Black fly question - Bug Repellants

[poliver]

I'm planning a 4-5 day trip up to the high peaks in a week or so...and after reading several threads here I am becoming somewhat concerned about the bugs. Most..actually all of my hiking up there has been in the winter so bugs have not been an issue. Although I have experienced mosquito season in the rangley maine area, but I am a novice whenit comes to black flys. Any suggestions on bug repellant to keep em away? I'm not a fan of nets and head gear and all that so I want to stick with the chemicals.

[redhawk]

100% deet is best

[Dick]

A study in Alberta showed that a cow could lose up to half a pint of blood in a single day to blackflies! DEET works (usually!). Although I have a bottle of 100% DEET, I've read about studies that say a much lesser concentrations works equally well under most conditions. The EPA has deemed it safe when used correctly. I've used oil of citronella (not to be confused with the lamp oil!), and it works, but not as well for me, and I have to apply it much more often. Some swear by garlic (taken over a period of time in concentrated pill form, not just a single meal), but I've read that there is no evidence to support this. Some swear by Vitamin B-1, but it also has not been proven to be effective. Personally I would not be too quick to dismiss headnets, bug jackets, etc. for protection when at camp, although hiking in that gear doesn't work well (too hot and dark). Wearing light colored, loose fitting clothing helps.

See here:
http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/128/11/931

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/deet.htm

[Boreal Chickadee]

I used Ultrathon cream this past weekend and found it to be the best I've tried yet.

[search-rescue5-1]

Where can one get this "ultrathon cream" ?

[AdkWiley]

i usually use a lil 100% deet on my bandanda or on the brim of my hat and the bugs back off instantly

[Boreal Chickadee]

I got my Ultrathon in WalMart.

[AdkWiley]

hey pb do u find that teh ultathon stuff works better than the deet, or atleast close to it? im alwasy lookin for new stuff to use that coudl be a little better for u than the deet.

[redhawk]

This "Bye-Bye Black Fly" repellent that I picked up works great. I'm using it instead of deet.

[Dick]

hey pb do u find that teh ultathon stuff works better than the deet, or atleast close to it? im alwasy lookin for new stuff to use that coudl be a little better for u than the deet.

I'm not familiar with Ultrathon (have only heard about it), but from what I've read it does contain 33% concentration of DEET.

Dick

[AdkWiley]

I'm not familiar with Ultrathon (have only heard about it), but from what I've read it does contain 33% concentration of DEET.

Dick

Thanx neighbor!

[Boreal Chickadee]

The Ultrathon does have DEET as Dick reported. I'm also going to try Hawk's suggestion of "Bye-Bye Black Fly" when I come across it in my travels.

[wiltz101]

This "Bye-Bye Black Fly" repellent that I picked up works great. I'm using it instead of deet.

Since i'm in the woods 5 days a week i became concerned with using DEET everyday, i've use the bye-bye black fly which works great as long as you get adequate coverage. I also use Natrapel which works fairly well. If you are going out for a few nights and aren't using bug repellent on a regular basis DEET is most definitely the way to go, i use a 25% concentration which i found works as good as the 100%.

[Dick]

Hi wiltz101,

I'm curious to know why you use Natrapel, the active ingredient of which is only about 10% oil of citronella, or similar oils in B.B.B.F., when you can get 100% oil of citronella more cheaply? As for DEET, I think you are correct about the effectiveness of DEET concentration (from studies I've read). Second question: as a student, how do you manage to get into the woods 5 days a week????

Dick

[steve40]

The peddlers that sell wood at Rollins Pond also sell Bye-Bye Black Fly.I tried it and it seems to work as well as Deet and smells better too.