Registered: 09/08/05
Posts: 156
Loc: Chicago burbs
100%, melt your compass, gore tex and any synthetic it touches DEET, combined with Permethrin treatment on shirt, pants and socks. Don't half-arse the bug treatment. Entomological genocide is called for.
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I hear voices....And they don't like you.
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....he felt the prompting of his heritage, the desire to possess, the wild danger-love, the thrill of battle, the power to conquer or to die. Jack London
Used to use Deet, now its Repel Lemon Eucalyptus and Cutter Advanced (15% Picaridin). So far so good. Both rate extremely high for effectiveness in the reports I've read. I've got enough things to think about, my insect repellent destroying my gear shouldn't be one of them IMO.
The best is still DEET and preferably in lotion since it's easier to apply and doesn't penetrate the skin as much. 3M Ultrathon is the best but it's not allowed in Canada because it's more then 30% DEET (I think it's 33%) but I go with Watkins which is 28.5% DEET lotion.
Don't forget to apply your sunscreen about 30 min before, then the DEET lotion, then reapply sunscreen as needed. I think the Ultrathon lasts for about 8 hours and that's one of the reasons that DEET lotion is prefered.
You have to weigh up the risks of using DEET as compared to its effectiveness. There are safer solutions if only if it means applying the application just a little bit more often.
I second the permethrin treatment. Awesome, and don't need to re-apply even after washing for quite some time. Keeps the ticks off like nothing else imho. got to be deet for the skin. I use 30% bens, in a small pump that's easy to back. EMS sells the refill so you can replenish your field pump as needed. I hear this talk of the "risks of deet". it's been around and tested for something like 40 years and there is no evidence of harm (except to mosquitoes!).
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