Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller
Using heat generated by your backpacking stove fuel canister, the compact and lightweight Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller effectively repels mosquitoes by creating a 15 ft. protection zone.
- Updated from last season, it offers improved functionality, more consistent ignition and enhanced compatibility with more fuel canister brands
- Heat from fuel canister activates a repellent mat and disperse the allethrin insect repellent to create a 15 ft. zone of protection
- Evaluated by the EPA for safety and effectiveness, allethrin insect repellent is the synthetic form of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum plants
- Scent-free and DEET-free; no messy sprays or lotions; no open flame; no smoky candles
- Each repeller mat provides up to 4 hrs. of protection; comes with 4 repellent mats and a water-resistant travel bag; additional replacement repellent mats sold separately
- Runs for up to 90 hrs. on a 4 oz. backpacking stove fuel canister; canister sold separately
- Weighs just 4 oz. (114g) and works up to 7,000 ft. of elevation
- Measures 3.8 x 2.6 x 2 in. (97 x 67 x 50mm), so it won't take up much space in your pack
- Use pressurized self-sealing (iso)butane and propane fuel mix only; does not work with 100% propane; do not use with refilled canisters
- Allow gas to flow for 5 sec. before clicking the piezo ignitor; repeller is only compatible with valves designed to the EN417 specification
- Thermacell provides a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on all their products
Imported.
View all Thermacell Insect Repellent Devices| Best Use | Backpacking |
|---|---|
| Effective Duration | 16 hours |
| Weight | 4 ounces |
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Enjoy Summer Again
Worked excellent for biting flies and mosquitoes, especially if you use two. Lightweight, small and easy to use. So light and small I carried two (along with two 100g fuel canisters) on bike camping trips throughout the summer, and they provided adequate coverage for a group of four people around a large picnic table. I hate to use bug repellents but this product makes camping enjoyable even during the worst fly and mosquito conditions. The flies were so bad on one trip I got dozens of bites while riding, yet was able to hang out comfortably at camp. Definitely recommend.
Simple,no mess, effective design
THERMACELL BACKPACKER 9/26/2016 As a somewhat devout ultra lightweight backpacker (I used to be devout), I was a bit skeptical about adding another half a pound to my pack and taking up the additional space that the Backpacker (in its minimal state with its own fuel source) and a small canister would occupy. However, being adaptive by nature and as a result of 38 years of military and 50 years of mountain experience, and 25 years of field research, here is what I have found thus far. Initially, I found the packaging to be very adequate, it was clearly marked, labeled and attractive-the product was also well protected and comes complete with a very nice storage bag. I found the instructions to be simple and clear, although some people might need an illustration about how and where to place the mat? Concerning the Mat, it might be worth mention whether or not you can leave the mat in its hold on the backpacker…my question is, will the Mat before its used up, dry out between uses if left exposed? So, I leave my Mat in Place and cover everything with a zip-lock bag. Run time for the various canisters is on the box but not in the instructions… Upon initial inspection, I found the Backpacker to be very well built and very easy to operate. In this regard it is much safer to use than similar backpacking stoves- I recommend however, that when twisting on a canister that it is done with “Any” appliance and canister in a vertical position, as some fuel canisters will release quickly fuel into the atmosphere at the moment of connection. Note: my experience with this occurring may be isolated, but I have had it happen several times… I found the Piezo igniter works very well especially if you follow the instructions…I bring this up because it is important to wait five seconds to allow enough fuel to build up to gain ignition, I find this to be especially true at higher elevations and/or colder temperatures when using Piezo igniters…which by the way can be very finicky- So a small bic lighter can be very much your friend. In Use/Out There As luck would have it right after the O.R. show, Utah had a very unusual span of very cold weather eliminating the mosquitoes from our high country where I usually test gear…so I had to go mosquito hunting. My first experience with the Backpacker and mosquitoes came from an astronomy outing on the causeway to Stansbury Island west of Salt Lake City. It is very marshy and Boggy is also a salt flat and it is usually Bug Central. While on the causeway gnats and mosquitoes routinely were working me over while I was getting my scope set up and then during