Like... good enough to treat your hammock, underquilt, and tarp and wear a treated head net without waking up looking like a victim of smallpox?
Like... good enough to treat your hammock, underquilt, and tarp and wear a treated head net without waking up looking like a victim of smallpox?
I'm a huge believer of Permethrin. First time I used it was on a hike in Arkansas in the middle of tick season, and I was skeptical. Walked through a patch of high weeds, and when I got out I watched half a dozen ticks crawling up my pantlegs literally die within seconds. They'd make it three or four inches along the permethrin treated fabric before they died. It works.
I have seen them jump off of pants treated with it. My brother and I were fishing and we found a tick crawling on the tacklebox. So he lifted it up with his knife blade and set it on the knee of his pants. It took a few steps and literally could not get off the pants fast enough. It jumped and rolled and fell off. After that, I was sold on it.
In my opinion, I think treating your gear such as UQ and tarp is overkill when you have a bugnet. However, I do treat all of my hiking clothes and it works fantastic. I would highly recommend applying it as it helped me a lot last year. If only they made a mute button for all the buzzing those skeeters make. lol
Fronkey
The stuff definitely works. Don't leave home without it!
Even when it's too cool for mosquitoes and the like, ticks are still out there hunting.
All my hiking clothes are soaked in it.
Mike
"Life is a Project!"
I've always heard very good reviews about it, but please remember, until it is completely dry, keep your pets, especially cats away!!!!! Extremely neurologically toxic to cats!!!
Yes. Yes, it does.
During this past week, I did the G3 hang. During the run-up to the hang, I spent about seven and an half to eight hours out at the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve with non-Permethrined clothes on. During that time, I found five ticks on my legs--one of them underneath my clothing.
I went home on Thursday and got some Permethrin. I treated my hiking clothes (shorts, shirt, underwear, and sandals). I then spent seventy-two hours out in the same area. I added DEET to my legs in the morning, but often forgot to do so during the afternoon (and sweating in 90+ degree heat). During those seventy-two hours, I found two--count 'em, two ticks on my legs, none of them underneath my clothing.
That's how much difference it makes. From 5/8 ticks per hour to 1/36 ticks per hour. An huge difference. And, if I'd been wearing long pants and shoes with socks, I don't think I'd've had any at all on me.
Yes, but only while wet. I keep my three cats away from my stuff while it's drying. Once it's dry, they romp around. None of 'em is any more neurotic than when I first started using the stuff.Originally Posted by Bummer72
Grandpa used to spray down toilet paper roll tubes stuffed with Permethrin soaked TP. Mice would use it for bedding and it would kill the ticks. For an old guy, he was smart...
Not a single mouse died as a result of Permethrin, they got the traps instead...
Shnick
...Levitate me
- Pixies
I'd be surprised that a tick would die in seconds coming into contact with permethrin. I put a tick on my hat that had been sprayed well and it didn't die even within minutes. Before I had started wearing gators but after I was treating my clothing with permethrin a tick had gone up my pant leg and managed to bite me but later die still dug into me. Since then I never hike without my gators or at least have my pant legs tucked into my socks. It surprises me how many people I see on the trail that don't do this. They're just asking for ticks and as I found...permethrin or not if you give them an opening they'll take it even if they end up dying after biting you.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks