Treating your hammock/clothes with permethrin - Consumer Reports video

[hutzelbein]

I sprayed my clothes with Sawyer's Permethrin when I hiked in the US, and I was not impressed. I got bitten through my treated pants and shirts. Maybe my bottle was no good. I would try it again, but the prices for Permethrin in my country are outrageous, and reports by people who used the available brands are mixed. On the other hand, Autan which uses Picaridin or Icaridin has always worked reliably for me. So far I have only used it on the skin - but after seeing the video, I will give it a try on my clothes. We have a huge tick-problem where I live; I have only been out in the garden or the woods maybe ten times, but already had more than 10 ticks

[weaver2469]

Have you tried/had any luck with Sawyer's Picaridin? I too am a buffet for mosquitos and gnats. I'm wondering if that stuff is worth trying.


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I think Picaridin is great. It won't melt synthetic clothing or plastic like deet. I just read a new study, (I think it was the consumer reports one, actually) that said the Picaridin less than 20% concentration doesn't work very well, and there are a lot of lower concentration formulas on the market, so you need to read the labels. I have used the 20% Sawyers brand and it is great. Actually, I think it is now the number one rated spray by Consumer Reports right now, even over deet ones. I have had good luck with it personally, also.

[La Picker]

I always use a combination of both as they work in different ways.

The permethrin is longer lasting, it kills, and I definitely feel that it's more effective against ticks. I use a generous application on my boots, hat, and stratigic areas of my clothing everytime I go out. Also treat my hammock, suspension, pack, and bugnet.

However, there's no question that Deet is more effective at deterring mosquito bites on bare skin.

It's a winning combination.

[OneClick]

Permethrin, the new DDT.

Just kidding...I hope!

I sprayed my backpack and hat with the Sawyer brand. I plan on doing my hammock netting and whatever shirt I decide to wear when bugs are out.

Regarding spray for skin, I like the small .5oz "stick" bottles which the Sawyer Picaridin comes in. I hope I can find it locally since I don't want to pay $5+ shipping for a $2 item.

[AtHomeDad]

I use permethrin and love it. I spray all of my gear and kids gear before the summer scout camping season and it lasts throughout.

The sawyer works well, but is EXPENSIVE!

I recently found concentrated Permethrin at the local farm supply store and just mix it wit water to bring it down to about 6%. for a $20 investment, I can make over 5 gallons! Put it into a bug sprayer and don't have the same hand cramps from pumping over and over.

Just a more reasonable alternative.

As an experiment years ago, I sprayed my hammock and laid white paper under. Woke up to find bug carnage!

[bdaabat]

It's really too bad that DEET does such a job on plastics and gear (and I REALLY don't like the smell). It's a terrific repellent!

Have used picaridin from Off! on skin for the past couple years. That use has also coincided with my participation in this forum, where I learned about the wonders of spray on permethrin. Permethrin treatment of gear and clothing has made my personal mosquito issues go away almost completely. I still get a couple bites on exposed skin that's far from treated clothing when I forget to use topical picaridin (e.g., I seem to get bitten occasionally on the hands while wearing short sleeve shirts at Scout summer camp). If I use picaridin spray, I don't seem to get any bites.

YMMV.

Bruce

[OneClick]

People always mention DEET melting plastics. How much are they applying? I wouldn't think a coating rubbed in on your skin would do that. But I never use it, so I just don't know.

[ice man]

There is another alternative to DEET. Catnip. Google it. It's supposed to be 10 times as effective as DEET. Crunch up a bunch of it to about fill an old coffee can, ad water, and boil it until You have a dark green soup. Filter the solids and fill a spritzer bottle. Use it on skin instead of "store bought" bug sprays. One drawback, if you could call it that, is that the cats will love you. They will try to lick it all off. And, yes, mountain lions are cats, and doing a google on their reaction to catnip may be humorous. Just grinding the catnip leaves between your hands and rubbing them on your skin works well, too. The neighbor kids call it "cat lick" since they can't remember the plant's name, just their cat's reaction.

[bser272]

Never been fond of DEET myself. Have had good experience using lemon eucalyptus oil, although I find I have to reapply it more frequently than DEET. I also spray my clothes (except my underwear) and gear with permethrin.

[Ratdog]

Hiking cloths treated every 3-5 washes.
Sawyer bottle says it's good for 6.

Soaked clothes treated every 20 washes.

Hammock treated 2x / season.

Rather than number of washes, for the most part, I go by time.

Hiking clothes treated 1x/45 days w/ spray
Soaked clothes treated 1x/season
Hammock treated 2x/season w/ spray