its use… there weren’t swarms of bugs, but there were enough to be very annoying. So I set up and started the backpacker and within a few minutes the bugs had left… While on the causeway a mild breeze was coming and going too, so I turned off the Thermacell to see if the light breeze was moving them away or not? I performed this test several times and each time the bugs returned. I also noted that moths don’t seem to like the repellent either… they wouldn’t completely disappear, but they kept their distance. Eventually I did have one mosquito that penetrated the envelope, lit on my cheek and tried to drill me, however he met his fate… In the end, the Backpacker helped me have a decent and fun time while out doing astronomy in a place that has enough bugs for anyone. I also took the backpacker along on several car camping trips thru early September and found that common flies would leave once the backpacker was started as would moths, gnats and other mayfly type bugs, including several mosquitoes. However, hornets would not pay any attention to the repellent as they gathered food from plants within the envelope, even if they came within inches of the device… More recently, with the onset of winter coming to the “high country,” I have been on several backpacking trips into Utah’s High Uinta’s. Interestingly the temperatures and weather have been all over the place. Several weeks ago near 10,000’ it got down to the high 20’s at night and the bugs all but disappeared…Two weeks ago in the same area, day time temps reached the high seventies and late night time temps were in the low fifties and the bugs were lovin life. On this particular trip to the Mt. Watson region, I had reluctantly brought the backpacker, now I’m glad I did! As I was setting up my Bright red tent in what would be a wet grassy area in the springtime, I started noticing more and more Gnats clinging to the walls. Then I noticed even more gnats clinging to some bright orange ditty bags lying on the ground, and finally a few mosquitoes were hovering around looking for an opportunity. So I pulled out the Backpacker, attached a fuel canister and after several tries it was warming the repellent. I placed the unit on a rock about 10’ away from the tent and within several minutes all the bugs, moths included were gone…Note: there was no breeze, just still, warm, wonderful high mountain air! Long ago when I was a devout ultra light backpacker, I was on a backpacking trip to the Wind River Range in central Wyoming… While purifying several gallons of water, I was being attacked and drained by so many mosquitoes that a bug net would have been very welcome. My friends took turns slapping mosquitoes from me and themselves…the mosquito situation really turned that trip upside down. I have had other similar epics in the Uinta’s with my son and friends, enduring bugs while trying to simply cook and eat dinner. My experience with the run of the mill repellent is- it’s messy, stinky and much of it doesn’t work anyway, and I don’t want it on me, my clothes or my sleeping bag! Worse yet, some products odor won’t come clean even with several washings either. I believe Thermacell would have turned these trips around and made them much more enjoyable. After all, mosquitoes etc. will always be part of nature! BENEFITS Thermacell seems nearly odorless. Yes there is an odor and you can smell its pleasant fragrance if you get close to the appliance… Thermacell and its repellent are not messy what so ever…its size and weight are actually miniscule especially compared to the simplicity and end result! Overall, I Can’t think of a downside to the Thermacell Backpacker. Steve, this isn’t a whole bunch of feedback, but I am very satisfied with the results thus far, I hope it helps you with your process! Sincerely, Layne T. Oliver
I'm a believer
I was dubious about this product but I was taking my son on his first backpacking trip to a lake that is known to be buggy so I picked this up as a bit of extra insurance. I'm pleased to say that it worked like a charm! The mosquitos were super thick but we set it in the center of our camp and in ten minutes or so and had a 10-15' bug-free bubble in which we could eat and relax. Of course this would not work in a windy area, but if there's wind blowing I expect that will keep most of the bugs away as well. This product helped my son to have a great first backpacking trip and it earned a permanent spot in my pack.
kept the biters at bay while backpacking
I took the Thermacell Backpacker on a backpacking trip at Mount Adams in the Cascades during heavy mosquito time. Every trip report I saw before this trip mentioned how horrible the mosquitoes were, so I really hoped that this would work and would help keep me from needing to use too much chemical repellent on my skin. The mosquitoes swarmed all around us at different times of the day, but about 10-15 minutes after turning on the device, they left us alone. From now on, I'm taking this on every backpacking trip when the buggers are out.
