Thermacell

[Rob Stevens]

Does the THERMINATOR work? Sometimes I think yes. Sometimes I think no.  On what kind of bugs? I've heard its not much different from citronella candles. What does everyone think?

[vivian]

Only in no wind situations. Does not work against no see ums or deer flys.

[SteveS]

I'm in the camp of it works, some of the time. If there is a steady wind, I think the effects are minimized. I also think it takes about 20 minutes for it to become "effective". I take it with me because I don't wear bug spray. Even if it is only mental, it isn't an expensive piece of gear and it has provided relief for me.

[Keith W]

I fire one up inside the tent vestibule in the morning to clear the bugs out before leaving the tent. I also park it under the canoe spray deck when I'm in a buggy area like a mangrove tunnel, keeps the skeeters out of the canoe.

[Swamp Hunter]

I had my thermacell for several years before I realized it actually works. It needs time to warm up and a fresh pad. I cant stand to use bug spray on my skin.

[Kim Gass]

I always hope.  My thermacell works not at all against Arctic mosquitoes, not at all anywhere on no seeums and so so on skeeters.  If there is any wind..you need to be downwind.

OTOH. I don't have to portage and it fits fine on the picnic table.  It must help some though it' s no cureall.

Yes it is totally ineffective for 15 minutes. And sometimes it does not light right up. Make sure you have lit the heating element.

[yakmaster]

On the picnic table, it's better on the ground under it, than on top of it...

[SteveS]

I have had mosquitos land right on top of it which I thought was rather brazen.

I'd like to think that these rogue mosquitos are just showing off and after a headful of allerthrin, they fly into night sucking on tree bark the rest if the evening while the other mosquitos just stare and laugh.

[Kim Gass]

yakmaster said:

On the picnic table, it's better on the ground under it, than on top of it...

True. Fumes go up  I believe they are lighter than air.

[Swamp Hunter]

lol In the beginning my thermacell actually seemed to attract mosquitos as evidence left by little fried bodies on the heating grid. I dont know what was happening but it seems to work now.

SteveS said:

I have had mosquitos land right on top of it which I thought was rather brazen.

I'd like to think that these rogue mosquitos are just showing off and after a headful of allerthrin, they fly into night sucking on tree bark the rest if the evening while the other mosquitos just stare and laugh.

[Rob Stevens]

Forgive me if I've told this story before but I only have 8 and I repeat them over and over. Anyways Al and I were camping on Lake Superior at Christmas one year and when we set up our canvas Baker tent there was a live mosquito in it. LIVE!!! I usually go out of my way to kill cold weather mosquitos. Don't want the gene pool surviving. But I felt torn about this one and didn't kill it. When we got back to Milwaukee and I was washing my hot chocolate cup there it was. STILL ALIVE.  Missing a wing. My dilemma? Should I nurse it back to health?
 
SteveS said:

I have had mosquitos land right on top of it which I thought was rather brazen.

I'd like to think that these rogue mosquitos are just showing off and after a headful of allerthrin, they fly into night sucking on tree bark the rest if the evening while the other mosquitos just stare and laugh.

[Kim Gass]

OK. Lake Superior at Christmas.. in a Baker tent... uh huh.

If you said Snowtrekker tent I might have some faith in you

[yakmaster]

y'all crazy!

I didn't know what a baker or snowtrekker was, but Google did...

I got cold just lookin' at the pictures!

That's why I'm willing to take 100% humidity in the summer, so I don't have to spend the wither in a snowtrekker, because where I live & play low 50's is a damn cold night!