The Most Effective Bug Spray For Kayaking.
Dealing with insects is an unfortunate part when going on a trip, and this is one of the most concerned factors which raises a lot of questions amongst the kayaking community. If you have already experienced a bug-infested trip, you know exactly how important this subject is.
Insect bites can leave a reddish mark on your skin, and the most annoying part is that you are compelled to scratch that part of the surface again and again. This can keep you awake all night, in case you’re camping. It’s one of those times when you wished you had brought some bug spray.
Insect repellant is really helpful and essential for kayakers. You should always have some ready. Considering the fact that there are lots of bug sprays, and with a lot of choices, you may find yourself confused. In this post, we learn everything about bug sprays and help you find the best insect repellant and the best mosquito repellant.
Can you prevent bug bites without bug spray?
- Not really. You can slow them down and minimize bites but nothing is 100% repellent.
Trying to avoid bugs without a repellant of any sort is almost an impossible task. Although there are a few things you can do to minimize the chance of getting bitten by bugs, it is not a good idea to go out on a kayak trip without a bug spray. Some easy and effective ways to keep the bugs away are:
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- Wearing proper clothes is very essential.
The weather is the most crucial factor which will determine the type of clothing you choose. However, if you’re concerned about getting bug bites, or you’re expecting a lot bugs in that area you want to go, then you should consider wearing something that covers up most of your body parts. The less your skin is exposed, the lesser chance you offer those bloodthirsty bugs. Also, note that mosquitoes can bite through thin clothes. An item of thicker clothing or clothes made of waterproof material is a better option.
Ensure that the clothes you wear are not flimsy even if it is stretched. Mosquitoes can bite through such clothes. You may have to sacrifice a little bit of comfort if the weather is hot, but it’s worth it, you’ll see that there is a big difference.
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- Make use of citronella oil.
Citronella is an excellent insect repellent. Bugs just don’t like the smell of citronella. They wouldn’t bite you even if they decided to sit on your skin. Before leaving your house, take a bath with citronella oil (just a few drops will do). This trick is used by many people who spend a lot of time outdoors, hunting, fishing, or going on a kayak camping trip.
What is the best bug spray for kayaking?
(Amazon)To qualify for the best insect repellant, the product must be very effective in providing protection from bites. And most importantly, it should not cause any kind of irritation or itchiness to the skin. It would be useless if the bug spray you have is not very friendly to your skin even if it is very effective. This is why you should not buy it just because your friends recommend, or they’re using it.
The active ingredients present in the bug spray should be carefully considered. Let’s take a look at some of the most common and popular bug sprays that are considered to be the most effective.
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- DEET or diethyltoluamide can be applied directly to the skin or clothing. DEET is very effective against bugs like mosquitoes, ticks, leech, and many others. It was developed for the United States Army in the 1940s. By the late 1950s, the product was made available to the public. The use of DEET became prevalent, and it was considered as the best and most effective bug repellant. However, when studies were conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the 80s, it was revealed that the product had several side effects which include skin irritation, rashes, burning sensation on the lips, inability to sleep, and decreased concentration power. This caused the people to resort to other alternatives, but they were not as effective as DEET.
Modern DEET products are now approved for safe use by many health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The product has regained its lost glory and is now widely used all over the world. DEET products can cause damage to rubber, leather, nylon, and plastic. You should be careful when using it. Off deep Woods is an effective DEET product that will make your trip bug free.
- The other product which is used as an alternative to DEET is a colorless and odorless chemical called picaridin. This product can keep away all kinds of bugs but they are considered to be most effective against flies. Picardin is almost as effective as DEET. But one of the main advantages that this product has over DEET is that picaridin is odorless, and it does not damage rubber or plastic-like its counterpart. Some reputed brands like cutter and Avon also use picaridin. This ingredient does not give an oily feel to the skin.
- The last one on our list is lemon eucalyptus oil. It is not only an effective insect repellent, but is also used for relieving joint pain, relieving chest congestion, and muscle spasm. Lemon eucalyptus oil is also used to treat fungus infection on the toenail. Carrying one around can give you multiple benefits. However, this product is very harmful if swallowed or taken internally. It is not recommended for children and nursing mothers.
Is picaridin safer than DEET?
These two ingredients are used in most popular bug sprays. And because they are found in most insect repellants, a lot of people ask this question, “Which one is better, or which one is safer?” To find the answer, let us make a comparison between these two most popular and active bug repellent ingredients.
For many years, DEET was considered as the most effective and is the most studied repellent. Although it was avoided by many users in the past after its negative sides were revealed, it reclaimed its position again after several modifications were made, and health organizations approved it. But because of its ability to destroy rubber and plastics, extreme care should be taken when handling insect repellants that contain DEET. Many studies have shown that DEET is slightly better when it comes to effectiveness. It gives maximum protection for longer hours, but this in no way makes it better than picaridin.
