mosquito repellant

[paul123]

anybody know a good readily available mosquito repellant

[Swingletree]

OFF is the best stuff I've ever used, there's two types, one for sandy climes and one for deep woods. Any that contain DEET are good though. The older Army type ones from the surplus shops are ok, they will melt the romers off a Silva Compass if you're not careful though! :eek:

If you are one of those people that always gets bitten/stung by every bug in within 20 miles then get an ammonia pen or two from the chemists for immediate treatment of itchy lumps and bumps. They make you smell like horse p*ss but it stops the stingy scratchy feeling ;)

Where ya going?

[pistonbrokescoo]

hi paul123
deet is the gear ,nasty on plastic & resin watch straps.
can get low deet content . 10 % .
citronella is a good substitute but no so effective.
natural ingredients .
avon skin so soft ,mossies hate it .
citrus things work to .
trouble with all this stuff is if you are sweating like a baboon the stuff comes off after a while so you need to keep with with you .
mosi gard is another. ok
autan is one too that i have tried . ok .
need to keep reapplying most of these.
hope this helps.
cheers p ,bitten up traveler:)

[Mutleysnuts]

The avon skin so soft is very very good used it many times and always found it works

Steve

[Marc Lurie]

Where are you going?

In southern Africa there is only a choice of two that work: Tabard and Peaceful Sleep. Both are excellent and cheap and available at every supermarket or pharmacy.

In my experience, citronella has limited efficacy. It helps, but it's not great.

Bearing in mind that in Africa malaria kills people, I don't consider citronella to be an effective repellant at all.

[PinkSeriesIII]

Deeeeeeeet higher percentage the better - though like said it eats some plastic though - carefully consideration of things like mobile phone screens, GPS sceen etc.

I think there is a forum member here that went camping with us few months back. Used my 90% Deet (from mexico) on his arms. Awhile latter we went into a ONE-STOP shop for supplies. Matey comes away with ONE STOP tattoe written backwards along the length of his arm where the deet has stripped the ink clean off the plastic shopping bag :D

[mrFrog]

You need ME... I'm one of the no mosquitos in a 20mile radius except on me, or on its way to me people.
I have yet to find something that really works, but sounds like there are some good ideas here.

[Deerworrier]

worked as a deer and hill ecologist in the highlands of scotland and served in central america, chemicals are good but the best thing i ever used is a mozzy jacket with splashes of skin so soft on the shoulder and arm area, you look something from a tom clancy novel & smell like a bar of soap:biggrin: but bite free is all that counts.

http://www.midgejacket.co.uk/

http://www.muckbootsonline.com/BuzzOff_Clothing_s/26.htm

links should see you clear.

[PinkSeriesIII]

The avon skin so soft is very very good used it many times and always found it works

Steve

I think Big Sandy was recommending so soft awhile back first time I heard of it being used, have not tried it myself yet.

[mmgemini]

anybody know a good readily available mosquito repellant
Where are you going ?
As Marc says in southern Africa only two work. The two he mentions.
Quinnene (SP) and vitaman B also help to keep them away. Covering up the skin helps prevent them getting on in the first place.

In Scotland nothing works except not washing or showering :D :D

[bvudzichena]

A couple of years ago I was setting up satellite internet at a lodge in Zambia and left my Tabard next to my bed. Needless to say it was gone by the time I got back to my room for the mandatory after lunch shutdown. I ended up buying some Deet (I think it was 90%) at a stupid price from the lodge's little shop that stocked "basics".

It worked well and repelled the mozzies but the top came off the bottle on my way home and I ended up having to throw the toiletries bag it was in away as most of the waterproof material had disintegrated.

As Marc says, Tabard and Peaceful Sleep are best for this part of the world - and most places where mosquitoes live.

[PinkSeriesIII]

Tabard and Peaceful Sleep

Both are DEET based, but any idea of the % they seem quite low (25%?). The surplus UK MOD stuff I got is quite low too. Commercial stuff I got from mexico is in the 90's but is pretty unusable as it so unfriendly.

[paul123]

thanks for the suggestions just been to cuba mosquitos were really bad nothing seemed to work just needed some ideas as what to take next time

[Swingletree]

thanks for the suggestions just been to cuba mosquitos were really bad nothing seemed to work just needed some ideas as what to take next time

Garlic tablets and those mossie coils that burn slowly.

[bvudzichena]

thanks for the suggestions just been to cuba mosquitos were really bad nothing seemed to work just needed some ideas as what to take next time

This (http://secure.freedomoutdoors.co.uk/repel-deet-insect-repellent-spray-551-p.asp) is the stuff I got. Repel 100 really repells.

[bvudzichena]

Garlic tablets and those mossie coils that burn slowly.

Mozzie coils have been known to cause some people to have asthma like respiratory problems.

[Swingletree]

:eek: Really? Thats not very good is it. I always found they were perfect for puting under the table in the bar. They would keep the sandflies away all night no probs.

Personally I find garlic only works because you've spent all day getting moaned at by your friends cos you stink that you can't be bothered to go out on an evening with them so you stay in where the critturs can't get thruough the mossie nets! :D

[mmgemini]

Margaret here cos my log in doesn't work :confused:

I.ve always been affected by mozzie bites - especially in scotland but surprisingly never in Africa - and always cover up well at the appropriate time and use what the locals use.

Have come across this article this morning

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/08/30/scimozzie130.xml

Margaret

[thebiglad]

Avon's "Skin so soft" works like a dream.

Just back from Morocco where there were mossies the size of small aircraft and the only time I was bitten was when I forgot to put it on.

Really works !!!!

Cheers
Dave

[james110]

Hi All,

Mosis really go for me so I have to be careful as I can sometimes get a nasty reaction.

I buy my repellent from SafariQuip - here is a link to their excellent summary of products, active ingredients etc - whether DEET or natural:
www.safariquip.co.uk/i_insect_repellent_information.html (http://www.safariquip.co.uk/i_insect_repellent_information.html)

I use Mosi-Guard which I have found to be very good indeed - no nasty DEET, so no damage to plastics...

James
Defender 130 camper
www.JamesUK.net (http://www.JamesUK.net)

[nitwit 66]

Tabard is good or make your own. Normal moisturiser with pure citronella, tea Tree and Eucalyptus does the trick and doesn't smell too bad

[Timus]

Skin so Soft is the only stuff I use - its been used by the marines for a long time. Keep the highland midges away as well.

[thebiglad]

"Skin so Soft" by Avon I think, gets my vote. I used it for the first time in Morocco and didn't get a single bite - excellent stuff and cheap too !!