Midge (and insect) Repellant...what people think works at the moment

[el manana]

I think of times when I've been in more discomfort and the annoyance fades. Galloway/ northern Sweden in August and filing tax returns usually do the trick.

Autan, Wilmas Nordic Summer, headnet/midge jacket take up the slack when I've gone all sissy or am bored of wiping squashed biteys round my face.

In the UK, they are only an annoyance and I don't react to bites very much. Abroad, it's a different story and use of some kind of inner or full net is a no-brainer.

or Smidge?...anyone got any preferences?....

 

[Shewie]

Avon SSS, Wilmas and a Beatons jacket is my defence against the mighty midge

Nomad Travel permethrin for the ticks

 

[Teepee]

Smidge is Ok, I'd rate it slightly worse than Wilmas but it has different levels of effectiveness on different people IME. Bug geroff isn't bad either. SSS has never been effective for me but it works on others well.

50% + DEET will always work but will always be nasty to use.

Autan is Icaridin based and as such, effective chemical warfare. There's a few products that use Picaridin/Icaridin/Bayrepel/Saltidin but I find the yellow Autan pump bottle just right and unlike DEET, can be happily sprayed onto synthetic clothing like Permethrin can. I think Sawyer sell it now too.

I'm no tick magnet so can't say for sure but research shows it more effective on ticks than DEET. I've only ever had one tick and that was a few weeks ago when I didn't bother using some repellent on my ankles.

Some foods help too. Garlic is useful for repelling everything.

 

[Shewie]

Dutch had 90% DEET and he begged me to take him back to Braemar for a headnet

 

[Teepee]

Dutch had 90% DEET and he begged me to take him back to Braemar for a headnet

Lol. That was funny. His stance of midges are nowhere near as bad as American blackfly quickly changed. I went up with nothing, feeling brave. IIRC, I opened the van door for 3 seconds, slammed it shut and drove to Braemar myself where I discovered the new Autan in the chemists.

 

[el manana]

SSS has never been effective for me but it works on others well.

50% + DEET will always work but will always be nasty to use.

Thanks - I read somewhere that SSS works because it forms an oily shield on your skin so mossies can't/won't bite through it. Wore it for 2 weeks in Cyprus, the only night I missed I was bitten 3 times.

Apart from DEETs affect on synthetic clothing, is there any other nasty reasons not to use?...

 

[Lady Grey]

Use a Mozzie net and/or a midge net inner depending which shelter used.
Burn Mozzie coils and it drives the humming b......s away.

 

[Teepee]

I don't know about SSS much. It did use a repellent chemical in the past but I seem to remember that being one of the weaker chemicals that comes in those cheap insect wipes that don't work well. The oil theory is interesting. Gotta be worth a test...
I wondered if Gewohl would have any effect? It does form a thick barrier-maybe enough to stop a midge...

DEET, aside from melting stuff I find quite oily and it feels dirty. Dead biteys stick to it. It can cause other side effects as it builds up in the body but thats usually after prolonged/mis use.

 

[Hedley Heap]

Light a coil in the porch of your tent and watch the f#();@: run. Another reason to have a real shelter.
Keilder worst midges ever. Full stop, double underline, exclamation mark. No argument.

 

[el manana]

Cheers - did wonder if all repellants worked the same on midgies as they do on mossies, wasn't sure if the coils worked on midgies.

Not sure if SSS works with midgies mind.

 

[Mole]

I stopped using SSS a few years ago. toomessy and smelly.
Been using Smidge mostly since then. -as effective as DEET without the danger to plastics.

will check out the others mentioned when the smidge runs out.

 

[Shewie]

Me and the mrs did a car camping tour of the west coast of Scotland a couple of summers ago, I think it was Arisaig where the midges were really bad. I had Wilmas, a slightly lemony copy of Wilmas that somebody makes on BCUK, Autan and Avon SSS. Out of all them it was only the SSS that actually worked, even the trusty Wilmas didn't have any effect.

Mozzie coils. not used them for years, I might give them another go sometime.

I bought a bottle of Smidge in Oban, then proceeded to leave it on a chair in a cafe about half an hour later, so still not tried it yet.

