Okay folks...anyone who has carried a canoe overhead on a portage knows how terrible the flies and skeeters can be. There are many products on the market that claim to keep bugs away (normal circumstances maybe). I do not consider portages with canoes over head to be normal.

Question...Is anyone aware of an effective product that truly does keep them down and out in thick situations as above.

Smearing this on has always worked for me when they're really thick and other techniques (long sleeves, moving faster than they can keep up with, or just tolerating them) aren't enough: 3M Ultrathon

I usually just pull my head net out of my pocket and wear it on the portage and put some more bug repellant on my hands. I suppose that you could try taping a Thermacell to the bow thwart, but I'd hate to be breathing that stuff.

Ausable: "I usually just pull my head net out of my pocket and wear it on the portage and put some more bug repellant on my hands. I suppose that you could try taping a Thermacell to the bow thwart, but I'd hate to be breathing that stuff."

For other applications I have always wondered how effective those would be.

Head net and lightweight gloves.

brulu: "Smearing this on has always worked for me when they're really thick and other techniques (long sleeves, moving faster than they can keep up with, or just tolerating them) aren't enough: 3M Ultrathon "

+1

Richwon4: "

Ausable: "I usually just pull my head net out of my pocket and wear it on the portage and put some more bug repellant on my hands. I suppose that you could try taping a Thermacell to the bow thwart, but I'd hate to be breathing that stuff."

For other applications I have always wondered how effective those would be. "

I'm a firm believer in the Thermacell , they really work.

You can cover your face as indicated above. On a really hot day several years ago, I watched skeeters drown in my sweat on my arms.

I use a buff, gloves, hat, long pants and long sleeves. My finger tips and a slit for my eyes are all that are exposed. I'll spray deet on my hat. Of course I go in shoulder seasons. I'd die in this heat.

K52: "

Richwon4: "

Ausable: "I usually just pull my head net out of my pocket and wear it on the portage and put some more bug repellant on my hands. I suppose that you could try taping a Thermacell to the bow thwart, but I'd hate to be breathing that stuff."

For other applications I have always wondered how effective those would be. "

I'm a firm believer in the Thermacell , they really work."

You beat me to it. I only discovered it worked while portaging by accident, but it was great.

Not a fan of deet. I use Natrapel. I also treat the underside of the hat brim with permethrin (pre-trip). Sawyer also makes a good product with picaridin.
Be mindful that if you are sweating up good then wiping sweat off then you are wiping the bug repellant off. Reapply. A handkerchief treated with permethrin tied around the neck helps keeps 'em at bay.
Before you begin the portage, wipe off sweat then apply fresh bug repellent and GO!

Have you tried grape jelly? Hahaha...I cracked myself up.

As noted by a few others I've found spraying the underside of my hat brim to be effective in most cases.

Lots of deet. If the flies are bad, I'll usually bring along a bottle of repellant that targets flies. Depends on when the trip is and how bad certain bugs are that year. Usually a fresh spritz of 40% deet on my shoulders and neck are enough for a portage.

Are you asking “other than deet?” Deet works. Higher the concentration the better.

Grizzlyman: "Are you asking “other than deet?” Deet works. Higher the concentration the better. "

Deet plus other methods. We use deet and permethrin and they still drive is nuts.

Richwon4: "

Grizzlyman: "Are you asking “other than deet?” Deet works. Higher the concentration th
e better. "

Deet plus other meyhods. we use deet and permethrin and they still drive is nuts. "

What % deet ? Not being difficult but I never have issues with 40% or more.

I have noticed that if you step in water portaging or getting in boat then the flies will bite you where it washed off your ankles but another application and they stay away.

Good to know I will need to reapply feet more often then. I believe we will also use some window fly tape on our hats for some of our longer portages also.

I wish someone would invent a bug netting system which would zip on to my zip-off pant legs. Heck...and why not also zip on to the tops of my shoes/wet-boots!

Designed like the classic head-net...with hold-offs in a couple of places so the bugs could not bite, while still allowing me to stay cool - this would be the cat's pajamas!

I have read/heard before that beyond 30% deet has little added value. 5-10% is good for a couple hours, 30% for 5 or so, extrapolate between. Google the question - a lot of sources agree.