[pct-l] Insect repellent

[Don Billings]

I've seen various comments about how bears don't discriminate upon odors that might indicate food. Would catnip oil create a bear attraction 
problem? (I'd rather have mosquito bites than bear bites).

Don



----- Original Message ----
From: "abiegen at cox.net" <abiegen at cox.net>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Sent: Thu, April 8, 2010 10:45:14 AM
Subject: [pct-l]  Insect repellent

I learned a few years ago that catnip is 10X stronger at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm

The problem is that here in southern California we have very few mosquitoes so it was hard to test out (poor southern California). On one trip when I went out to hike with Piper, we camped next to a beautiful lake which we later discovered was infested with mosquitoes. I had mixed DEET with catnip oil and brought it with me. I rubbed it on my arms and face. Piper had DEET. Piper was plagued with mosquitoes. For me, they didn't even land on me. I chuckled until it was time for bed. Then I took off my shirt to change into my sleeping clothes. I got several dozen bites on my back in the few seconds it took to get my sleeping shirt on.

I always bring 100% DEET or close to 100%. Mostly because it's smaller and less weight. You can put it on thinner if you want or mix it with sun block. Or with catnip oil if you want to experiment. The catnip oil is, well, oily and heavy so not so pleasant on the skin.

TrailHacker

>I guess most folks carry DEET.  What concentration do folks find the best?  And 
do you carry a spray container (how much)?  Or just a plain bottle?  Coleman has 
just come out with several different DEET products of different concentrations 
and different sizes. 

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