Do you use permethrin?

[TrailBlaser]

Can I assume a 5% solution won't damage the hammock or any clothing (fabrics)?

[Brian Miller]

Can I assume a 5% solution won't damage the hammock or any clothing (fabrics)?

5% would probably make you very sick. 0.5% doesn't hurt my nylon hammock & shirt, or nylon spandex stretch trousers. I wouldn't use it on GoreTex rainwear or on a DWR finish .

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[Shrewd]

Gore-Tex can handle it just fine; it’s chemically inert and DEET won’t even harm it...

That said, it’s certainly not gonna jive with the DWR

[Brian Miller]

Gore-Tex can handle it just fine; it’s chemically inert and DEET won’t even harm it...
That said, it’s certainly not gonna jive with the DWR

Thanks! I'm not concerned about a diluted Permethrin solution permanently damaging the membrane, but possibly decreasing it's performance. Also Gore-Tex face fabrics have a DWR treatment.

[Stone Hall]

5% would probably make you very sick. 0.5% doesn't hurt my nylon hammock & shirt, or nylon spandex stretch trousers. I wouldn't use it on GoreTex rainwear or on a DWR finish .

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I see this kind of talk a lot. My counter argument is that 5% permethrin is actually a prescribed treatment for scabies, lice, etc.

5% isn’t going to kill you or make you sick. I promise. Higher than 0.5% is completely unnecessary though - it won’t last any longer or kill any more bugs. Some people do have more sensitivity to it though.

PS I’m not a doctor, nor do I work for a company that makes the stuff. I’m not an expert.


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[Brian Miller]

I see this kind of talk a lot. My counter argument is that 5% permethrin is actually a prescribed treatment for scabies, lice, etc. 5% isn’t going to kill you or make you sick. I promise. Higher than 0.5% is completely unnecessary though - it won’t last any longer or kill any more bugs. Some people do have more sensitivity to it though. PS I’m not a doctor, nor do I work for a company that makes the stuff. I’m not an expert. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(from page 21 of this thread) I went on a 3 day backpacking fly fishing trip on a river in Olympic National Park with a friend who's wife is a LPN. It was only about 1.5 mile hike in. I think I got sick from wearing the clothing sprayed with a .5% mix, and hung to dry for several days. First general weakness, gradually increasing on the trail, then nausea and I vomited right after I got my hammock up.

Indeed, there are 5% pharmaceutical grade creams and sprays and I had used the Sawyer spray for a couple of years without a problem. But a DIY 0.5% dilution of 10% Durvet for barns and livestock made me sick. I went to a 0.25% mix and still had a problem. I later went back to a 0.5% mix but let the clothing hang for over a week to allow the fumes to completely dissipate and was OK. A rinse after a shorter drying time and allowing to dry again should also work. MYOM (mix) .

[scrope]

Gore-Tex can handle it just fine; it’s chemically inert and DEET won’t even harm it...

That said, it’s certainly not gonna jive with the DWR

Permethrin needs to bond with the fabric and from my experience, if you have fabric with a DWR coating, the permethrin just slides right off so it won't interfere with the coating but it also won't protect against bugs either.

[scrope]

Indeed, there are 5% pharmaceutical grade creams and sprays and I had used the Sawyer spray for a couple of years without a problem. But a DIY 0.5% dilution of 10% Durvet for barns and livestock made me sick. I went to a 0.25% mix and still had a problem. I later went back to a 0.5% mix but let the clothing hang for over a week to allow the fumes to completely dissipate and was OK. A rinse after a shorter drying time and allowing to dry again should also work. MYOM (mix) .

Unlike the permethrin you get from Sawyer, the one sold for barns is petroleum based and has definite smell issues. That's why I prefer the non-petroleum based permethrin. Fine for livestock usage but I prefer the one designed for human usage.

[OneClick]

Yeah, play it safe and go with the Martin's. Very popular option here and other forums/online users.

Martins Permethrin 10% does not have a strong odor nor does it contain petroleum distillates. This product is a waterbased permethrin.

I wouldn't necessary agree about the strong odor part, when wet, but that's subjective. Just let it dry and you shouldn't smell it. My very sensitive nose doesn't.

[dghboy315]

Great thread. Thank you for all the great advice. I've used the Sawyer brand for awhile and had great results. I'm going to try some of the other suggesting from here.