Permethrin spray

[DemostiX]

I used the Sawyers (24oz bottle) spray to treat my hammock and bug net. I keep reading about folks that say permethrin creates a "no-fly zone" for skeeters. I'm wondering if maybe I didn't use enough because they don't seem to mind too much. If the zipper is open they'll come on in. I know I've read posts about folks that use permethrin and no bug net, so what am I missing here?

I will say that I had a dead spider on the outside of the netting, so apparently it's doing something

I think you didn't use enough because the concentration is so low you must saturate, per instructions. Who knows how much netting absorbs? Much at all, if the netting is nylon?

[Bradley]

A couple of years ago I used it and while on a hike, as it was getting hot . . .

. . . I removed my hat, almost instantaneously I was swarmed with mosquito's, no se-ums, (couldn't really see-um)

I put my hat back on and no more trouble . . . that was cool.

even as far away as my neck/under my chin.

[FLRider]

Thanks FLRider!!!! What picaridin product do you recommend? I see REI has a few options.

I believe it repackaged from the license-holding maker. You want the 20%, which I hae seen several ways, including a tampon-size spray bottle from Sawyer. On that, though, read the small print if you also buy, in easily confused package, the 100 Deet.
I also have a pump-spray bottle of picaridin with the Repel brand name.

What he said. 20% solution ("Sportsman Gear Smart" in the tiny bottles--I get about three applications, top and bottom, out of one, or six applications if I'm just doing my legs--and "Natrapel" in the larger bottle are the two that I've used) seems to work just fine. And the Sportsman brand comes in the same packaging and color scheme as their 98% DEET stuff.

the 3m brand says do not allow to contact skin till dry.

Yep. With permethrin, you should avoid skin contact. Picaridin is designed for use directly on skin. Easy to confuse them due to very similar names and uses.

[gunner76]

I treat all my hammocks and hiking clothes with permethrin. Does help and where I live we have the salt water skeeters that are very agressive. When they bite you know it. I try to avoid DEET as much as possible but sometimes I have to use it and the flies, skeeters, ticks, gnats and chiggers are more than happy to let me know what spots I missed

[weaver2469]

Thanks FLRider!!!! What picaridin product do you recommend? I see REI has a few options.

I have used a couple. I currently have the Sawyer. I know it doesn't seem like a big difference, but I think 20% is noticeably better than 15% concentration.

[scooterbrown]

Ok so I resprayed my bug net last night... different than how I did it before. Last time I sprayed it while it was hung up (but without the hammock in it). This time I laid it out on some plastic and sprayed the tar out of it. I bet this makes a big difference in the performance. We'll see...

[DemostiX]

In NJ and maybe elsewhere, larger Rite-Aid drug stores seem to have been long on insect repellents. Picaridin I got from one in a 3.5oz pump bottle has the brand name "Natrapel".

Packaged by the Tender Corporation, in a package that looks like a long stick under-arm anti-perspirant. Like other picaridin I have used it also has a light scent of a "powder fragrance".