Picaridin has been demonstrated to be almost as effective as DEET in
similar concentrations. Most of the natural repellents have been
demonstrated to be significantly less effective that DEET, see
http://www.acponline.org/journals/annals/01jun98/mosquito.htm

On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 12:20 PM, knappchopper <knappchopper <at> yahoo.com> wrote:
> My wife is allergic to Deet insect repellant. What are the best
> alternatives to deet. Your feedback will be appreciated.

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We had success recently in the Ozarks (chigger country) with
Picaridin in a commercial preparation by Off.

--- In BackpackingLight <at> yahoogroups.com, "Mark Verber" <verber <at> ...>
wrote:
>
> Picaridin has been demonstrated to be almost as effective as DEET in
> similar concentrations. ...
>

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I will throw in a vote for Picardin. I used the wipes on a trip not long
ago and it was my first time using it. It will not be my last. I have tried
Cedar Oil before and it lasted maybe an hour or less if sweating! I do like
the Eucaliptis and lemon oil spray that is out and it is good for mosquitoes
and deer flies for several hours. I can not tell you how much I like the
Picardin wipes though. They worked extremely well against ticks plus the
flying pests!! No greasy residue or smell, just sort of alcohol smell in the
first few seconds. Permethrin on the clothes as well as the other is a very
good 1 2 punch system.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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I had excellent results in Alaska last summer using Repel brand of
lemon eucalyptus. It smells good and does not melt plastic. It
probably won't last as long as DEET, but just reapply more often. Ron

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/repellentupdates.htm

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/mosquitoes/ai_insectrp.htm

--- In BackpackingLight <at> yahoogroups.com, "knappchopper"
<knappchopper <at> ...> wrote:
>
> My wife is allergic to Deet insect repellant. What are the best
> alternatives to deet. Your feedback will be appreciated.
>

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I would suggest a combination approach to being less bitten.
1) Protect your outsides:
a. Netting
b. Permethryn
2) Protect unexposed skin
a. Natural repellents:
1. Orange Oil
2. Lemon Oil
3. Cedar Oil
4. Garlic Oil
5. Tea Tree Oil (great for dry skin/pre-blisters on your feet, too.)
5. ...others. Many natural oils have some repellent
properties and many are quite non-toxic to people.
b. Manufactured repellents
1. Eucalyptus
2. SkinSoSoft
3. etc.
Most of these are specific to some form of bug or some
bug in some area. They may wash off easily in a rain or while sweating.
3) Protect Exposed Skin
Really, use the strongest, most permanent repellent you can buy. Even
the highly touted DEET does not work well on EVERYONE. An
individuals body chemistry, dietary habit, condition, age, etc will effect
that persons attractiveness to some biting bug.
(Picardin, 5% DEET, some others) will all help.

I have been out fishing in Black Fly season. (The Brookies were gorged on black
flies.) By 0800 there was a cloud of flies on the water. For the three days we there, we
were slathered in DEET, and long sleeved shirts. I got 4 bites...3 on the first day. My
bother got 26 or so(we were flown in and were stuck there for the three nights.) Soo, I
am guessing that the only difference is metabolism.
4) Keep Moving.
Not really a repellent, this works well to keep bugs at bay.
5) Smoke a cigar or pipe.
Rather unladylike(in this day and age?), smoke works well to deter insects.
(Wine, Cherry, Mint, etc. Flavours can help.)
My thoughts only . . .
jdm
At 03:20 PM 5/31/2008, you wrote:
>My wife is allergic to Deet insect repellant. What are the best
>alternatives to deet. Your feedback will be appreciated.
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
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James Marco
Computer Operations Manager
Biomedical Engineering & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University
B77 Olin Hall,
Ithaca, NY 14853
Office: 255-7312, Computer Room: 255-0480

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Anyone have one around that they want to sell?

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I'm considered insect bait for my family. I've had great success with
Crocodile herbal insect repellent made by Dancing Roots in Keene, NH.
www.dancingroots.com. No DEET and no Citronella.
Mike

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I'm surprised you got off that lightly. DEET is ineffective against Black
Flies, or any other flies, for that matter. They sell a different repellant
for those. Some companies sell one that has DEET and the repellants for
Black Flies. Read the labels.....

Jerry

http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the most comprehensive interactive gear
reviews and tests on the planet.