Although picaridin is as effective as DEET, it does not have a strong odor or dissolves rubber and other similar materials.
In terms of effectiveness, a few extra points go to DEET. The only problem is that it is not a friendly chemical; it can cause a lot of damage if it is not used with extreme care. Overall, it is safe to say that picaridin is a much safer product.
What percentage of DEET is best?
- 5-10 percent of DEET will repel the bugs for 2 to 4 hours.
- 15 percent of DEET can last up to 6 hours.
- 25-30 percent offers protection from bugs for 8 hours.
The percentage of DEET is entirely dependent on the duration of protection you will need. It is proven that a bug repellant with less percent of DEET provides the same result as the ones with a higher concentration of this ingredient. The major difference is that a repellant with a higher percentage of DEET provides protection for longer hours. In other words, the repellant properties are not affected by the percentage of DEET present in the bug spray. It only adds a few extra hours of protection.
This was proved when a test was conducted by researchers. In this test, 15 volunteers exposed their arms into a cage containing female mosquitoes. Each volunteer had applied the repellents containing a different percentage of DEET concentration on their arms. The researchers then took note of the time when the mosquitoes took their first bite.
To help you understand your needs and choose the best bug repellent, here is a list of different percent of DEET concentration and the duration of protection they provide.
- A bug spray containing about 5-10 percent of DEET will repel the bugs for 2 to 4 hours.
- Another with 15 percent of DEET can last up to 6 hours.
- 25-30 percent offers protection from bugs for 8 hours.
As mentioned earlier, DEET has been around for so many years, and it is the most studied insect repellant. Because of this, you will find that it’s hard to find a good source that has all the right information. Each and every source containing information on DEET varies greatly. The recommended DEET percentage also varies from country to country.
For instance, Canada does not allow more than 30 percent of DEET. It’s worth mentioning that children under the age of 12 should not use those products that have more than 10% of DEET. Find more info on DEET insect repellant.
What is the best repellant for no see ums?
No see ums are one of the most annoying bugs. You really can’t see them, but you definitely can hear and feel them. These pesky pests are seen more in coastal areas. Many people who are new to these pests get the wrong idea that they are being attacked by bed bugs. This is because the mark created on the skin by no see ums bite is very similar to that of bed bugs.
If you’re being attacked by these tiny bloodthirsty creatures, you will notice small red marks on your skin which are very itchy. It is best to buy a repellent containing picaridin. When it comes to no see ums, insect repellants that have picaridin as an active ingredient is even more effective than DEET.
You should also know that no see ums are called by other names; these include gnats, biting midgets, and sand flies. Picaridin products such as Sawyers Picaridin Insect Repellent and Avon SSS Bug Guard Picaridin are some of the best repellants for no see ums. These are very reliable and effective insect repellant trusted by many people.
How long do mosquito bites itch?
- a few hours to a few days, depending on how much you scratch it
A mosquito bite can become very itch as soon as they start sucking your blood. The reason why it gets so itchy is not that they’re puncturing your skin. As mosquitoes begin to suck blood, they inject anticoagulant saliva which keeps the blood from clotting. As you already know that it only takes a few seconds for the blood to clot; in reality, the clotting procedure involves three stages. The first stage begins as soon as the body detects bleeding or loss of blood even on a tiny scale such as mosquito sucking the blood.
In the case of a mosquito bite, the saliva that they inject into blood vessels halts the blood clotting procedure temporarily. This allows them to drink blood undisturbed. It is because of this reason the bites become so annoyingly itchy which can last up to 2 -3 days if no treatment is taken.
How to stop a mosquito bite from itching?
- Avoid scratching, no matter how itchy it gets.
- You should apply a calamine lotion instead, or place some ice on the wound.
- Rubbing a baking soda on the bitten spot also works excellent.
- If you don’t have these things with you, heat a spoon (not so hot that it burns your skin) and place it on the reddish bitten mark. The heat should stop the itch almost instantly.
There are numerous ways to treat a mosquito bite, but the best approach is to prevent mosquito bite in the first place. Who knows what these pesky creatures are carrying with them. You may already know that mosquitoes spread various diseases like dengue and malaria, just to name a few. However, it may not be possible to avoid them at all times. Bookmark this page so you have the list of things you can do to stop a mosquito bite from itching.
Conclusion.
It’s a good practice to carry a first aid kit around whenever you’re going on a trip. Carrying a bug spray is not enough; you should also wear proper clothes. And remember that prevention works better than cure. Hope this post contributes to making your kayak camping trip an amazing one.