June 06, 2012
Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repellent Appliance Review
You may have heard of a Thermacell and wondered if it would actually work as claimed. It's that time of year again where the days are long and we try and spend a lot of time outdoors. It's also time for the mosquito's to be out in full force.
Here is an image that Alaska Life fan, Andrea Boeshart, took through her window last week. In order to take advantage of a nice sunny day or make a hunting or fishing trip mosquito free, keep reading on what to discover the Thermacell, what I think is the best bug repellent, and a must have item.
Like Florida, Alaska has tons of swamps and water almost everywhere you go. This is prime breeding grounds for these biting insects that can fill the sky and surround you in no time. It makes everything on a hunt just a little more difficult when you are surrounded by hundreds of biting and noisy insects. The usual option is to cover up in bug spray or deet. Now you are covered in an oily spray that typically has a very strong smell.
Most bug repellents are also not near as powerful unless they contain 100% deet. If you are hunting this only minimizes your chances of seeing any game down wind. Even though I use my ThermaCELL over insect repellant, I do keep a small canister of 100% deet in my pack just in case I forget my ThermaCELL or run out of butane or mats.
ThermaCELL is designed to put an odorless repellent into the air that repels 98% of mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and black flies. ThermaCELL uses small butane cartridges to heat up a metal grill that is protected by a grill guard. This guard not only keeps you from touching the hot metal plate, but also holds the repellent mats in place. The repellent is saturated into small blue mats that come individually packaged to stay fresh. 
Within minutes of turning the ThermaCELL on the heat generated form the plate vaporizes the repellent in the mat causing it to rise onto the air. You can hear and see the bugs flying around, but almost all of them are keeping their distance and not bothering you. Depending on the wind the ThermaCELL will cover an area 15' X 15'. This not only covers you, but also anyone else that would be with you in this area. Each mat lasts around 3-4 hours, but I have found that you 
can lengthen this time some by turning the unit on and off. Allowing the unit to run for at least 15 minutes and then shutting it off, heats up the plate enough to keep the vapor going into the air.
Once you see the vapor is less or the bugs start getting closer, just turn it back on to heat up the plate again. The mat will slowly start to change colors from blue to white as the repellent is vaporized. Once the mat is completely white just pop another mat in and you are good to go. Each butane cartridge will last around 9-12 hours. ThermaCELL sales separate carriers that custom fit around the device that has pockets allowing you to always have new mats and a cartridge on hand when the others run out. They have a number of different portable devices as well as a lantern style for patios. 
Whether I am hunting, camping, or enjoying a campfire in the backyard, I will always have my ThermaCELL with me and RUNNING.
Like Florida, Alaska has tons of swamps and water almost everywhere you go. This is prime breeding grounds for these biting insects that can fill the sky and surround you in no time. It makes everything on a hunt just a little more difficult when you are surrounded by hundreds of biting and noisy insects. The usual option is to cover up in bug spray or deet. Now you are covered in an oily spray that typically has a very strong smell.
Most bug repellents are also not near as powerful unless they contain 100% deet. If you are hunting this only minimizes your chances of seeing any game down wind. Even though I use my ThermaCELL over insect repellant, I do keep a small canister of 100% deet in my pack just in case I forget my ThermaCELL or run out of butane or mats.
ThermaCELL is designed to put an odorless repellent into the air that repels 98% of mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and black flies. ThermaCELL uses small butane cartridges to heat up a metal grill that is protected by a grill guard. This guard not only keeps you from touching the hot metal plate, but also holds the repellent mats in place. The repellent is saturated into small blue mats that come individually packaged to stay fresh. 
Within minutes of turning the ThermaCELL on the heat generated form the plate vaporizes the repellent in the mat causing it to rise onto the air. You can hear and see the bugs flying around, but almost all of them are keeping their distance and not bothering you. Depending on the wind the ThermaCELL will cover an area 15' X 15'. This not only covers you, but also anyone else that would be with you in this area. Each mat lasts around 3-4 hours, but I have found that you 
can lengthen this time some by turning the unit on and off. Allowing the unit to run for at least 15 minutes and then shutting it off, heats up the plate enough to keep the vapor going into the air.
Once you see the vapor is less or the bugs start getting closer, just turn it back on to heat up the plate again. The mat will slowly start to change colors from blue to white as the repellent is vaporized. Once the mat is completely white just pop another mat in and you are good to go. Each butane cartridge will last around 9-12 hours. ThermaCELL sales separate carriers that custom fit around the device that has pockets allowing you to always have new mats and a cartridge on hand when the others run out. They have a number of different portable devices as well as a lantern style for patios. 
Whether I am hunting, camping, or enjoying a campfire in the backyard, I will always have my ThermaCELL with me and RUNNING.
Currently you can pick up the Thermacell MR-LJ Portable Mosquito Repeller, Black on sale for $19.58 ($24.99).
You can click through the link and select the Gray model which is on sale for $14.05.
Click here, or on the image below, and support The Alaska Life!
1 comment
Are no-see-ums completely and totally different from sand fleas? I have been trying to do some research and it seems that there are so many different answers on the subject of what sand fleas are/look like. I have seen a website called http://fleabites101.com that says that many people call many different creatures and critters sand fleas…but it just depends on what region of the country you are in.Their page on sand fleas ( http://fleabites101.com/sand-fleas/ ) describes what they say South Carolinians refer to and it sounds kind of like what you describe above.
411guy
April 17, 2021