I have been out fishing in Black Fly season. (The Brookies were
gorged on black
flies.) By 0800 there was a cloud of flies on the water. For the three days
we there, we were slathered in DEET, and long sleeved shirts. I got 4
bites...3 on the first day. My bother got 26 or so(we were flown in and were
stuck there for the three nights.) Soo, I am guessing that the only
difference is metabolism.
4) Keep Moving.
Not really a repellent, this works well to keep bugs at bay.
5) Smoke a cigar or pipe.
Rather unladylike(in this day and age?), smoke works well to deter
insects.
(Wine, Cherry, Mint, etc. Flavours can help.)
My thoughts only . . .
jdm
At 03:20 PM 5/31/2008, you wrote:
>My wife is allergic to Deet insect repellant. What are the best
>alternatives to deet. Your feedback will be appreciated.
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
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>
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>BackpackingLight <at> yahoogroups.com
>+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+Yahoo! Groups
>+Links
>
>
>
James Marco
Computer Operations Manager
Biomedical Engineering & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Cornell
University
B77 Olin Hall,
Ithaca, NY 14853
Office: 255-7312, Computer Room: 255-0480

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I've met people like you. You're the sort that is EXCELLENT to have
along on a hiking trip! My half-dozen mosquitoes will leave my bare
legs and arms to go join the thick cloud buzzing around your completely
goretex-covered and deet-covered body. This really helps me to keep my
pack weight down!

Don't get too mad. When the mosquitoes pack it in and the flies come
out, the tables are reversed. If you have any flies at all, they're
likely to come over to join my flies (this includes house and horse and
fruit flies), and I've yet to find that insect repellents help keep off
the flies.

So, sometimes it is a really tough call as to which plague is worse!
From the perspective of mosquitoes and flies, however, it is probably a
Mayonnaise and Mustard question--"Which do you prefer, Mayo or Mustard?"

Body chemistry. Skin surface temperatures. All sorts of things make up
the differences.

CL

mbwdavis wrote:
> I'm considered insect bait for my family. I've had great success with
> Crocodile herbal insect repellent made by Dancing Roots in Keene, NH.
> www.dancingroots.com. No DEET and no Citronella.
> Mike

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Jerry,
Yes. I know that. Mostly, the little buggers key in on your
body heat (IR.) DEET does little to prevent them from finding
you. Or landing on you. It helps some with the biting...though
not as absolute as with mosquitoes.
Mostly, I will be relying on my old Marco Charm to keep
them off. Chant's and incantations work well. But, only when
accompanied by copious amounts of smoke. I have tried most
of the repellents, out there...and some that are not made any
more. Nothing really works all that well.
Anyway, I'll have to let you know how I make out this year.
I am once again headed up to black fly country in the thick of
them. 'Corse, that time IS when the fish are biting best too...
My thoughts only . . .
jdm
At 11:59 AM 6/2/2008, you wrote:
> I'm surprised you got off that lightly. DEET is ineffective against Black
>Flies, or any other flies, for that matter. They sell a different repellant
>for those. Some companies sell one that has DEET and the repellants for
>Black Flies. Read the labels.....
>
>Jerry
>
>
>http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the most comprehensive interactive gear
>reviews and tests on the planet.
>
>
> I have been out fishing in Black Fly season. (The Brookies were
>gorged on black
>flies.) By 0800 there was a cloud of flies on the water. For the three days
>we there, we were slathered in DEET, and long sleeved shirts. I got 4
>bites...3 on the first day. My bother got 26 or so(we were flown in and were
>stuck there for the three nights.) Soo, I am guessing that the only
>difference is metabolism.
> 4) Keep Moving.
> Not really a repellent, this works well to keep bugs at bay.
> 5) Smoke a cigar or pipe.
> Rather unladylike(in this day and age?), smoke works well to deter
>insects.
> (Wine, Cherry, Mint, etc. Flavours can help.)
> My thoughts only . . .
> jdm
>At 03:20 PM 5/31/2008, you wrote:
>>My wife is allergic to Deet insect repellant. What are the best
>>alternatives to deet. Your feedback will be appreciated.
>>
>>
>>------------------------------------
>>
>>
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>>
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>>+Links
>>
>>
>>
>James Marco
>Computer Operations Manager
>Biomedical Engineering & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Cornell
>University
>B77 Olin Hall,
>Ithaca, NY 14853
>Office: 255-7312, Computer Room: 255-0480
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
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>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
James Marco
Computer Operations Manager
Biomedical Engineering & Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University
B77 Olin Hall,
Ithaca, NY 14853
Office: 255-7312, Computer Room: 255-0480

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