Does anyone take a thermacell with them? I see they now make one that uses a fuel bottle to operate. I've never used any so I was wondering if they work, and if it's worth it to take one to BW.

I'm leaving for Quetico later today and ironically it was the one thing I left out of the pack. I'm sure you'll get varying opinions here, but I didn't find it made that much of a difference. I think Permethrin soaking/spraying your clothes is of higher value.

They are effective in my experience if there isn't much breeze. The effectiveness of the Thermacell deteriorates rapidly if there is much air movement. I carry and use one and recommend them with the above caveat.

Love mine. Even on portages, with head under canoe, and insects gathering.

Bring it and put it next to the thunderbox in the morning about 15 minutes before your daily routine. You'll be glad you did.

billconner: "Love mine. Even on portages, with head under canoe, and insects gathering."

My experience is two thumbs up for mosquitoes, mixed results with flies and not helpful with gnats. If it's one of those dead-still, beastly hot days and the musky-toes are outnumbering you a bazillion to one while you try to boil water or clean fish or take in a breath, I've found them pretty helpful when used in combination with other things - deet, light-colored clothing, smoke baths. I haven't found them helpful for gnats. I like head gear the best for gnats.

For me five years ago it was useless crap. We were in the Northwest Territories where the skeeters just sat on the thing while resting after they ate us.
It wasn't windy either. Thermacell will not work in the wind but its pretty cheap. So if it works for you its a good investment and if it works out to be crud, not a big loss.

That said BWCA does not have gigantic skeeters. It could work

shawhh: "They are effective in my experience if there isn't much breeze. The effectiveness of the Thermacell deteriorates rapidly if there is much air movement. I carry and use one and recommend them with the above caveat."

I agree with this. We bring two and it seems to work pretty well.

Just got back from ep23 loop around crooked. We sprayed our clothes with permethrin and used 2 thermacells. We did not need to use deet and thermacells will always be on our list of items to bring.

It looks like there are more positive than negative results...as long as there isn't much wind. Guess I'll have to try one. If this keeps up I'll need another Sherpa for all these necessities! ( chair, thicker pad, Etta)

I don't leave home without it. They work for creating a small radius around the fire, latrine, or under the tarp during rain. It doesn't eliminate the need to bring bug spray along, but makes for a much more enjoyable trip.

Found mine to be totally worthless if there is the slightest of wind blowing. You may have better results.

definitely works great in a tent vestibule....turn it on half hour before getting into the tent and you'll find substantially fewer mosquitoes inviting themselves inside with you. Once inside, shut it down.

The effects generally last long enough that you won't have mosquitoes in the vestibule if and when you need to exit in the tent in the middle of the nite for a pee break.

That alone makes me bring one along on each trip. I haven't found them to be terribly useful outside unless there is zero wind (which never happens).

adam: "
I don't leave home without it. They work for creating a small radius around the fire, latrine, or under the tarp during rain. It doesn't eliminate the need to bring bug spray along, but makes for a much more enjoyable trip."

Concur.

My group has been using them for the last 5 years or so and to a man we believe that they've been a gamechanger. Very effective against skeeters. We strategically set up three or four around the fire under the tarp based on the wind direction and they make a big difference compared to when we initially get back to camp.

bassman: "

adam: "
I don't leave home without it. They work for creating a small radius around the fire, latrine, or under the tarp during rain. It doesn't eliminate the need to bring bug spray along, but makes for a much more enjoyable trip."

Concur.


My group has been using them for the last 5 years or so and to a man we believe that they've been a gamechanger. Very effective against skeeters. We strategically set up three or four around the fire under the tarp based on the wind direction and they make a big difference compared to when we initially get back to camp."

Yep. This is us. We affectionately call it "The Thermacell Zone" and it is amazing how effective they are. We've switched over to the backpacker version, easier to pack in than the original ones.

True they don't work in the wind but then the breeze is blowing the bugs away too, at least we hope so!

Been there tried them. IMO, Waste of pack space and weight. Permethrin, bug dope, whatever but not thermacell. If you want to carry weight worth the pack space and weight bring a Nemo Bugout shelter. They are awesome to cook, eat and play cards in peace no mater how bad the flies and skeets are. .02

SevenofNine: "Found mine to be totally worthless if there is the slightest of wind blowing. You may have better results."

in the event of a slight breeze, I've found putting the thermacell upwind of you about 10 ft helps a lot. Anymore wind than a slight breeze and bugs usually aren't an issue.

adam: "
They work for creating a small radius around the fire, latrine, or under the tarp during rain. It doesn't eliminate the need to bring bug spray along, but makes for a much more enjoyable trip."

Well stated.
We just got back from our trip where we used it at every camp.
We noticed a huge difference if we lit it and set it by the thunder box 10-15 minutes before using it. I had never been around one before and you could tell it created a little bug free bubble around you. I would use one again.

Highly recommend for skeeters. No luck with flies.

Just bought 2, will be trying them in the garden the next few days.

Positive results for me

Twins87: "

bassman: "

adam: "
I don't leave home without it. They work for creating a small radius around the fire, latrine, or under the tarp during rain. It doesn't eliminate the need to bring bug spray along, but makes for a much more enjoyable trip."

Concur.



My group has been using them for the last 5 years or so and to a man we believe that they've been a gamechanger. Very effective against skeeters. We strategically set up three or four around the fire under the tarp based on the wind direction and they make a big difference compared to when we initially get back to camp."

Yep. This is us. We affectionately call it "The Thermacell Zone" and it is amazing how effective they are. We've switched over to the backpacker version, easier to pack in than the original ones.


True they don't work in the wind but then the breeze is blowing the bugs away too, at least we hope so! "

I trip with Twins87 and company. Experiencing their Thermacells in use made a believer out of me. I purchased my own Backpacker version for this year's trip to Long Island Lake. We had two at the fire ring running fulltime and one running fulltime at the latrine. 7 days on one small fuel canister each!

There was definitely a point in the early evenings where the sheer numbers of mosquitoes seemed to overwhelm the " Thermacell Zone". When that time hit each night we moved into the bug tent.