BootsnAll Travel Community

I was shopping around for bug repellent containing 50+% deet, but looks like here in usa you can only get 30% the most. anybody knows if it is possible to get 50+% in usa?(maybe military supply stores???)

REI has 100% DEET that will burn the face off your watch. Just search their site for "Jungle Juice" or "repellent".

PC

Check out my RTW blog:
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/claudia

I am not convinced that you want 100% anyway.

Mosquito repellant doesn't actually 'repel'. How it works is that 'hides' you from the skeeters. Next time you are over in Manhattan, go visit Tent & Trails and speak to the owner Jamie. She knows quite a bit about mosquito repellant.

I think they're all a load of crap myself because I could slather on 100% deet, smoke a cigarette, and have citronella coils coming out my ears and the little bastards STILL bite me.

PC

Check out my RTW blog:
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/claudia

I have 100% DEET which I am supposed to dilute with water and apply to arm bands.

The bag that contains the arm bands is slowly melting away and the bag that I keep the bottle in is starting to melt too. So it's pretty potent stuff.

But does it keep the bloody mozzies away?

Does it f%$k?!

I have such a problem with mosquitoes that like the above poster I don't even dilute the stuff now and I still get bitten like crazy.

You know what has helped a tiny but though?

My new lemon scented shower gel. Seriously!

Walmart also has 100% deet in the camping section.

Marisa

http://www.geocities.com/mumsawas

There is an alternative to deet.

I am a mosquito magnet. I remember one trip into the Yucatan I counted a hundred bites on just my two arms. Since then, I've used deet-based products for years with lots of success. But deet is toxic (a toxin?).

Believe it or not....catnip oil is a natural way to repel mosquitos. A study was done at some university in the US and found that catnip oil was something like ten times more effective than deet.

I have not interest in this company, but one place you can get it on-line is at mosquitosolutions.com. The good news is it's very effective and smells really good. The bad news is it's quite expensive.

But then do you get molested by cats everywhere? I've seen what a state of euhporia/orgasm a whiff of catnip can do.

PC

Check out my RTW blog:
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/claudia

Like I said, it smells really good.

The stuff does work, though. And you get a really big bottle (for a big price). A little squirt behind the ears, ankles etc., and you'll be a fave among the kitty crowd.

quote:

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Originally posted by PhotoChick:
I think they're all a load of crap myself because I could slather on 100% deet, smoke a cigarette, and have citronella coils coming out my ears and the little bastards STILL bite me.

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Perhaps you are too sweet

There's really good repellent fabricated in Cote d'Ivoire by Vaseline and used by most of the expats here in Mali, and many locals too. It actually only contains 7.5% DEET together with 1% dimethyl phtalate. Its called Vaseline Lait anti-moustiques ... and it REALLY works! It's kind to the skin too. We slather it on every time we go out in the eveing. I have been in town where there are hoards of mossies and not got bitten. I tried jungle juice in 2000 but found although effective it really made my skin sensitive and itchy.

If (when) you DO get bitten, try and find the little red tubs of 'temple of heaven' menthol based ointment. They come in a little green paper envelope. The one you want is the brownish red ointment. Here in Mali you can buy it in almost any tiny street corner store for just a few pence, and I've seen it in the UK and in Switzerland although in much bigger (and expensive) pots. A little goes a VERY long way, and don't touch eyes or anything else sensitive (!)after applying it! It really takes the itch out of bites and seems to help them heal. We use it for all sorts of things, including headaches (rubbed on temples), and dry skin cracks on feet.

Hahaha, you're funny Edd. If you knew me, you wouldn't say that.

PC

Who knew you could flirt during a mosquito discussion... I love the internet.

Anyhow, I've read (no I don't remember where so salt-to-taste) that having a lot of B-complex vitamins in your bloodstream is distasteful to skeeters and I've seen this born out in anecdotal evidence as my wife, who now takes a B supplement, no longer gets eaten alive.

I've never had a problem with skeeters, but then, I drink a lot of unfiltered beer. Vegemite/Marmite would also probably do the trick.

I think I'd rather be eaten by mosquitos than eat Vegemite or Marmite.

PC

target in brooklyn has off deep woods, ems in manhattan on broadway below houston has a wide array of the chemically-inclined bottles. i like sawyer and off deep woods. i think both are close to 100%. rei.com sells its own brand of 100% deet. as long as you're not sucking down the bottle like a budweiser (grimace 'n all), you should be fine.

I avoid 100% deet now after plastic flip-flops (thongs or whatever you want to call them) & watchstrap melted....50% still works for me...

Even better than DEET is just to travel with someone that the little b**tards like to bite more than yourself !!

Yup, I'm that person. I'm the attractant that keeps the mosquitos away from everyone else in a 10 mile radius.

PC

Has anyone confirmed that taking B vitamins, keeps 'em away? I've heard it does and that it doesn't......

Bugs not being attracted to me (must have been something I said... ) I wouldn't be able to categorically (my big word for the day!) say one way or the other.

That said I know of a few people who have tried it. Most of them say that it made no difference.