how about black flies? Bugs away or not

I love ours, we use em on the deck, turkey hunting etc, sometimes have to play the wind so to speak. Id like to use em early season archery but worried about the odor.

Thermocells are great for mosquitos. I like the Basecamp model as it is more packable.

As for black flies, I can't say.

Radius covered when calm?

Pinetree: "Radius covered when calm?"

They claim 15 feet. But how often is it calm?

We used one last year on our trip and on our deck a few times as well. If it made any difference, I couldn't really tell. You're also essentially sitting in a cloud of pesticide. Some people swear by them. I'm not convinced.

I believe they work. I fire it up when boiling coffee water and set it back by latrine. After breakfast.....well, its bug free back there. Works better back there with no breeze as opposed to by fire grate out by lake breezes.

I think black flies are sun lovers and mosquitoes have the twilight a and early morning covered

My thermocell - an early or earliest model - can hang on my belt, and is great when portaging.

billconner: "My thermocell - an early or earliest model - can hang on my belt, and is great when portaging. "

Your experience is the opposite of mine. When moving, I’m found them to be pointless. Sitting still with no wind, they are definitely helpful.

They don't always work, but when they do they can be a lifesaver. As others have mentioned they're great to put by the latrine in the mornings and around the campfire if there's isn't too much of a breeze. If there is a breeze hopefully it cuts down on the skeeters anyways so you may not need it as much. Also nice to keep under the hammock.

Keep in mind the "zone" measurement they list is a diameter measurement and not a radius so it really only extends about 7.5' from the device when they advertise a 15' zone. My experience is that the wind impacts the shape, position, and size of that zone as well.

I had one of the rechargeable ones and gave up on it pretty quick. They don't really last long enough for extended outings. I use one of the backpacker models now so I can use up my partial isobutane cylinders and that works pretty great and saves a bit of weight if I'm also bringing a cannister stove.

Haven't noticed if they work well on black flies or not, but I kind of doubt it. Seems like nothing really keeps the black flies off when they're bad except for covering up with more clothing/netting.

Our crew uses them around the fire pit and they have worked well for us. We have three that we bring along every trip. Mainly for mosquitoes, not much help with black flies.

naturboy12: "

billconner: "My thermocell - an early or earliest model - can hang on my belt, and is great when portaging. "

Your experience is the opposite of mine. When moving, I’m found them to be pointless. Sitting still with no wind, they are definitely helpful. "

Maybe I portage slower. :)

A counterpoint to using Thermocell whether it's effective on bugs or not: Thermocell is marketed as a "repellent" but it's literally an insecticide fogger; a poison cloud. It doesn’t repel, it kills and you’re sitting in it. The heat source vaporizes and distributes poison into a cloud creating the zone of "protection." It only works if you're in the cloud breathing the poison along with the bugs being killed. Sources (research studies, state health department exposure fact sheets, etc.) describe the active chemical and its effects as follows: “Chronic exposure to allethrins alters the plasma biochemical profile of humans and may have adverse health effects." "Bioallethrin has been shown to cause oxidative damage, cellular toxicity and necrosis of human lymphocytes studied in vitro." "Allethrins are highly toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates.” “Allethrin exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with coughing, phlegm, and/or shortness of breath." "d-trans-Allethrin may damage the liver and kidneys.” There’s plenty out info out there saying it's safe too. Make your own choice but it's a clear no for me in the wilderness or my own yard. End of rant.

Dreaded double post.