Thermacell Repellents recently introduced three new products for 2017 designed to keep outdoor activities pest-free: the Thermacell Halo, Thermacell Backpacker, and Thermacell Control System. Non-topical Thermacell repellent products are government tested and EPA approved, using technology that the US Department of Defense has employed to protect troops from mosquito-borne illnesses for years. And the
Non-topical Thermacell repellent products are government tested and EPA approved, using technology that the US Department of Defense has employed to protect troops from mosquito-borne illnesses for years. And the Thermacell mosquito repeller just happens to be one of the most popular mosquito repellents among outdoor enthusiasts.
Thermacell Halo, Backpacker, and Tick Control System
Thermacell Halo
The Thermacell Halo is designed to create a 15 x 15-foot mosquito-free zone in a yard. It’s silent, has no open flame, and virtually no odor. The fuel system lasts up to 48 hours using up to 4 butane cartridges simultaneously and uses Thermacell’s ZoneCheck feedback system as a fuel gauge.
Thermacell Halo Features
- Create a 15 x15 ft Mosquito Protection Zone
- Silent, virtually odor-free, no open flame
- 48-hour fuel system – use up to 4 butane cartridges at once
- ZoneCheck feedback system shows status
Thermacell Backpacker
Campers and other outdoor enthusiasts will be interested in the gas canister-powered Thermacell Backpacker. By clicking one button, users are able to create a barrier of pest protection that lasts up to 80 hours.
Thermacell Backpacker Features
- Lightweight, minimalist design: 114g/4.0 oz
- Compact and portable: 97mm H x 50mm W x 67mm L
- Fuel efficient – up to 80 hours of protection from even the smallest 100g gas canister
- Integrated Piezo lighter
- Water-resistant nylon carry pouch included
Thermacell Tick Control System
Thermacell Tick Tubes kill ticks early in their life cycle and lower the chances of contracting Lyme disease. The company claims you only need two applications per year and the repellent targets ticks specifically so your not applying a general insecticide that kills just about everything.
Thermacell Tick Solution Features
- Controls ticks that may carry Lyme Disease
- Kills ticks early in their life cycle
- Reduces tick populations up to 90%
- Apply to the yard in under 10 minutes
- No set-up or clean-up
- Only 2 applications needed a year
- Targets ticks, not friendly insects
- Reduces ticks without spraying the yard
- 2 applications for a 1/4 acre lot costs $50 per year
Our Take
The Thermacell Advantage
Nothing ruins our outdoor fun quite like pesky mosquitos and ticks. The buzzing and bites are bad enough but in combination with the potential for contracting a serious disease, it certainly can make summer sound like a bummer. DEET-based repellents are unequivocally effective, but they can come with a cost – some people find DEET irritates their skin and eyes or causes headaches. It makes me sneeze about 8 times in rapid fire. Even if there are no adverse reactions, some people are simply uncomfortable slathering themselves in a chemical of dubious safety in concentration. Most of us opt for the calculated, vanishingly small risk of DEET when faced with the possibility of disease or certainty of irritating bites.
But Bedford, Massachusetts-based Thermacell might be the outdoorsman’s best-kept secret with its non-topical yet remarkably effective repellent products. Thermacell uses an allethrin-infused pad heated with butane to release the repellent, without an open flame. In doing so, Thermacell products create a pest-free zone silently and nearly without odor. Once in a while, you might catch a whiff if you’re close to the item. Last year, Kenny was pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of Thermacell’s Portable Repeller in a Florida mosquito haven. I’ve found the Olive Mosquito Repeller to be an excellent repellent in my own, unofficial tests.
New Products, Same Protection (Plus a Bonus Against Ticks)
Like Thermacell’s original solutions, you can have a mosquito-free zone without the discomfort of DEET-based products using the Halo and Backpacker. There’s a catch, though: the wind can throw a wrench into your protective bubble. Likewise, if you move locations, you’ll have to wait somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes to re-establish a pest-free zone. We think that’s a small trade-off to make and we’re anxious to get our hands on these new Thermacell products and, in turn, the mosquitos off of us.
Although we don’t have any experience with the new Tick Control System, Thermacell’s reputation should lend itself to initial confidence. If it works as well as the company’s mosquito repellent, then it’ll be a home run.
