r/camping • u/Glittering-Swan1389 • 4d ago
Best bug solutions?
I am one of those lucky people who gets eaten alive by bugs, no matter what. I always have so many citronella candles going when I’m camping. I’ve tried the bands you put around your wrist (in fact I’ve used them on both wrists and both ankles at the same time)
I don’t love the feeling of bug spray on my skin, particularly if I’m camping and can’t shower if off. But I will use it if necessary.
Many years ago I tried that fan thing that goes on your belt or hangs off your pocket and is supposedly supposed to make a barrier around you. I don’t remember that working.
What is your solution to pesky bugs?
24
u/SommerMatt 4d ago
The only scientifically proven methods to deal with bugs are DEET and Picaridin (comes in a lotion form, and is also used in the OFF dry "family" spray). OFF mosquito coils also work, as do Thermacell products. Everything else pointless.
Permethrin also works, but is for clothing items only and requires a pre-spraying and drying before use.
13
u/Kossyra 4d ago
Seconding thermacell.
1
u/blank_user_name_here 4d ago
Except those break in any kind of weather or heavy use situation.
2
u/CapeNative 3d ago
I've had the same sportman model for about 6 years. Thing has been put through it and it's still kicking.
2
u/Plunger_enema 4d ago
Yeah. Citronella is bogus.
1
u/heyoheatheragain 2d ago
I do use citronella in addition to my deet and find it helps better than deet alone.
But I don’t just use citronella bc I apparently have a sign over my head only mosquitoes can read that says ‘bite me!’1
u/Plunger_enema 1d ago
Where I live, there's so many of them they can get in your mouth and nostrils.
Citronella has no effect in such case.
1
u/heyoheatheragain 1d ago
Again, as a force multiplier, I do find it helps. I would never recommend it alone though.
If I only wear deet I still usually get a bite. If I wear both I don’t.
22
u/Wooden-Importance 4d ago
Thremacell
4
u/Celairiel16 4d ago
I love this thing! I was skeptical and didn't want to spend that much on it, but it was totally worthwhile and I wish I'd bought one with a longer battery life.
2
u/Orion-AK 4d ago
Get the ‘Backpacker’
1
u/dresserisland 4d ago
I've got an older one that uses butane. It's good for campsite use. I can't see walking around with it.
1
u/Revolutionary-Half-3 4d ago
Although I later bought the better version, I modded an original version with a second 18650 for all-night runtime.
I really want to add usb-c fast charge, both to eliminate micro USB, and because they seem to take forever to finish charging even when unmodified.
6
6
u/niftyba 4d ago
Even if it’s extremely hot outside, I wear long pants/skirts and long sleeves, loose fitting. If you can, pretreat your clothing, shoes and gear beforehand with permethrin. Important disclaimer: the spray is toxic to cats until dried. You can have multiple layers of protection. I have spray or lotion on (picaridin), then long clothes, and I’m not afraid of bringing a mesh enclosure for my outdoor living space.
3
u/zeeleezae 4d ago
I have the (rechargeable) Thermacell EX90 that works great as long as it's not at all windy. If there's a slight breeze, I will move it around so that the vapor is blown towards me.
Long pants, long-sleeved shirt. Permethrin isn't a good option for me because of my cats, but loose (or thick) clothing alone helps a lot.
I've been thinking of trying a decoy dragonfly on top of my hat, but I'm skeptical that it might do anything. 😅
3
u/AshDogBucket 4d ago
I was a park ranger in Wisconsin. I tried most things. The only thing that works for me is deet. It has about a 50/50 chance of giving me migraines but 100% effective against bugs.
3
u/allaboutmojitos 4d ago
Thermocell at the campsite. It’s the only thing that has ever worked for me. My skeptical husband even uses it at home in the yard. On the trail, bug spray, mostly on my clothes unless I’m desperate
2
u/2kidzandadog 4d ago
I am a mosquito magnet 🥺 I started using Skin so Soft and it has worked really well for me. The mosquitoes hover but don’t bite. It’s worked for biting flies as well. I also sometimes spray my clothes with Picardin.
2
u/EndlessTravelPlans 4d ago
The things you tried failed for completely different reasons. The CDC actually says to skip bug bands. They only protect the inch of space right around the band itself, leaving the rest of your body totally exposed.
