What 'Bug Repellants' DON'T Want You To Know!

*Products tested in this video:*

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[EpicPhailStudios]

Dude the best part about this channel is actually pushing the boundary to create new and really interesting content, not just endless gear reviews. This was such an interesting video!

[SawyerProducts]

Thanks for subjecting yourself to this test! We wish we could have funded a larger sample size and a larger variety of mosquitoes and ticks.

[micahwinters]

This channel is always doing something different and new and it’s benefiting the outdoors gear community immensely.

[jeremybrown]

My wife is a mosquito attractor and gets bit all the time. She does not want to use DEET and insists on more "natural" citronella based repellant. It would a be cool comparison to see how these "natural" repellants fare against the ones in this video

[cathiewilliamson]

Since I began treating my clothes and gear with permethrin I’ve yet to even see a tick. I live and hike in a heavily tick populated area and I contracted Lymes disease about 30 years ago. Permethrin works for me

[brentperron]

We have found the thermacells are great for when you have set up camp and are staying around a smaller area like a picnic table. After letting it run for a while we've noticed a decrease in biting and mosquitos flying around. When not in this situation we still use deet based sprays for everything else.

I have to say, from someone coming from a science background. Its awesome to see some scientific method and actual openness about testing/results in these types of videos. Its also great to see you interacting with these different organizations and scientists. A wonderful way to bridge the gaps between the general public and research/science!

[luke_mckay]

Consistently awesome content as always, Steven. Love the intro, mitigating unfounded fears regarding things that aren't actually dangerous, just perceived as such (bears, mountain lions, etc). It's safer out in the woods than we think. We are fortunate to live somewhere without as much prevalence, or number of, deadly mosquito-born illnesses. But this is still great information, presented in a fantastic manner. You do outdoor Youtube content like no one else!

Also, props to Sawyer for their willingness to sponsor this video while also putting themselves on the line.

[ahtitaipalus]

Problem with Thermacell is that it kills all insects not just mosquitos. For that reason it is banned in nature reservoir areas in many countries.

[boldtlev]

Steven (Stephen?), you don't just repeat the "wisdom" from others but test to see what works and what doesn't. I'm a data analysis nerd at heart, so I appreciate your approach to common problems backpackers regularly deal with.

[douglasstemke]

Gotta love a little science. As a nature photographer I have completely moved away from Deet. I learned tat lesson when I applied it on my hands and it MELTED the coating on the outside of my lens.

[davidhall]

After spending over sixty years, camping, hiking and hunting, the ONLY time I was ever hurt was by a tick who put me in the hospital for a week. Damn right I am scared of ticks and mosquitos!! Thanks so much for this info!!!

[AaronRittenour]

I tried the Thermacell and within about 30 minutes all the people around me started dropping. So I guess it’s working. 🤷🏽‍♂️

[BrokenBackMountains]

In Scotland and Ireland I use a product called smidge. It is Picaridin based. Our main problem is Ticks. Their number seems to have increased in the past 20 years. Luckily I have never had one as I wear long trousers and gaiters, avoid high grass and bracken and do a good check before I pitch and of my body (mobile phone helps for the back).
Mozzies aren't so prevalent but I have endured swarms in the Baltics and Sweden. The bane of our existence is the midge. It doesn't carry any disease but just drives you insane. We need to wear very fine headnets
The smidge is effective against ticks, mozzies and midges but not for as long as they claim. They say up to 8 hours. Note "up to". I'd say that is about 3 to 4.

[stormykinz]

You couldn’t pay me to do this!! Thanks for your sacrifice 😂

[StephenSkoutas]

Talk about taking one for the team. Great video and both incredibly important and informative.

[CookieMonster-nthh]

bless you my man. Youre doing the real testing here. there's no way id stick my arm in a mosquito filled box as a control group

[followmeto]

I am a professional landscape photographer from Brazil (jackdanielpro) and my large experience with deet and icaridin (picaridin) inside the Brazilian forests is: 1- Deet does NOT work into the wild jungles with less than 15%. I have tested. It does not work with less than 15%, period. With 20% of deet it has a good effect inside a real forest. However, deet has a problem to me which is that it reacts with plastic. This means that the textures and some delicate parts of my equipment will corrode with time when in contact with deet and it is IMPOSSIBLE not to happen while into the wild. You WILL get deet in your hands because real wild mosquitos or whatever comes (there are a lot of different types of insects that get your blood inside Brazilian jungles) will suck blood from any part of your body including the palm of the hands. 2- About icaridin (picaridin). I start to sense real effect with 20% of icaridin inside the forests. With 25% of icaridin I have the exact same effect of 20% of deet. The percentage has direct correlation to power and not the amount of time it stays on your skin, which will always be 2 to 4 hours depending on how much you walk or run or rub the skin against the backpack or equipment. 25% of Icaridin does not reacts with plastic, but has the same effect to the respiratory system as a light pepper spray. And it is not possible to avoid sometimes spraying icaridin in your face. It will happen. Conclusion: I am pretty happy using 25%-30% of icaridin, since it does not destroy my equipment and has the same effect of 20%-25% of deet. I tryed other solutions, none of them ever worked, only icaridin and deet... The percentages I wrote here are for wild jungles. if you are staying at home in the city, you will not need all that power for them to work.

[hilltigger]

After many many years of backpacking, I use a mult-pronged approach. Deet (Ultrathon by 3M - lower concentration of Deet with long release time) on Skin (usually in specific areas - head, neck, wrists, waist, and ankles). Permethrin purchased at Home Depot in home/garden area (diluted) on outer clothing layers, pack, and shelter in spring and fall. Ensure it is completely dry before wearing/touching and keep away from animals while curing. Not discussed in the video, studies prove that mosquitoes are attracted most strongly to black, 2nd and 3rd tied red and blue colors. I wear khaki (or other muted colors) for my clothing as least attractive to mosquitoes. Long lightweight pants and shirt in evening during "hunting hour". My general gear pouch also contains a headnet for intense mosquito populated areas. Also, no camping near bodies of water. Simply moving a hundred yards makes a huge difference. Side note: There are many old wives tales in regards to concentration of Deet being more effective. It simply allows the products to last longer; not repell mosquitoes better. I have done numerous field tests over the years to come to these conclusions.

[tomnoyb]

Up the dose. Rational distance-hikers don't carry 93% water, they carry 100% Deet. Yes it's somewhat dangerous, but weigh it against disease, possible death and itching day and night for 24hrs? Calculation's even simpler with Permethrin. 1) Permethrin applied days before the hike (in other words, dried Permethrin) weighs less than 1g, regardless how much clothing's treated. 2) Permethrin need never touch skin (treat the outside of clothing, not the inside). Up the dose to 4-5% Permethrin and those ticks will drop like flies, mosquitoes will look elsewhere and even flies will decrease measurably. 3) Permethrin will last months before reapplication's necessary. Properly permethrin'd clothing reduces exposed skin and Deet to a fraction.

[cbar]

Great video topic. As a New England resident / hiker, ticks require reasonable vigilance to mitigate the risk.