The great outdoors are awesome but getting eaten alive sucks. Here are three ways to keep the bugs at bay.
Zone Coverage – Thermacell Backpacker
The crew at Thermacell has been stepping up their game recently. It started with the Radius, which we decorated with a Best New Gear Award because it uses a USB rechargeable battery to warm the repellent mixture. Now they have the Backpacker which I think is equally deserving. It uses standard IsoButane canisters to warm the repellent pad. This is a much better way to use up that last little bit of fuel instead of trying to transfer the fuel between canisters using the Gas Saver. Granted, using this on the trail may not save the space in your pack if you bring a partially filled canister to operate it, but it works just as well in the backyard to burn off the last bit of fuel so the canister can be disposed of properly. $40 | Buy Now
Wipe On – BugBand Towelettes
For individual protection, and to avoid dealing with messy sprays, check out these handy wipes from BugBand. The repellent is Geraniol, a DEET-free option often found in perfumes and used as an ingredient for artificial flavoring. Nevertheless, our experience has proven the wipes to be effective and without any sort of reaction on the skin of adults or children. The towelettes are available in a large 15-towelette container or in a 2-towelette twin pack. $10 (15 pack) | Buy Now
Sonic & Scent – Guarden Bandito
To avoid the sprays or wipes completely look to this individual zone style repellant. Worn on the included wrist band or clipped to any strap like on a backpack or belt loop the Bandito uses two methods to keep bugs away. One is the common scent based using natural repellants like citronella, peppermint and lemongrass. The other is by use of high frequency sonic waves. The scent side is provided by two thin strips that run the length of the unit (about 1.5” x 1/16”). The strips last 1.5 months and come with a second set to bump the timeframe to three months. The sonic waves are generated by a small hearing-aid type battery which lasts around 500 hours. There’s a small on/off button at the end of the unit that activates the sonic waves. $35 | Buy Now