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best rope/climbing friendly bug repellant???

Original Post
Kurt G · · Monticello, UT · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 156

so it's warm out and once again those disgusting little blood suckers are out in full force. for some reason I am particularly attractive to these stupid mosquitos and I am looking to the climbing community to see if anyone has come across anything that A. works well and B. doesn't leave your hands greasy and covered potentially rope harmful chemicals( not to mention less grip on the rope). I've run the gambit of products and found some things that work OK but always run into the issue of getting some on my hands. what is the best product in your opinions and has anyone come up with any tricks to keep their hands clean?

Thanks

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

I think DEET is still the best option for mosquito repellent. Tried citronella once and found it useless. Some people say that Skin So Soft by Avon (I think) works, but I am skeptical. Yeah, DEET is a powerful chemical, but I've used it for years with no ill effects. I found the 100% concentration is better than the lesser concentrations.

I wouldn't worry about a little bit getting on a rope.

Nicholas Patterson · · Sheridan, WY · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 55

i used to live, canoe, camp in south mississippi...now i live, climb, camp, and flyfish in the alpine...(both places full of mosquitoes)

natural stuff sold at camping stores, target, wal mart, is good. lemon eucalyptus based. works well for me and wouldn't have any ill effects on nylons or polyesters found in ropes, which also makes them safe for jackets, packs, harnesses, etc...

Em Cos · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 5

Something with Picaridin - it doesn't harm artificial fibers like DEET can, and seems to work well. Get a small pump bottle and spray it on, and don't spray it on your hands.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065
bluewaterdealer.com/Technic…

Laboratory tests performed have shown no appreciable damage done to nylon fibers by contact with insect repellents containing DEET (Test #0559).

;)
Robbie Mackley · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2010 · Points: 85

DEET. If it worries you, spray 3 or 4 bandanas down before you go out. Keep them in seperate bags, and when one stops working, bust out another.
-Mackley
P.S. tie em around yet head stem.

Jason Hayden · · North Clarendon, VT · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 9,585

Got some of this from a local vet - made for fleas and ticks, all natural - found out it works for mosquitos, black flies and deer flies...safe for humans
onlynaturalpet.com/products…

Mowed with a push mower Sunday in a mosquito infested area bitten multiple times then wiped arms, legs, neck and hat and mowed for 3 hours with no bites...seems to work.

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75

garlic, onions and not showering.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

^^^

Bring THAT dude with you...

John Husky · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 5

Some tests show that DEET is better than nothing. I can asure you hat it is not very much better than nothing. You can try smoking. It helps a little bit, but there are side effects. No other dug dopes are worth trying, except insofar as placebos are effective.

What does work, without a doubt, is a headnet and long clothes. A cheap headnet can be got for <$5. Wear it over a hat or helmet. There are obvious reasons that it is unhandy, but it is a wonderful respite.

A third option is just to fuck it all. Let them drink their fill and they'll be on their way. This can be augmented with a Fuck it Bucket (from David Sedaris), which is a bucket you fill with candy, beer or what have you, and when that shit gets to be too much, say "Fuck it" and get yourself another beer, candy,etc..

Seriously, get a headnet. They cost nothing and take up no space.

plurpimpin · · PDX · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

I'm a big fan of treating my clothes with permethrin. It works great and you don't have to apply anything to your skin. It lasts about 6 washings.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

As a 47 year vet of NE bugs, the only thing that works at all is Ben's 100%

Get the pump and rub it on with a napkin or cloth, nothing on your hands

A head net also is good

M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911

stay away from bad conditions, life is too short to die from self-applied chemical exposure

damn you Rachel Carson

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75

no I'm serious about the not showering. I shower about once every 2 weeks in the summer and eat tons of garlic. bugs avoid me like the plague, for real.

Nate Castner · · Boulder, CO · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 45
caesar.salad wrote:bugs avoid me like the plague, for real.
Humans probably do too!
ascender30 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 180

"grip on the rope" ?!

caesar.salad · · earth · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 75
Mike McKinnon wrote: I bet you get laid alot:)
Oddly enough. It helps to date hippies.
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
John Husky wrote:Some tests show that DEET is better than nothing.
Ha, better than nothing? It is a night and day difference. High-DEET-concentration repellent does what it is designed to do quite well. The downside is that I suspect repellent is rather harmful to your health. Also, you really want to take a shower the night of wearing the repellent. You do not want to sleep in your bag with that crap on.
Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Ilike the lemon and eucalyptus stuff, seems safe and natural and does keep bugs away.

Matt N · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 415
Em Cos wrote:Something with Picaridin - it doesn't harm artificial fibers like DEET can, and seems to work well. Get a small pump bottle and spray it on, and don't spray it on your hands.
This stuff seems to work okay on Sierra skeeters. Labeled as 'gear safe' by some brands.
Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280
20 kN wrote:Ha, better than nothing? It is a night and day difference. High-DEET-concentration repellent does what it is designed to do quite well. The downside is that I suspect repellent is rather harmful to your health. Also, you really want to take a shower the night of wearing the repellent. You do not want to sleep in your bag with that crap on.
Spray your long sleeve shirt and pants, remove before sleeping and try to keep your skin free of the DEET if you can.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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