Mosquito Repellents - any advise please.

[Gray1100]

Hello

We are planning a trip to southen Spain and after reading so much on the web about Mosquito Repellents I thought the sensible thing was to ask.
Out of all the products, potions and sprays - What really does work to stop yourself getting bitten?
Apart from the obvious i.e. keeping clean, none scented soaps, light colours clothes and covering up.

So if your use a product that works please could you share that information.
Currently the wife googling products like Nosilife from Craghoppers, mosiguard in the stick form and the life systems battery operated mosquito killer.
Obviously staying well away from Deet and taking 2 small children one with a skin condition.

Many thanks
Gray

[santaman2000]

No idea what's available there but nonscented or scented soaps don't really matter; and light colors actually attract skeeters (and most bugs)

If it's available there, I like "Off" insect repellant. It repels mosquitos, flies, and most gnats (midges) It has a downside but; the sweet smell attracting bears shouldn't be a problem in Spain.

[Bowlander]

I use ultrathon from 3m, no issues with my sons very sensitive skin. it does contain deet though.

[stuey]

Smidge is very good and not just for midges. Wilmas Nordic Summer seems to keep all flying nasties away including horseflies. Aside from that Deet based products will definitely work but melt plastics and contain deet obviously.
Have a great trip!

Sent from my BlackBerry 9900 using Tapatalk

[Gray1100]

Thanks for the advice. The problem is the place we are staying is near some wetlands and after calling the hotel to ask them if they have mosquito's the answer was:
"Oh! God Yes" which has kind of worried the wife. Also, with the children, she does not want to use Deet.

[bohXI]

I generally use Avon skin so soft and tar soap which seems to keep them at bay.

That said I don't usually suffer with them too much anyway :/

[Wayland]

I make my own fly dope from a roughly equal mixture of Citronella, Tea tree and Eucalyptus oils with Beck Oil.
Generally it works well but this last weekend I think the Mozzies were just treating it as seasoning.

I've never known them so bad.

[sandbender]

Another vote for 'Wilmas Nordic Summer', it certainly keeps all the biting insects I encounter at bay, however you and your family will smell of pine forest and campfires.

[Man of Tanith]

I make my own fly dope from a roughly equal mixture of Citronella, Tea tree and Eucalyptus oils with Beck Oil.
Generally it works well but this last weekend I think the Mozzies were just treating it as seasoning.

I've never known them so bad.

interesting i might give that mix a go myself

I reckon the wet then heat then wet has really boosted mozzies and other biting beasites a lot this year

usually use nordic summer

main advise i would give is put it on before you need it, me and i camp @ butlins got chewed on something horrific by the time we put some on the damage was done

[MattB]

I find that the only thing that works for me is 50DEET + citronella...

It seems to be an individual thing - some people are more prone and so need more protection, others are lucky!

I'm not one of the lucky ones.

[pauljm116]

I've been using jungle formula for the last few years (contains deet I'm afraid), but this year nothing seems to keep them away - I got bitten yesterday on my arm which was still wet with repellent as it had only been on for 30 seconds. Thought I would give 3M Ultrathon a try (http://ebay.co.uk/itm/Ultrathon-3M-A...item43b24c01c9 - 5 tubes for £12.99 bargain!), have also heard lots of glowing reports for Nordic Summer too so would try that if I was avoiding deet.

[dwardo]

Jungle formula or another Deet based nasty for clothing and Avon skin so soft for, well skin lol.
I tend to find mozzies only ge tme at night when i cant hear or see them coming. It would be well worth grabbing some mozzie bed nets and rigging them up for the kids.
Bed nets are only cheap and very light so shouldnt be a problem packing them. Might also be more of an "adventure" for the kids.

[Bucephalas]

Is there a known issue with Deet and children?
I know at certain concentrations it shouldn't be used under certain ages, but apart from that what issues are there?

[lou1661]

why not have a look here http://www.kendrickimports.com/bug-geroff.html

Im not sure but i seem to have in my mind that John Fenna did a review on this.

Cheers
Louis

I was right the review is here http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/con...sect-Repellent

[rik_uk3]

Gray, the mozies down there will eat you raw, DEET, tropical strength is proven to work, take lots with you and have a great trip instead of sitting there wishing you had packed it.

[Vulpes]

Repel 100.

[peaks]

How about one of these
http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent/

Its works brill in Scotland with midges

Not sure about the rules for taking gas cartridges abroad by air (if you are flying)

[santaman2000]

Is there a known issue with Deet and children?
I know at certain concentrations it shouldn't be used under certain ages, but apart from that what issues are there?

I hope not. It's what the county uses in the fogger trucks here to fog whole neighborhoods.

[Bucephalas]

I hope not. It's what the county uses in the fogger trucks here to fog whole neighborhoods.

Good oh!
Could do with "fogging" my neighbors too, but with a nerve gas!

[Silverback 1]

If you go for Avon skin so soft i think that there is a spray and cream version and one has a higher citronella content than the other and is more effective, but i can't remember which it is.

[Bowlander]

The locals seem to favour cheap fags - might be more harmful than 25% deet though!

[santaman2000]

Good oh!
Could do with "fogging" my neighbors too, but with a nerve gas!

LOL. Preferable to West Nile Virus or other mozzie born death. Also we have heatrworms over here (mozzie born deadly parasites) They don't effect humans (out Body temp is too low) but they devastate pets and livestock.

[Andy BB]

...and don't forget Dengue Fever, which appears to be spreading rapidly world-wide, and for which there is no preventative or retrospective treatment, other than to ameliorate the symptoms. And if you're really unlucky, it'll turn into Haemorrhagic Fever.

Personally, I never go without DEET. OTher stuff "might" work, but DEET does. After 30+ years of travelling to Africa, Asia, South America - and yes, even Florida! - I haven't succumbed to Malaria or its other mossie-born cousins yet.

[Tristar777]

Id definately go with deet unless you know for sure someone is allergic to it, so try before you fly! I have heard Listerine works too! Seems the mosseys like it less than us! Lol...

[santaman2000]

...and don't forget Dengue Fever, which appears to be spreading rapidly world-wide, and for which there is no preventative or retrospective treatment, other than to ameliorate the symptoms. And if you're really unlucky, it'll turn into Haemorrhagic Fever.

Personally, I never go without DEET. OTher stuff "might" work, but DEET does. After 30+ years of travelling to Africa, Asia, South America - and yes, even Florida! - I haven't succumbed to Malaria or its other mossie-born cousins yet.

Agreed. I think a check of the ingredients on many (if not most) of the better commercial repellants will list it near the top.

[Gray1100]

Many thanks guys - all very helpful info.