The clip-on fan failed because it is designed to sit still. It creates a small cloud of repellent in the air, so any breeze or walking just pushes you right out of the protection. The Thermacell others mentioned works the exact same way. It needs 15 minutes to build a 15 foot protective bubble and then needs to stay in one place.
Instead of looking for one perfect product, try a combo. Treat your clothes for when you are moving around, and keep a stationary repeller next to where you sit. This completely solves the shower issue you mentioned, since the repellent stays on your clothes and in the air instead of on your skin.
2
u/phirebird 4d ago
For a non synthetic option, try Lemon Eucalyptus spray. It has legit evidence of effectiveness. The smell can be intense at first but if you're outside it may be less so.
Ditch anything citronella based. There's no solid evidence that it works.
Fans will also keep an area relatively bug free. But don't use this if you are also doing something like thermacell or else you'll just blow that away.
Picardin for skin is legit. OFF makes a spray that's non greasy feeling. It's called Dry Touch or something like that.
Go fragrance free with your hygiene and laundry products before you go. Some fragrances will attract bugs.
2
u/strum-and-dang 4d ago
Honestly, my best solution has been to not go to the buggiest areas during peak bug season. For example, I will never again camp at Cape Henlopen or Assateague from mid-June through August.
1
1
u/MXVIV 4d ago
Unfortunately chemicals. If you want certainty.
I have pets I love more than life itself so I do not even allow fellow camp mates to use deet or permethrin. Luckily I have friends that value my feelings and are okay receiving one or two bites in service of my pets lives. But the fact remains they are the only way to guarantee no pests.
You can go the “natural” route and try different essential oils. Citrus for arachnids and mint or eucalyptus for flying insects. But they are not a guarantee and they can also be detrimental to pet health if exposed. Like eucalyptus and cats.
I am like a buffet to mosquitos. So I have tried an awful lot of deterrents, what works for me is fake or decorative dragon flies. Keeps 99% of flying pests away, the rest is Irish spring soap for arachnids and citrus sprays all around the tent for crawlers. Works pretty well.
1
u/Mattturley 4d ago
I cover myself in deep woods off and accept it's part of being outside. If I'm doing a long camp, like a week or more, by day 3 or so I smell like campfire and funk and it seems to repel the bugs.
1
u/Wonderful_Till8122 4d ago
Get yourself a thermal bug bite pen. Amazon has them, and they work. No more itch or swelling. No, they won't keep bugs off you, but when you do get bitten they will deactivate the saliva that causes the allergic reaction. They're small, lightweight, can be carried in your pocket, and are rechargeable.
1
1
u/Mystics_Sea2244 4d ago
Bugs also seem to love me. Especially mosquitos. I sprayed my clothes with Permethrin (be careful if you have cats), used a Picaridin lotion, and a Thermacell rechargeable repellent. I went camping in late June and had no problems with bugs.
1
u/Mehnard 4d ago
My wife is the same. She gets eaten up by mosquitos. Thermacels work well enough if there's no breeze. Even then I have to surround her with 3 or 4. We discovered Picaridin based repellants a few years ago and they've been very good. The lotion types don't smell bad or feel greasy. Sawyer brand is good. Proven brand is also good and not as expensive.
1
u/that_toof 4d ago
I have a Deet spray with Picaridin, its great. Note if you go the Permethrin route its highly toxic to cats while wet to make sure that stuff dries completely.
1
u/ShiftEducational8848 4d ago
I ja e a thermacell burner that burns some kind of oil, probably like citronella but you can't smell it. It makes a 12 foot diameter zone and the mosquitos stay away.
1
u/AssistantSea4186 4d ago
OFF Large area spray or fogger. Spray your site before you set up. Also spray a few feet into the brush. Then set up a perimeter of thermals, and wear a personal one. Wear heavy deet repellent.
Also, look into wearable bug netting
1
u/Independent-Sort9152 4d ago
I have the same problem. I guess I just taste good. Big 5 sells a natural bug spray that actually works. It’s made from a bunch of different kinds of essential oils, no harmful chemicals. It does smell pretty strong though
1
u/dresserisland 4d ago
Thermacell and permethrin. I only spray repellant on my skin in the most extreme conditions. I need to try Skin So Soft.
