Replies

A good coverage with 40% DEET repellent on the lower 2/3 of my body / clothing usually does a pretty good job of repelling ticks for me. Mosquitos, too. Repeat after 3-4 hours. Some of the places I hike in to for fishing involve lots of tall grass and / or weeds / brush. Especially if it’s a trail, chiggers and ticks get attracted by the scent left behind by previous trail travelers, human or otherwise.

I used to have some permethrin infused socks that works well for me, but, it washes out. I’ve tried spraying socks with permethrin well ahead of needing to use them (ie., days of drying.) Those worked too, and I didn’t notice any unusual feel to any of these. It’s just problematic if I forget and think the socks were treated, and I got them mixed up with socks not treated. It’s easier for me to just have a can of 40% DEET on the shelf on the back porch. Or a small one in my backpack.

Most DEET based repellents have the very bad attribute of dissolving some plastics. I killed a $35 Casio watch that way. (The control / adjustment buttons welded to the watch body!)

I don’t really “like” DEET, but I’ve gotten to where I tolerate it... In fact, I use so much DEET, I need to remember to do a web search for the stuff in bulk. It will keep for a very long time in a well sealed glass / metal container. And I must have at least half a dozen emptied pump spray repellent bottles in a little box in my shop.