 

[gixer]

Me and the mrs did a car camping tour of the west coast of Scotland a couple of summers ago, I think it was Arisaig where the midges were really bad. I had Wilmas, a slightly lemony copy of Wilmas that somebody makes on BCUK, Autan and Avon SSS. Out of all them it was only the SSS that actually worked, even the trusty Wilmas didn't have any effect.

Mozzie coils. not used them for years, I might give them another go sometime.

I bought a bottle of Smidge in Oban, then proceeded to leave it on a chair in a cafe about half an hour later, so still not tried it yet.

I read that as you left a bottle of Oban on a chair
Was just about to book another flight

 

[el manana]

Me and the mrs did a car camping tour of the west coast of Scotland a couple of summers ago, I think it was Arisaig where the midges were really bad. I had Wilmas, a slightly lemony copy of Wilmas that somebody makes on BCUK, Autan and Avon SSS. Out of all them it was only the SSS that actually worked, even the trusty Wilmas didn't have any effect.

Mozzie coils. not used them for years, I might give them another go sometime.

I bought a bottle of Smidge in Oban, then proceeded to leave it on a chair in a cafe about half an hour later, so still not tried it yet.

Thanks that sounds promising about the SSS. I keep some handy in a 30ml spray atomiser.

Got some Mosi guard running out so will look at the Smidge, Autan spray and Wilmas. Think I've got some Mosi coils lying about as well.

 

[edh]

Smidge is ok. SSS just let's them stick to your and die without bites, but does not keep them away.

 

[Shewie]

I don't think there's any that's guaranteed, some brands seem to work for some folk but not others, it's good to try as many as you can as see what works. But I think the location and time of year has an effect, the second hatch towards the end of summer always seem more ferocious than the early emergers.

I've rarely been bothered by midge bites, I find the repellents do a decent job at reducing bites usually, it's sheer number and annoyance of them that gets me, they just get into everything. If it's likely I'm going to be in thick midge country then I just pack the Beatons jacket and recently a light pair of running gloves.

 

[Shewie]

I've got a book about midges if anyone wants a read, I bought it a couple of years ago when I was stuck in the house cramming for exams.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Midges-Scotland-George-Hendry/dp/1841589381

 

[Stephen]

I have gone down a different route and purchased Railrider clothing with insect shield, it seems to work so far. The treatment lasts about 70 washes.

 

[edh]

Me too - King of Permethrin - but you still need something for your face...

I'm hoping American mossies don't have much exposure to Wilmas and will buzz off!

 

[Stephen]

I always pack a headnet but only use it if they bugs are muderous.

Alternately if I am with my wife they attack her and leave me alone.

 

[el manana]

There seems to be a reluctance or lack of interest in applying permethrin treatment to clothing. Anyone know of a reason or negative effects?...

Generally, do most people view the highlands as out of bounds for July-August until the midge start to decrease? Or is it not as bad as its made out, or worth the suffering.

 

[Shewie]

I've not heard the negatives about permethrin, not sure I want to, it's just something I tried a number of years ago and stuck with it, only for tick prevention on clothing rather than midges though.

I'm happy to head north whenever really, looking to camp at elevation or praying for a 5mph + wind to keep them down, failing that just being prepared to keep on the move or put on the Beatons. Camping on the west usually gives a bit of extra midge protection with the prevailing westerlies, but saying that I've only ever had one truly miserable trip because of the midges, a two nighter to Galloway of all places a few years ago.

 

[cathyjc]

The Highlands in July and August is a lottery. If there is sufficient wind the midges are no trouble, if not . Bright sunlight decreases the numbers and if it gets properly cold they disappear.

Whilst walking you can often keep ahead of them, but stop and the trouble starts. A head net is essential. Camping - can be done - needs careful management so you don't fill the tent with the blighters. It's when you need to sit in the 'outside' to cook, that life gets truly difficult and eating thru' a head net is tricky .
A Pee bottle is very useful, especially for us ladies. Going for a **** - - I did wonder if a poo bag like you'd use for a dog poo would work - I've not dared to try that ………..yet .

 

[cathyjc]

Head to the pub to eat, wee and ****

 

[Shewie]

That's the beauty of a single skin shelter, you just peel back the groundsheet and dig your cat hole

Maybe not a good idea with polycryo