ThermaCELL Portable Mosquito Repellent – No Lotions, No Electricity

The fact that you’re reading this article probably means you’ve already had camping vacations spoiled by mosquitoes, or maybe just quiet evenings on your terrace at home ruined by those little pests. So far I haven’t found a good solution to the problem myself, but I have high hopes that this ThermaCELL Portable Mosquito Repellent could save my next vacation.

I’ve already tried lots of things to get rid of the little pests, hoping to enjoy sitting on my terrace or have a good night’s sleep while on vacation. Let’s have a look at what’s on the market today.

Mosquito repellents such as DEET that you apply to your skin: They’re very effective against mosquitoes, but you’ll repel most human beings as well; they’re not pleasant to apply, probably not healthy, and you’d probably want to shower afterwards.
UV lamps that attract insects and electrocute them: Tried those – result: mosquitoes 10, me 0 (that is, ten bites, zero dead mosquitoes). Mosquitoes probably can’t even see that wavelength. At least, they couldn’t care less about it. Still, you can check out these solar bug zappers.
Ultrasonic repellents: Tried these as well. They’re not that ultrasonic that I couldn’t hear the sound myself. The device itself was just an extra nuisance keeping me from sleep while being bitten all over by mosquitoes that were completely indifferent to the sound.
Mosquito coils: When you light these, they start spreading poisonous fumes containing pyrethrins and other compounds that kill the mosquitoes. They’re very effective, but not very healthy, and they don’t smell too good either. If you need them, buy “serious” brands to make sure they’re at least tested for minimal health impact.
Vaporizers such as the Baygon Genius: Again, these disperse insecticides; these also need electricity – probably not to hand in your tent – and they’re not suitable for outdoor use.
Citronella candles: Cozy on your terrace, but probably more of a placebo effect than it is real repellent, if you ask me.

Why It’s Clever

The ThermaCELL mosquito repellent is supposed to work differently. It uses tablets that release a natural insecticide and insect repellent (allethrin) found in chrysanthemum flowers. The dose is sufficient to repel the insects, but not to kill them, so I can only suppose that it’s not very harmful to humans either. They claim that they create – within 10 minutes – a 15 x 15 ft (225 sq ft) “Mosquito-Free-Zone.” I’ve been reading user feedback from several sources, and so far the feedback supports their claims. Besides mosquitoes, it’s also effective against no-see-ums, sand flies, and black flies.

To give off the active compound, the device uses heat. And that’s where it’s really clever. Instead of requiring you to find an electric outlet or to charge batteries, it uses butane cartridges which can generate heat for up to 9–12 hours per cartridge. That way you can use the device in your tent, or even when fishing or hunting in the open – ThermaCELL sells holsters to carry the devices around.

Note: The refills are around $5 apiece, meaning that it will cost you about 50 cents per hour of mosquito-free enjoyment. That’s not cheap, but on the other hand it’s a reassurance. If it didn’t work as advertised, they wouldn’t sell any refills at all.

ThermaCELL Butane Cartridge and Pad

Although the manufacturer suggests that you place the device upwind when there’s a breeze, I suppose that the effect will diminish when it’s windy. But then again, mosquitoes reportedly don’t go hunting when the wind speed is higher than 4 mph (I hope they read this article too).

Here’s a commercial that gives a better view of how it works:

Summary

Mosquito repellent in tablet form, given off in the form of vapor by the device
Heat is generated by a butane cartridge – no outlet or batteries required
Up to 12 hours per butane cartridge, 4 hours per tablet with repellent
Suitable for outdoor use
Holster for portable use
Repels mosquitoes, sand flies, no-see-ums, and black flies.

Tips

There’s also a lantern version for use on your porch or terrace.

If you use it indoors, it’s always healthier to use it in your bedroom for an hour before going to bed and then switch it off when you do, unless mosquitoes can enter after you’re asleep. The same goes for mosquito coils and other solutions.

Still not sure what to buy? Here's an overview table of different mosquito repellent solutions.

Did they get past your Thermacell defense barrier? Have a look at this innovative and lightweight solution to stop the itching.

Where to buy

There are several online sources for both the U.S.A. and Europe, such as Amazon.com or Amazon UK.

Approx. price: $25 for the device, $5 per refill (February 2010)