Insect Repellent that is not nasty and sticky?

[MyBoozers]

I will be in Panama this Feb. and do not feel like being eaten alive by mosquitoes. I tried the Deet spray last time and it was so slimy and sticky I chose to get bit instead of using the stuff. Anyone got any recs? THANKS!

[Mikethehack]

Mosquito net, if you are out in the boonies.

[Penta]

You can get insect-repellent little cloths - like individually wrapped wet-wipes or those "refreshing towelettes" they give you on planes - which are much less unpleasant and sticky and work just as well. Can't remember the make, but they'd probably be different in the US anyway. And citronella-impregnated elasticated wrist and ankle bands work too, to my surprise: as long as you keep moving your arms and legs a bit, they waft the citronella around you, which puts a lot of bugs off.

[mb]

the encapsulated deet is apparently way better for you and lasts longer and is a bit more pleasant--3m ultrathon is easy to find.
i don't remember how unpleasant jaico moustimug is but you wont find it in the US anyway, so probably not in panama either (i'm guessing they have a US bias towards things like that, not a belgian/french bias.)

[Woodsman]

You're going to a hot humid place with biting bugs. Quit being a pussy.

Slather on the deet, treat your clothes with permanone, use a bug shirt, pull imbedded ticks and thorns out of your hide with your fingers and don't piss in the streams - and like I said, quit being a pussy.

The jungle is uncomfortable. Live with it or stay at the mall.

[Royal]

The jungle is uncomfortable. Live with it or stay at the mall.

Woodsman's told you. There's your answer. The truth.
The jungle is neutral. It's all up to you.

[roach coach]

What about treating your clothing with permethrin?

[Chelly]

there's anecdotal and scientific studies as to the effectiveness of garlic.
Just add it to whatever you've already decided to do. I try to eat a clove every morning, as it has general medicinal benefits on top of the possible anti-insect effects. It keeps the girls away, that's for sure, and that's reason enough.

[MyBoozers]

Wow, Woodsman, stick up your ass much? No, I will not stay at the mall, I will go and get bit by bugs before slathering on nasty ass Deet. Thanks to the other's for your recs, I will have to try the toilettes. :)

[Woodsman]

Wow, Woodsman, stick up your ass much?

Sometimes during mis-steps, to the nuts too every now and again, but the ones I hate the most are in the eyes and ears (almost lost an eardrum that way from a rude tag alder stem)...glad you see it the bugs way. Careful with the malaria and breakbone!

[JamesInTheWorld]

Go ahead and try the insect repelling clothing and natural mosquito repellent but pretty much the only thing that works is 50%+ DEET spray.

Back in the day when I was first in the Middle East I would pull 12 hour shifts sitting on top of an APC with weeks worth of rotten food tossed around it – 50% DEET was the only thing that would work. I would see the mosquitoes hovering 4 inches around me unable to penetrate the DEET fumes. But I do agree that DEET is sticky and uncomfortable especially in humid environments.

You can try shoving a Fabric softener sheet under your collor and on the outside of your hat, that sometimes works depending on how aggressive the skeeters are


~James

[MyBoozers]

Thanks James, I got some insect repellant clothing, we shall see if the buggies are turned off! :)

[HiTek RedNek]

I hold a pest applicator's license and treating your clothes with a pyrethrin based product will no help as it is a contact kill with little to no residual effect. However, there is a product designed for use in hotel and healthcare industry that you can spray on things like mattresses and curtains (maybe clothes) not labeled for that but hey got to do what you got to do! The product is a restricted use product called Suspend SC. Mix it in a spray bottle and lightly coat the outside of clothes that it will no permeate to the interior, allow to dry and it will have a 2-3 months residual effect. Might help. I can go anywhere and not get bit much but I glow toxic green from all the crap I have worked around. I also take garlic tabs daily year round, helps with bugs, zombies, and the wife hahahaha! Good luck on your trip!
Hitek Rednek
T

[JamesInTheWorld]

Seriously, try a Fabric softener sheet


~James

[MyBoozers]

Thanks all, I was prepared with insect repellant clothing and Deet(just in case) however, the bugs were not bad at all this time around! Must be because it was dry season. I did not even need to bust out the Deet. Thanks for all your help!