recommended insect repellant for August - Picaridin vs Deet
Trying to figure out which insect repellants to bring. We have some leftover Deet wipes, but checking on sprays. Evidently deet can damage some clothing so looking at some Sawyer Picaridin products. Does anyone have any experience/advise on Deet vs Picaridin?
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Based on the CDC information, 50% DEET is the most effective choice. Higher concentrations are available, but are no more effective. It is nasty stuff ad will melt some plastics. Other choices are less effective.
I believe 30% is sufficient. I was aware of how damaging Deet is and warned our children, But it still ruined my daughter’s clear nail polish when she used it here in Africa. Be careful near your watch too
I can see British's trip review now: "I got Dengue Fever, but my nails were perfect!"
Heading out to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa ( Tauck Wildlife Odyssey) in September. These are the products that we are using based on our research : The Sawyer( 0.5% permethrin) gets sprayed on clothes ( not underwear!!!!!!!!!!), and the Ultrathon ( DEET - 34%) is used of exposed areas ( not near eyes or mouth).
Google “comparison between Deet and Picaridin.” Either one will be fine. The later does not have an odor. You can also spray your clothes in advance with Permethrin.
Heading to Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa in a few weeks. Wondering….. did people spray outerwear as well as general clothing with permethrin? Don’t know how crazy to get. The smell is horrible. Was not going to spray my coat. Thinking a mosquito would have to have a 1 inch proboscis to get through my coat. General clothing, yes. Outerwear - no. What did people do?
Thanking the travel gurus in advance.
No need to spray your coat. If you spray everything you wear thoroughly, you will require a huge amount of spray. When we use Premethrin we spray the openings of the garments, neck, armholes, leg holes.
My project this weekend is to spray my safari clothes with Premethrin for the 9/13 Elegant Adventure. We also have packages of Repel wipes (30% Deet) to use on exposed skin. At this time of year, the only place I would expect to see mosquitoes is at Victoria Falls. Always best to be safe rather than sorry.
I sprayed my clothes and wore a mask and gloves while spraying. The small disappears almost immediately . There were not that many mosquitos at all at Victoria Falls and I am a mosquito magnet. I was just at the Falls last week. I’m at the Pans now and since it’s 5:30 in the morning, I’m dressed like an Eskimo because the mornings are cold. Layer, layer and layer your clothing. It is currently extremely windy. I also have an extremely lightweight solar lamp by Kizen (Amazon) which has come in very handy especially and only for this camp.