Picaridin v's DEET

[walkinTas]

I became a DEET user through this forum when I started looking for a Leech repellent. DEET does work. Leeches hate it and Mozzies and flies leave you alone. Then I read about the damage DEET can do to your tent, to leather (boots), and to plastics in general (not nylon). Also some people (especially young kids) are very sensitive to DEET and it can cause dermatitis. Many websites suggest that you shouldn't continuously use high concentrations of DEET (above 30%) for longer than three days.

So what is the alternative to DEET? Well apparently, it is a product called Picaridin (also know as KBR 3023 or Icaridin). Choice Magazine conducted a test on insect repellents to see if they were effective against Mozzie bites and have published results online. Their conclusion, in part, was "For top protection from mozzie bites, buy any product that contains DEET or picaridin". The Department of Health and Aging advice for Mosquito protection is "Use personal repellent containing high levels of DEET (e.g., Rid®, Tropical strength Aerogard®, Bushman’s®) or picaridin (Autan Repel®). Lotions and gels last longer than sprays."

Picaridin is sold as Cutter Advanced in the US.

Edit: Picaridin was originally developed by Bayer and sold to SC Johnson in 2002. SC Johnson sold a product called Autan Repel Army 20, but they did not renew the registration of Autan Repel Army 20 for the 2004/2005 financial year. SC Johnson now sell a product called OFF family care. According to the FAQs, 2006 Off Skintastic Family Care changed its formulation to contain Picaridin.

Has anyone seen any adverse side effects or equipment damage from DEET?
Has anyone used Autan Repel or OFF or any products based on Picaridin?

[johnw]

wT I've used Autan Repel a few times in NSW Snowy Mtns in summer (for flies). I've still got some but haven't used it for a while. Performance was OK in my opinion but I recall having to re-apply it fairly often. In any case the enormous March flies up on the main range seem almost immune to any concoction known to man. Can't comment on its effectiveness against leeches unfortunately. Will have to re-try it for that and see what happens. Does that mean you want me to actually go looking for leeches?

[walkinTas]

John, there will be something better than DEET one day. I didn't even know there was a serious alternative to DEET until I did a bit of reading yesterday. Keeping Mozzies away is nice, but keeping leeches away is critical. Does picaridin work for leeches? I suppose you could spray one leg with DEET and one with Autan and stand in a swamp for a while. Let us all know the results!

I'd be interested in any BWT stories or bits of info on DEET. Does it really damage leather boots, tents, packs etc? Has anyone had a rash from DEET? How do BWT walkers use DEET - just on the skin, or on equipment as well?

[Joe]

Very rarely use it on skin, dab on gaiters/boots, bit on arms and sleeves of top, bit on back of neck. Thats usually done me perfectly. The only time I failed to do this was the only time I have had a leech in years.

[Gippsmick]

I can testify to DEET's ability to chew through plastics. Not knowing what to do with a bottle of repellent with DEET that had been pierced, I stored it in my map case. Unfortunately it was forgotten about and left for a about a week on the return home. I was surprised to find a hole had developed in the maps case where the repellent was in contact with the plastic. The plastic was warped and distorted. Looked like a flame had been held underneath the plastic. I still use DEET products but am cautious about limiting the amount in contact with skin over long periods.

[sthughes]

I used Bushmans 80% Deet on a recent 4 day trip through the Never Never where there were leeches everywhere. I applied a line around the base of my gaiters and another near the top (continuous lines right around). I was only bitten by one leech in the whole trip and I think that was when I only had my Crocs on at camp. When the mozzies and flies came out I added a small smear to the back of my kneck and one to the underside of my hat brim (near my face). I also put a dab on each forearm. I had no mozzie or march fly bites and usually I find myself a magnet to anything that flies and bites. One of the other members in the group with no deet lost count of how many leeches attacked him - it was pretty amusing actually. During our lunch break in the Never Never we all watched as the numerous leeches climbed up our gaiters, tried to find a way past the "DEET Line" and eventually just gave up and dropped off. My gaiters have no holes but there seems to be no way of washing the deet of them either - stained for life I suspect. So if you're concerned about the look of your gaiters I'd suggest a different approach, otherwise fantastic.

[Penguin]

Unfortunately DEET does not seem to deter leeches or sandflies (the NZ version) from hunting me down. My personal magnetism(?) for the littel blighters seems to overpower the deterrent effect of the DEET. DEET does dissolve certain plastics, a fellow walkers watch turned into clag on a five day walk with DEET. Does anybody know which type of plastic is affected?

[mryellow]

You don't start the day with a nuclear bomb.

There is an escalation of weapons here, anyone wearing DEET day after day after day is a problem waiting to happen.

1. Light clothes.
2. A stick with some leaves on it, or folded hat. (You too can have a tail like a horse, the wonders of tool use)
3. Moving faster than they can fly.
4. A fire.
5. Swatting like a loonatic as they become oppressive (1000+ "landings" per min) and try to drive you insane.
6. DEET.

Don't bother with DEET until all other options are excluded and you feel your life/health is threatened by the mozzies.
It's not an everyday thing. It's a tool for extreme situations.

[GPSGuided]

Picked up a bottle of picaridin based 'Off!' from Coles today. Fingers crossed it'll do wonders against leeches too. Given it's not a spray can, it should be good in checked luggage for airline carriage.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1416748204.513579.jpg (84.32 KiB) Viewed 13606 times

[Gadgetgeek]

My experience with that sort of pump bottle is that the pressure change of the flight can push some of the product out. But as long as it was contained, no problems.
Health Canada did a DEET study a couple years ago looking at concentration and duration, they concluded that for the most part the higher concentrations sweated off almost as fast as the lower ones. So the 25% stuff applied every couple hours was better for you than the really heavy stuff applied less often. That said I've used 99% stuff very sparingly when it was available in canada. In that case it was convenient to have the very small bottle. Now I use the Rid roll-on when I need it, mostly for sand flies, but I'll be trying out some treated clothing as well to see about going that route.

[GPSGuided]

Agree. The container needs to be contained in a plastic bag and ideally with the pump head replaced by a sealing cap when travelling by air.

[nq111]

I've had good look with Picaridin - possibly works better than DEET with tropical sandflies (DEET can be surprisingly ineffective against these).

It does seem that DEET works better on some mozzies and Picaridin on others. Overall, I prefer Picaridin, and clothes treated with permethrin.