I overheard the local feedstore owner bragging on something he sells and he seems to be a straight shooter. I will try to find out and post. I think it was the things you add water to and hang in trees around your yard.
This will mostly be for camping and sport events. One of the fields my boy plays ball at is right next to a swampy area. I can deal with the bloodsuckers but my fair maidens(wife and daughter) not so much. I don’t mind spending the money if it works.
Have one of the small units. Have used a fair bit. Never tried to clear an area so to speak. Have placed between my feet on the tractor or on the seat of the buggy or tailgate of truck. They work if you are close to them in my experience. I don't use it all the time due to cost. Green bottle sportsmans !OFF is my go to since I can't find the blue bottles anymore. I usually don't have a ton of skeeters, but the little fly around your face/eyes/ears bugs and flies and deer flies don't seem to like it much, the Thermocell. If I need to clear an area for an event or fishing or something I bust out these babies with some citronella.
Oh yeah! Big fan of the tiki torches, use them at the house often. However they arnt really welcome at the ball field.
My back can’t take bleachers for more than ten min. If we put a small folding table next to our chairs and had a torch the locals wouldn’t care a bit. The transplants from the blue sate below me might have a to shut the whole game down because of it tho.
People are way too soft and easily agitated these days. The proper 'response' is to bring more/bigger torches than you next game. Soon there won't be a mosquito at the whole park!
I have used the Thermacell units for many years and would not without one. In fact, I just gave one away so ordered another new one. They will not clear a large area as they are meant for personal use, at least the ones I buy. Generally a circle about 15' in diameter. Remember they work with heat so you need to give them a few minutes to start working. My wife really loved them especially when picking strawberries and raspberries. They also seemed to keep other bugs and critters away. They are wonderful if camping in the remote campsites. If sleeping in a tent, it is best to lay the unit down at the doorway and wait 5 minutes before opening the tent door and then you won't let a buck of skeeters inside. Shut unit off when you are in the tent. Also they are for outside use, not in buildings. They do have several new units they say are for patio use but I have no experience. I do not consider them expensive. I usually buy one refill pack per year.
I’ve used them and they do work like backwoods savage said figure no more than a 15 foot circling you want to cover more area than that get a couple tiki torches
I believe there are multiple ones/sizes. I have one of what I would say is a small one. It stays hooked to my turkey vest. It is invaluable once the mosquitoes, no-see-ums and other annoying pests come out.
The Thermocell would be more useful to me if it were small enough to wear on wrist or as a necklace or something. I kinda have ants in my pants. If not in a vehicle or doing a stationary activity it's hard to keep one 'nearby'. That's why I still need to use spray on stuff.
You can purchase a holster for carrying on your belt. I simply stick one in my hip pocket and it still works while walking.
Have seen various attachment options. I'm a little bothered by stuff hanging off me. Never did carry cell phone on hip. I have a tendency to bash things on my belt line into other stuff. (I even use a chest holster for pistol deer hunting) Can hook it to backpack if I have one on, but never do unless marking boundaries or cutting vines which require carrying extra gear. I don't really trust the Thermo for keeping ticks off my pants either. I would try a hat that had one built in. Hmm...just had an idea. Can the little pads be heated by electricity instead of butane?? pad/element in hat with connector for cordless tool batteries?
