outdoor clothes are synthetic. DEET and synthetics don't get along at all. Permethrin doesn't effect synthetic or at least I've never noticed it.

In my observations Permethrin was more than decent on mosquitos and since it kills on contact, the skeeter needs to land not just hover around you.

Where it really shines is with the ticks. A tick gets on your sock/pant/shirt and next thing you see is it falling dead on the ground. I'd take an occasional skeet bite anyday over those damn ticks.

I recommended to anyone trying that clothing soak even if you just do one set of clothes and do a little field test of your own before committing to it.

I also think a person's individual body chemistry (scent) has a lot to do with it. Some people just seem to attract bugs more than others.

A treated outfit will last thru multiple washings, basically a whole outdoor season. The convenience of that and the cost savings with a one time application is something to consider too.

Zski brought up a good point.
Permethrin is for treating FABRIC not to be used DIRECTLY on the skin.

Picaridin is like DEET meant to be put on skin but is MUCH safer.

I had some SAWYER bug spray I carry in little travel size plastic pump bottle when I need bug dope on exposed skin. It works well and after reading about Picaridin, I read the label and sure enough I had been using it and didn't realize it. I just knew it was DEET free.

solotripper wrote on Jul 11^th, 2016 at 5:17pm:


ST; you mentioned DEET not playing nice with synthetics. how about Picaridin? I know if I want to really stick to the handle on my fishing reel I just leave a little DEET on those fingers. 

All over the packaging it says "will not harm gear"
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i think they're right.  no damaged gear here.

I'm a big fan of Permethrin but as you know that is ONLY for gear, not your skin.

Sawyer Picaridin seems to be a good product for that but it's ALWAYS nice to have some more options.

I ran across this AMERICAN MADE product and plan on giving it a try. If nothing else I'll be able to stand smelling MYSELF after a few days in the Q. 

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MossBack wrote on Apr 4^th, 2017 at 7:47pm:

It deters mosquitoes, but doesn't kill them.  On the first trip using permethrin treated clothing, I remember one evening as I was sitting and watching the sunset on Murdock Lake (Quetico) and noticing I was surrounded by mosquitoes.  Funny thing is I felt that I was sitting inside a protective bubble and the mosquitoes where out there just beyond arm's reach. 

But it is not a complete shield.  I'll still add a bit of deet around face, neck and hands on portage where the skeets are so thick you have to strain them with your teeth to have an unobstructed breath.

dd

Quote:


  I wonder that myself? I'm thinking since it's all natural that critters wouldn't be as attracted to it like say BACON or FISH frying, but maybe not.

I'm going to get some to check it out and will report what I find in a gear report sometime in the future.

I think a CLEAN camp is the best Bear preventer but like anything else clean is in the eye/nose of the beholder.

MossBack wrote on Apr 5^th, 2017 at 4:19am:


Quetico Dave likes to tell the story of the two guys he rented a brand new 4 person Eureka tent and were just base camping on the East end of Q-Lake.

They were "concerned" about bears so Dave gave them the usual safety speech.

First night in they're playing cribbage sometime after dark and think they hear noise/growl outside of tent?

Next thing they know a bear clawed the tent and stuck it's head in! The screamed and the bear took off. Stayed up rest of the night around big fire and came out the next day.

When the got to QD's they were still pretty freaked out and was telling him how they couldn't understand why the bear did that because they had done everything he told them too?

Just about then Dave notices a piece of GULP worm sticking out of one guy's shirt pocket. Turns out he had stuck the open packet in shirt and forgot about it. 

That was the last time he heard from them.

Just make sure your NOT wearing those fishy smelling pants IF old Yogi drops in for a late night snack. 

I used that all natural bug repellent BUG SOOTHER on a recent fishing trip and was dutifully impressed.

NOT the bug conditions you'd experience in the Q, but I think it would be worth the expense to find out?

I found this DIY pet and human tick repellent recipe online.
It sounds a lot like the Bug Smoother concept.

I hate ticks worst of all and with the Lyme disease and this NEW Powassan tick VIRUS they found in Maine, keeping tick free is more important than ever.

Repellant for Pets
Add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of apple cider vinegar. (Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will be easily be repelled by this ingredient alone.)

Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent).

Mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, geranium oil or peppermint oil, which will all repel ticks and fleas while also creating a scented repellent.

Place the top onto the bottle and shake well.

Spray onto the pet's dry coat, staying away from sensitive areas including eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals. When outdoors for an extended period, spray this solution on two to three times per day, otherwise once per day is fine.


Repellent for You and Your Family
In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water.

Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that repels ticks. (This way you won't smell like bitter vinegar all day!)

*Place the top onto the bottle and shake well.

After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay, and examine the skin and hair when returning home to make sure no ticks are on the body.

Too strong and you may have a different kind of ‘tic’ problem.

I also treat all of my clothing, except underwear, with permethrin each year prior to my trip. I mix it in a spray bottle and spray everything outside and hang dry. I have also soaked my clothes overnight in the solution, but have found that unnecessary. I do it outside so as to not risk my wife’s cats. Any extra is applied to the foundation of our house.

I would think it wouldn't be good pouring a wet solution down the drain into a sewer system, yes/no? Does the packaging say anything about deposal?

I'm thinking of how they tell us not to dispose of extra meds down the toilet. I think they burn them.

  Something to consider if you're on the fence about treating your clothes with Permethrin?

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By the way, I spray my clothes with the Permethrin mix and let them air dry.  Still works great.
......Mike

I take the view that I rather worry a little too much than not enough when it comes to health and safety.

ALL the major outdoor clothing MFGS offer clothes treated with some form of Permethrin.

Insect Shielded is a proprietary mix but they are all based on Permethrin. The clothes you buy are said to be good thru 70 washing's and are at the .5% solution which is what you want for clothing.

As long as you don't go above that percentage I have to think you'll be okay. All those companies wouldn't risk major lawsuits if they didn't think it was safe at that percentage.

I know a few people that had Lyme disease and it is not something to take lightly. Even if you only use Permethrin self-treated garments a few weeks of the year on canoe trips, I have to believe any potential risks from that limited exposure is far less than getting Lyme disease?

They BITE you long time.