..so having been eaten camping near Brecon

What is this year's best repellent?
Avon
Smidge
Jungle formal
eat more marmite

Smidge. It has made bivvying in the Scottish summer possible.

Avon, used by loggers and it just works (doesn't work as a skin softner as it is sold though )

Avon tests products on animal. Eat lots of garlic and stick a few cloves in your bivvy bag.

Avon isn't a repellant, though it can be used as a barrier layer.

Was impressed by Smidge on the HTR this year. Didn't get eaten at all! And it smells ok.

used by loggers and it just works

For those of a certain age

Body chemistry has a lot to do with it I think. I am exceptionally popular with the little b@st@rds so have tried most things. Smidge is ok for me(so I imagine it works well for the general populace!) Avon is pretty useless IMO, and it makes you smell like a clap clinic receptionist!!! I had some stuff I brought back fro SA called "tabard" that worked really well but I can't find it anywhere else now ( the Lifesystem stuff I tried seemed ok too, can't remember what it was called but I could check next time I am visiting my dealer( I have a real bad gear habit!). They are really bad here in the Cairngorms, which combined with my popularity is why I can't really entertain the idea of abandoning tents entirely for open shelters the better the weather the more coverage I need!

It doesn't matter what the brand is, the only ingredient that keeps the wee feckers away from me is DEET. At least 50%. Keeps mozzies and midges away. It stinks and leaves a greasy film on the skin and it's poisonous. This is the only product I buy that I care nothing of what it does to the environment as I get eaten alive.

Farawayvisions wrote:Avon tests products on animal. Eat lots of garlic and stick a few cloves in your bivvy bag.

"In June 1989 Avon announced a permanent end to animal testing of our products, including testing done in outside laboratories. Avon was the first major cosmetic company in the world to end animal testing. For more than 20 years Avon has independently substantiated the safety of its products without animal testing."

Avon products, along with other manufacturers are forced by some countries (e.g. China) to be subjected to animal testing in addition to their normal testing regime.

Farawayvisions wrote:It doesn't matter what the brand is, the only ingredient that keeps the wee feckers away from me is DEET. At least 50%. Keeps mozzies and midges away. It stinks and leaves a greasy film on the skin and it's poisonous. This is the only product I buy that I care nothing of what it does to the environment as I get eaten alive.

I managed to melt some nice over-the-ear headphones to my head after judicious use of DEET a few years ago.

I fully support testing Avon products on midges, if it worked I would happily spend summer smelling like previously mentioned receptionist.

johnnystorm wrote:
I managed to melt some nice over-the-ear headphones to my head after judicious use of DEET a few years ago.

Now that I remember, it bubbled the lenses of my Oakleys. Lesson learned was: Remove sunglasses from head when spraying said poison, close eyes tightly, hold breath for 2 minutes and don't lick your lips. Yeuck!

I find spraying deet into your hands and rubbing it into your face is much pleasanter than the spray into your face method

voodoo_simon wrote:I find spraying deet into your hands and rubbing it into your face is much pleasanter than the spray into your face method

That would work if you can get your hands thoroughly washed, and when you eat everything tastes vile. The B^^^tards get me behind the ears too.