Not again.
I bought two of the backpacker repellers. Took one camping this weekend. Sitting around the fire on a calm night with this on we still got chewed up. Horribly. It was embarrassing as we had company and I told them about it. I will never open the second box. I know it was running properly. I saw the red glow on the inside. Repellent mat was inserted. I felt so bad for my little guy the next day. He was in awful pain.
Thanks for your review, and we're sorry Thermacell did not meet your expectations. Please contact us at service@thermacell.net or 1-866-753-3837. All Thermacell products come with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Absolutely life-changing
We just hiked a 230 mile section of the PCT, and I carried this with us the whole time. The mosquitoes and biting flies were horrid in some spots, but within a couple minutes of startup, the Thermacell cleared 90%+ of the bugs so we could set up the tent or cook/eat in peace. We are so impressed. I am that person in a crowd that gets bit 50 times before anyone else even notices there are bugs and my body reacts horribly to bites, so it can be emotionally exhausting to try to stay sheltered from them every way I can: in rain gear, even when it's hot out, bathed in DEET, etc. This backpacker Thermacell made life at camp so, so much better. I recommend it to anyone who will listen!
Amazing insect repeller! Love it!
I am an advise hiker and backpacker and have been hiking since I was a kid. I have used the Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller and love it! I now won’t go backpacking or day hiking without it, and even use it on our patio at home! We have gone on 3-7 day backpacking trips in the Olympic and Cascades Mountains, the Wallowa Mountains, the Sawtooth Mountains, and the WindRiver Range and the repeller has made our trips mosquito free! We used it camping while traveling across the country several times and it has been a life changer! It is so easy to use, just screw it on the fuel canister, turn it to the ON position, push up on the igniter switch and look through the little viewing window for the red light that tells you it is on and working! It is so easy and within a short time you are sitting out enjoying the views, reading, cooking and eating your meals without the announce of bugs! Many times while using it other nearby campers have come to ask us how we can stay out with no bug nets or without wavering our arms about swatting the bugs and having to retreat to our tent! It’s works and I can’t recommend it enough! Please keep making this product Thermacell, and thank you for making such a great product!!
Works Great But.
Just don't drop it. Would be 5 stars because it worked in Florida's Everglade fishing trips and has been with me for years. Last time I tried to light it up the whole unit caught on fire and it took me a while to get it extinguished, luckily I was not in my RV at the time. Evidently at some point, while it was hooked into a canister, it had tumbled over (or just plain plastic fatigue from usage) and cracked the cheap plastic tube inside the unit thus creating a small continuous leak but when you light it up you actually bend the whole unit opening the crack wide enough for a stream of gas to stream out. I've seen videos of people trying to fix the leak with epoxy etc,.... Don't.
Works very nicely
When I bought this I was a little skeptical, but I was going on a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness BWCA and thought it would be a good place to test this out. In the main area of camp we set it out and did not see many mosquitoes, but did not notices mosquitoes in this area even without it. but an area they were bad in was the latrine. Lets face it, no one likes taking a dump with Minnesota's state bird sucking blood from your bottom cheeks. So I moved the Thermacell backpacker Mosquito Repeller to the latrine, fighting through a thick crowed of those vampires to get there, and let it sit for about a half hour. I then returned to take a mosquito free excretion. Yes this device works! and I highly recommend it The only down side is that it is hard to tell if the device is actually on. You need to look through the small air vent on the side to see if you can see a blue or orange flame. This device is also pretty efficient on fuel too.
Pass - Only “ok” in perfect, mild conditions
Seemed promising in suburban backyard use when sheltered from air movement. Even the slightest air movement and you should position down wind. In the woods? Ineffective to say the least. Sawyer Picaridin cream proved FAR more effective in heavy mosquito Michigan woods/swamp.