I just got back from Little Gabbro area and...let me tell you...the mosquitos were there in force! I recommend, especially if you taking in newbies, to pick up a electronic swatter: https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Zapper-Harmless-Humans/dp/B09V4D3BJ6

You will never kill them all or prevent them from getting you but...revenge is a great morale boost.

I also used it to reclaim my tent when I was too slow taking off my shoes getting in. As far as I am concerned, this is now standard equipment for my crews.

They work well inside a tent. I bring a small piece of Tyvek or plastic to use as a mat outside of my tent door. I take my shoes/boots off then step onto the mat with my bare foot or stocking foot then quickly enter the tent. I have another small piece inside the tent to place my boots/shoes on overnight.

Dealing with mosquitos, black flies, gnats, etc. are part of the experience of being in the woods. And other than on portages, they typically aren't a major problem until sundown. There might be some horse flies to deal with while fishing, etc.

We've always found that long sleeves, a head net and bug spray will suffice during bad skeeter times, but if they were too persistent, we'd just head to the tent. Sitting in camp swinging an electric pickleball paddle doesn't appeal to me at all. Each group is different, though. As the saying goes, "Your mileage may vary."

yea. mileage may vary.

This year the mosquitos are all day bad. My 20-somethings had a blast getting revenge on the pests. Long sleeves, pants, headnets, bug spray won't keep them from swarming around you all day this year.

And neither will this. But...as I said revenge is great morale boost.

Enjoy your time in the tent!

We take one for each tent for obvious reasons. Come up from under bugs as they do not seem to have eyes for that position. Sure is quicker and much more clean for walls than smashing mosquitoes.

Mine in past have been moisture sensitive and thus I take mine in a garbage bag to assure dryness. We do not have many, if any, misses in tent and therefore no later returning mosquitoes from the tent floor or from tent hiding places they go when attacked in traditional non bug whacker methods. "Never leave home without it".

These are widely available if past years are an indication and are not expensive.

When going in mosquito season, we have taken Thermacells. They make ones that have a head that screws into one of those small Jetboil size tanks. We put one in each corner of the common area of camp and don't have a problem with bugs. Also bring a personal Thermacell which works well too.

However the best solution to mosquitoes is to go in September.

These work well too. Minimal rigging to get it set up too.

After seeing people rave about them here on this site, I got one for June/July trips and love it. It makes quick work of the fast-followers who come into the tent or my bug shelter.

One thing I do and suggest others consider is take the batteries out before packing. On mine (some cheap Chinese made thing) the zap button is right on the side and easily could be pressed packed. I don't want the plastic grocery store bag I put it in or anything else in my pack feeling the zap. I put the batteries in when I get to camp.

Another thing to watch for is it seems to AA batteries are enough to knock a big horse fly out of the air, but I have seen many of them fall and after five minutes get back up. The big guys are only stunned, so you have to finish them off yourself.

Another Thermocell aficionado. I especially like it on my person when portaging.

I am 31 miles up the Gunflint Trail for a week right now. The wife has sat out on the deck two nights in a row (7PM - Midnight time frames) and used the Thermacell Backpacker with no bites. if we don't fire up the Thermacell the skeeters will attack. She has run the Thermacell 5 hours without changing pad (pad turned white - supposed to put new pad in every 4 hours) and it still worked.

Some good points made here worth repeating with some commentary:

Remove batteries before packing. I actually don't pack mine as they don't really pack well given their odd shape and vulnerable structure. We bring a robust reusable shopping bag that holds it as well as some other items for the portage.

Don't let them get wet. They will short out and may become less effective or permanently disabled. The one I purchased came in a zippered thickish plastic container.

I would personally consider it useless, obnoxious and a waste of batteries to operate these in the open. Kids may have fun with this but adults are essentially displaying OCD behaviour. These are for indoors - screen shelter, tent, even a hammock where you can prevail over the critters.

But a good one - preferably without the protective screen on the grill. That may be contentious for some. But I've found the ones with the grills tend to be way less effective.

foxfireniner: "I just got back from Little Gabbro area and...let me tell you...the mosquitos were there in force! I recommend, especially if you taking in newbies, to pick up a electronic swatter: https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-Zapper-Harmless-Humans/dp/B09V4D3BJ6

You will never kill them all or prevent them from getting you but...revenge is a great morale boost.

I also used it to reclaim my tent when I was too slow taking off my shoes getting in. As far as I am concerned, this is now standard equipment for my crews."

Go with Thermacells. No batteries, work amazingly well, and no risk of injury with someone "swatting" someone else with one of those. I can't imagine spending my time sitting in a hammock or tent swinging one of those things.

Would someone please link the specific Thermocell products that are helping for you? When searching there are just so many results lol.

I usually use a combination of permethrin soaking all items and then bug spray but if there was a way to keep them away in the canoe, on the portage as well as the campsite as a whole that would be sweet!

PAR: "Would someone please link the specific Thermocell products that are helping for you? When searching there are just so many results lol.


I usually use a combination of permethrin soaking all items and then bug spray but if there was a way to keep them away in the canoe, on the portage as well as the campsite as a whole that would be sweet!"

Do people really have good luck with thermacells?
I had
one of these on a trip on the French River (ontario) last June. I did a test with it one morning. Set it right next to my hammock, and did a rough count of mosquitos on a 1sq ft section of the netting. No reduction after 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 hour and it was a perfectly calm morning.

you are using the personal model. We use the group/patio models that screw on to propane tanks. Thermacell repeller

PAR: "Would someone please link the specific Thermocell products that are helping for you? When searching there are just so many results lol.


I usually use a combination of permethrin soaking all items and then bug spray but if there was a way to keep them away in the canoe, on the portage as well as the campsite as a whole that would be sweet!"

thermacell

This is one I use. Has worked great for me and one other. Under a tarp or just on a log around the fire ring. This seems close to original model - many more models now.

I have the same one that billconner linked and have had the same results. I also run it by the tent door for a while before getting in and out of the tent. Really clears out the vestibule well

I was just at cabelas this weekend and couldn’t believe how many new models there are.

Thank you everyone for the links!! They have so many models its crazy to figure out what you all are talking about lol.

That one that has a fuel canister attached to it, does it light up or does it use the gas as part of the repellent?

Thanks!

PAR: "Thank you everyone for the links!! They have so many models its crazy to figure out what you all are talking about lol.


That one that has a fuel canister attached to it, does it light up or does it use the gas as part of the repellent?


Thanks!"

Mine gives off very little heat. I don't believe the gas is used as repellant, but burns flanelessly and vaporizes the chemical in the little felt like pad.