BWCA Thermacel cartridges Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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06/24/2022 07:48AM  
I’m doing my first July trip in a few weeks (always trip in the cooler months) and was thinking of bringing my thermacel. I usually drive but I’m flying this trip and can’t fly with butane cartridges. Is there anywhere in Ely I can buy them or should I not even bother packing it? I should be arriving around 5 on a Friday night. Thanks
 
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Savage Voyageur
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06/24/2022 08:34AM  
I would ship them to your local outfitter a week beforehand. I’m assuming you are going to rent a canoe and maybe gear too.
 
06/24/2022 09:14AM  
Savage Voyageur: "I would ship them to your local outfitter a week beforehand. I’m assuming you are going to rent a canoe and maybe gear too. "



Or maybe said outfitter carries them...
 
portagedog09
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06/24/2022 04:28PM  
Where are you flying into - Minneapolis or Duluth? I did this once and just looked for a sporting goods store on the way and checked that they them in stock beforehand. I don't recall the name, but there was a place just north of Minneapolis on 35E that you could see from the highway, easy off/easy on. I have seen the cartridges at Piragis, but most of time it's the cartridge with the mats so you end up purchasing both when you only want the cartridge.

Perhaps a better idea - if you use a canister stove or maybe just because of your travel arrangements - flying - is to switch to the Thermacell Backpacker. They run $40 most places. I fly almost exclusively and have turned to this for that reason. It mounts on top of a fuel canister - same as many stoves, so you use just one type of fuel. They use the same mats as the other models, and you can buy the mats separately. This model is lighter weight, has a built-in igniter and burns very little fuel. Almost every place in Ely has the canister fuel. Good luck your plans.

pd
 
scottiebaldwin
distinguished member (193)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/24/2022 05:01PM  
portagedog09: Perhaps a better idea - if you use a canister stove or maybe just because of your travel arrangements - flying - is to switch to the Thermacell Backpacker. They run $40 most places. I fly almost exclusively and have turned to this for that reason. It mounts on top of a fuel canister - same as many stoves, so you use just one type of fuel. They use the same mats as the other models, and you can buy the mats separately. This model is lighter weight, has a built-in igniter and burns very little fuel. Almost every place in Ely has the canister fuel. Good luck your plans.


pd"


+1. This is the way.
 
Atom
member (20)member
  
06/25/2022 08:40AM  
Genuinely curious, how well does a Thermacell perform in the backwoods?
 
06/25/2022 09:39AM  
Real men, real manly men welcome the buzz of the Minn. state bird around the campfire!
I stand corrected, the rotisserie chicken is the Minn. state bird!
Citronella mosquito coils work fairly well if the cartridges are not available, check Amazon.
Hope you have a great trip.
Merlyn
 
06/25/2022 10:27AM  
portagedog09: "Where are you flying into - Minneapolis or Duluth? I did this once and just looked for a sporting goods store on the way and checked that they them in stock beforehand. I don't recall the name, but there was a place just north of Minneapolis on 35E that you could see from the highway, easy off/easy on. I have seen the cartridges at Piragis, but most of time it's the cartridge with the mats so you end up purchasing both when you only want the cartridge.


Perhaps a better idea - if you use a canister stove or maybe just because of your travel arrangements - flying - is to switch to the Thermacell Backpacker. They run $40 most places. I fly almost exclusively and have turned to this for that reason. It mounts on top of a fuel canister - same as many stoves, so you use just one type of fuel. They use the same mats as the other models, and you can buy the mats separately. This model is lighter weight, has a built-in igniter and burns very little fuel. Almost every place in Ely has the canister fuel. Good luck your plans.

I’m flying into Minneapolis but was hoping not to make any stops before Ely. I will definitely look at the backpacker. I thought backpacker was just a smaller version of regular Thermacel and used same cartridges. I will be buying fuel for my stove anyway so BP seems the way to go. Bugs or not I’m looking forward to my trip! Thanks for replies!


pd"
 
moosedoggie
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06/25/2022 12:11PM  
Atom: "Genuinely curious, how well does a Thermacell perform in the backwoods? "


It surprised the hell out of me but they actually do fairly good.
 
Duckman
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06/25/2022 02:13PM  
Not that I recommend trying, but I know first hand from accidental experience that the cartridges usually make it on board in a checked bag and miraculously in a carry-on as well.
 
ockycamper
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06/25/2022 02:20PM  
I have used thermacells hunting, camping and on the back deck. They don't work if there is a breeze. But if it is still, or in a secluded area, they work very well
 
RTurner
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06/25/2022 06:31PM  
moosedoggie: "
Atom: "Genuinely curious, how well does a Thermacell perform in the backwoods? "



It surprised the hell out of me but they actually do fairly good."


Interesting, I was on the French River in Ontario last week. The last morning, I set up my thermacell right next to my hammock. When I woke up in the morning, there were must have been 50 or more mosquitos on my bug net. Reached out, turned on the thermacell, waited 15 minutes, no reduction in the number of mosquitos, waited another 20 minutes, still 0 reduction in numbers. There was absolutely no breeze. I was very disappointed. It had a brand new fuel cartridge and brand new repellent pad.
 
pswith5
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06/25/2022 07:14PM  
Well, those were Canadian mosquitos. They are hardy bunch!
 
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