BootsnAll's Travel Community

How do you handle mosquito repellent while traveling for a long period of time? How long does any given quantity of it actually last you? I have this feeling like i'm going to run out after a few weeks and be stuck the rest of my trip without any.

I'm going to be gone for up to 6 months. Are there plenty of places to get more along the way? I figure i'll make it through Africa on one bottle and be able to replenish once in SE Asia.

Also, aren't the bottles some what bulky? Do you tend to go with several smaller bottles?

Just curious...

how long they last...depends where you go and how much you need it. If you're in the mozzie infested jungle every day, then it'll run out quickly. If your travels consist of jungle + other non-mozzie areas, then it'll last longer. If you're travels cosist of tse-tse fly areas..then the bug spray doesn't do a damn thing for those bugs!!! *OUCH*

I couldn't find any bug spray in the parts of Tanzania I was in..I didn't look *that* hard, but thought I'd be able to find it in a general grocery/general store and couldn't find any. Sunblock in Africa??? Good luck...be sure you pack some of that with you, too! But chances are, you'd probably be able to find bug spray in SE Asia is my guess.

I know bug repellent can be purchased at just about any pharmacy in Singapore and Malaysia... and don't call them "drug stores" or you'll likely be sent to the nearest meth lab or jail, depending on who you ask

If you can't get DEET/repellent, sometimes you can get burning coils. They work very well, if you're willing to breathe in probably toxic fumes.

Aside from that, a good mosquito net and an overhead fan will be your best friends. Bugs come out at dawn.

A little bottle of deet (100%) goes a long way. They say its bad for you at that strength, but I still have that little bottle now for years. I haven't had to use it much. If you take 5 little bottles of Deet, it should serve you well for a few months with daily use.

quote:

Bugs come out at dawn.

Sounds good, thanks guys.

I think i'll get a few small bottles.

It may be worth checking into the NEW bug sprays that don't use DEET.

Cutter Advanced uses some new chemical that seems to be less toxic than DEET. (for example: it doesn't melt plastic.)

There are also many all natural options that work very well ... for about one hour. Then just re-apply!

i would recommend finding spray that does not contain DEET, very unhealthy for your body...

lmao. at "for example: it doesn't melt plastic)

i still have my same bottle of deet that i carried for 3 months throughout mexico, never needed a drop, but was a little scared about the "don't get on nylon/polyester clothing or it cold melt" warning, only ran into skeeters once (at a mexican circus of all things!).

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Originally posted by Eppyboy:
i would recommend finding spray that does not contain DEET, very unhealthy for your body...

What worse than getting dengue or malaria or any of the other charming insect born diseases. DEET has been used for decades and there is no evidence that it is harmful to humans, in fact it doesnt even kill the mossies - just confuses them so they go away. DEET is good for you - bad for the camera and any other plastic!

One thing I have come across but not used is a stick repellant that is out on the market. It is supposed to last longer and you don't need as much. Maybe someone else has run across it. I don't remember but I think it was is my Brigade Quatermasters catalog. Which is now compost.

quote:

Originally posted by midlifetravel:
...in fact it doesnt even kill the mossies - just confuses them so they go away.

Yes, that's why the bottle says that it's a toxic "repellent" and not an insecticide. And no, it doesn't "confuse" them, it just smells terrible to them because it's toxic.

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DEET is good for you...

It may be better than Malaria, but "good" for me? Really? You think so?

I'm a DEET user.

In the past I tried a whole host of other products that were supposedly less-toxic/more environmentally friendly, yet none of them ever provided me the level of protection DEET does.

If I'm camping in the deep woods or in a malaria prone area, I use DEET. I think it's a balance since I'm rarely staying in those areas long, my exposure is limited to short periods over my lifetime, and the very tiny, tiny spray bottle of "Deep Woods Off" (which is something like 98% DEET) lasts avery long time. I use a miniscule amount, and most of it is sprayed on my clothing, not my skin, since I stay covered with long sleeves and full length pants in mosquito areas.

I carry the bottle of "Off" in a tiny ziploc bag and it's been on many a flight and never leaked or corroded any items.