DEET and hammocks

**markhait** · 06-14-2018, 15:58

If I put mosquito repellent (DEET) on while hiking, do I need to wash it off me before turning in for the night?
It seems that most people here put permithen on their clothes and hammock, but what about your exposed skin?
I'm always hot, so I tend to hike in shorts and a short sleeve shirt.

**dkurfiss** · 06-14-2018, 16:03

I don't use DEET because if it will melt the face of my phone and fishing wire, I don't want it on my body but that is a personal choice. I would for sure wash it off before I got into my hammock for fear of doing damage to the fabric.

I use permithen on my hammock and Picaridin on my skin.

**SilvrSurfr** · 06-14-2018, 16:05

I don't use much DEET, but when I do, I don't really wash it off. So far, no perceptible damage to my hammocks - they've been going strong for years.

**markhait** · 06-14-2018, 16:15

I just googled picaridin and I can't believe I never heard of it before! Thanks! Any particular brand or concentration?

**dkurfiss** · 06-14-2018, 16:31

Originally Posted by markhait

I just googled picaridin and I can't believe I never heard of it before! Thanks! Any particular brand or concentration?

I just use the Sawyer brand.

**Rain Man** · 06-14-2018, 16:33

Originally Posted by markhait

I just googled picaridin and I can't believe I never heard of it before! Thanks! Any particular brand or concentration?

I use Sawyer. Good brand name. Got mine last time at Dicks Sporting Goods store. REI carries it in pump spray version.

**Braden** · 06-14-2018, 16:35

I spray my camp clothes and equip w/ permethrin, using DEET towelettes to wipe exposed skin, but sure do wash it off at day's end. It's nasty and makes me feel sticky. I zip in for protection, (love HH's integrated bugnet design), but find sometimes that the permethrin is keeping bugs at bay without having to zip in. Depends on conditions at the time I suppose.

**OneClick** · 06-15-2018, 08:29

Originally Posted by Braden

It's nasty and makes me feel sticky.

I'm with you there. My god how could anyone not wash this off at the soonest possible moment!?!?! Oily sticky nasty stuff.

I use Sawyer Picaridin lotion. LOTION! It's like regular body lotion. Very little odor; actually a very faint "fresh" smell. The liquid/pump picaridin makes your skin feel very rubbery but the lotion is totally different. I hope they never stop making this.

**Shrewd** · 06-15-2018, 09:06

I sprayed myself often during the summer months on my thru and never washed it off.

The Blackbird XLC is still going strong

**markhait** · 06-15-2018, 09:41

Well, if this picaridin is as good as they say it is, I'll never go back to DEET. When it was bad out, I would slather on the 100% DEET and after an hour or so, my head would start spinning. As much as I loved that stuff to keep the mosquitoes at bay, I couldn't wait to wash it off! I just added 4 bottles of the lotion to my Amazon cart and I can't wait to test it out!