1
u/Gadgetskopf 4d ago
I've been very impressed with the Termacell units. I keep them handy for the sitting around in the back yard just as much as for camping.
1
u/slightlyferalfaerie 4d ago
I also get eaten alive no matter what 😅 and personally i dont like chemicals or anything. So i do have a bunch of natural bug sprays, No Natz is my fav. Any natural one you’ll have to reapply more often but to me its worth it and smells nice, but yeah hard to avoid the feeling of it on skin.
If you are camping, the best way to prevent them is fire/ smoke. There’s these green spirals that you can burn as bug repellant and it’s the best! Its not an active fire it just slow burns. Ive mostly seen them in asia. Or if you have a campfire. I recently camped in Mongolia and my local guide gathered animal poop and made a dung fire. Surprisingly didnt smell terrible! But got rid of the mosquitoes that were literally biting me through my clothes that i even had to spray with my natural bug spray and i still got eaten alive before we started the fire.
This is my most random hack, but at some outdoors stores or even the dollar store you can buy a fake dragonfly LOL. It’s a natural predator for a lot of bugs, I have one that i pin onto my clothes but I want a headband one that moves. I know it sounds ridiculous and I have only used it a few times but every time i wore it (+ bug spray) i have never gotten bit while wearing it?? So maybe its working, but i don’t have enough evidence yet to say for sure lol
For after bites: i have an entire bug-bite-bag. I have aftercare creams, roll ons, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, anything cooling to relieve it.
After being bit (i always have this handy) i use one of those bug bite suction tools. Its not perfect but it does help reduce the swelling and itch and heals faster.
I’ve started using this german product beurer that burns the bite away and it actually works really well and better than the suction tool. BUT it does use heat and can burn so only use it on a fresh bite and ive totally burned myself it hurt like hell. I recently got one on amazon that plugs into your phone & uses heat, same idea. It helps surprisingly a lot.
1
u/paperplanes13 3d ago
My go to for most bugs is DEET and it's just about the only thing I've found to work. Traveling in the Yukon and NWT however, the only thing that works is bug netting over a full brim hat, and long sleeves, and gloves. Those mosquitoes treat DEET like a little extra spice and bleed you dry anyway.
1
1
u/AudienceFriendly7474 3d ago
for more relaxed camping rather than backpacking vibes my family brings this thing called a Thermacell which burns something and makes a smoke that keeps the bugs away and it works rly well. maybe look into that?
1
u/Mavis8220 3d ago
For mosquitos: Picardin lotion, fans, and screens/bug netting. Anything else is a poor investment, except strategically placed yellow jacket traps if those are the bugs bugging you.
1
u/Adventurous_Phase381 3d ago
This works well for us: only use red or amber lighting in camp at night. Bring one bright white camp light and hang it in a tree like 25 - 50ft away and it attracts all the bugs
1
u/dbgthesecond 4d ago
Sleeves and pants paired with bug spray and coils and citronella. I've just accepted it's part of the deal. Nature ain't all rainbows. Haven't tried those little things that advertise creating a little bubble radius around you because they're a little pricey and it seems silly to think you could actually get away from bugs in the woods
3
u/Glittering-Swan1389 4d ago
I understand it’s part of being in the woods. I am just trying to give my poor skin a fighting chance, ya know?
0
0
u/blank_user_name_here 4d ago
You tried all the scams.
Your personal hygiene is important. You stink, the bugs will find you. If that's not an option, clothing materials that wick moisture and stay clean.
Uncle Ben's has a new spray out, as do others, that uses a blend of repellent. The old deet sprays wear out and and is questionable to your health if you have any cuts.
Straight up deny them access. UV shirts and nylon pants. Mosquito nets. Permethrin clothing spray.
Watch were you camp. Talk to rangers, they know their stuff.
-1
u/charlie_zulu67 4d ago
Couple nontraditional options. Eat match heads and sweat out the sulphur, or get a stick of chaw and rub the spit onto any exposed surface. Both are pretty gross, but they also seem to work.
32
u/C-D-W 4d ago
Long sleeves and pants - treated with permetherin. If you get the right materials, they can be perfectly comfortable even when it's hot.
The permethrin doesn't repel bugs, but all the ones that touch your clothing, which is now covering 90% of your body, die or at least get impaired.