DEET containing bug spray

[steveyjc81]

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a DEET containing bug spray for use on our Caribbean cruise that I can buy in large US stores? Ideally one suitable for all the family

Mosquitos aren't around beach areas much - right?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I can tell you they do sell it on the ship, we purchased it, and whilst I can't recall the cost, it was quite cheap.

Also.


https://off.com/en/product/family-c...59GOOGLE_131635965_304643215_70762804_4341164

Now, avoid places with standing still fresh water, IE stagnant water. If the beach has stagnant water pools then avoid. If the beach is clear of these pools, you should be ok, in the day time in the Caribbean.

 

[OKW Lover]

Mosquitos aren't around beach areas much - right?

Right. Mosquitos are more of an issue in the late afternoon/evening. Never saw one on Castaway Cay.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Deep Woods Off! Is the most readily available in the US. There are other brands, though, depending on where you shop. "Family Friendly" labels are either on non-DEET or Low-DEET products. All product in the US will contain a statement of the active ingredients and percent of the active ingredients, making for an easy comparison. I've used all the above and the family-friendly ones just do t seem to last as long, so you may need to reapply. I'm a huge mosquito target, as compared to the rest of my family, and I prefer the strong stuff.

 

[steveyjc81]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Appreciate the help. Coming from Ireland, I'm not used to such wildlife!

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Appreciate the help. Coming from Ireland, I'm not used to such wildlife!

It is said that the mosquito is the state bird of Alaska-they are apparently quite large up there. Never been myself, but those may qualify as "wildlife"

 

[xavier2001]

It is said that the mosquito is the state bird of Alaska-they are apparently quite large up there. Never been myself, but those may qualify as "wildlife"

Just back from Alaska, didn't see 1 mosquito and we did some pretty remote 'off the beaten path' excursions. Biting flies on the other hand we ran into 1 day in the Chilikoot river, deep woods off says it keeps the flies away on the spray can, in reality not so much .

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Just back from Alaska, didn't see 1 mosquito and we did some pretty remote 'off the beaten path' excursions. Biting flies on the other hand we ran into 1 day in the Chilikoot river, deep woods off says it keeps the flies away on the spray can, in reality not so much .

Biting flies are nasty, no matter where they are! Perhaps there is a particular time when mosquitos are bad in Alaska, perhaps later in the season? Glad you had a mostly bug free trip.

 

[kdogfister]

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a DEET containing bug spray for use on our Caribbean cruise that I can buy in large US stores? Ideally one suitable for all the family

Mosquitos aren't around beach areas much - right?

You can also consider a bug spray containing Picaridin. Studies suggest Deet and Picaridin are comparable in their protection against mosquitoes, while Picaridin may be better for biting flies and won't damage plastics. It also is supposedly odorless and non-greasy.

That said, it was tougher for me to find and I ended up ordering it. But in your shopping if you see Sawyer with Picaridin or Cutter Advanced, both should work as well. But you are more likely to find Deet sprays as it has been in the U.S. much longer.

 

[kerry1379]

Just FYI from personal experience-the aerosols don't seem to work nearly as well as the lotions.

 

[steveyjc81]

I presume the DEET or picaridin are compatible with sunscreen. I'd take my chances with a mosquito, not the sun though

 

[wcw57]

please be careful when choosing non-deet sprays. The Zika-carrying mosquitos are best controlled by DEET while other varieties of the derned bug are best controlled by other chemical make-ups. While I cannot readily recall which spray is for which, and I don't want to mis-state, please do some simple research before substituting for Deet.

 

[wcw57]

btw, as per CDC:

Mosquitoes that spread Zika virus bite mostly during the daytime.

AND:
According to new research from Consumer Reports, most "natural" bug sprays won't effectively ward off the mosquitos that carry the virus known to cause birth defects.

Although products derived from oils might smell better, they don’t last nearly as long as synthetic chemical-based repellants like picaridin and DEET. If used as directed, products containing picaridin and DEET are safe for use by pregnant and even breast-feeding women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

[verleniahall]

Deep Woods Off - NOT the dry spray - the one in the green can

 

[kdogfister]

please be careful when choosing non-deet sprays. The Zika-carrying mosquitos are best controlled by DEET while other varieties of the derned bug are best controlled by other chemical make-ups. While I cannot readily recall which spray is for which, and I don't want to mis-state, please do some simple research before substituting for Deet.

While I want to avoid being confrontational on this (and at the risk of de-railing the topic entirely), I'd welcome a little more background on non-deet sprays being less effective against Aedes mosquitos (the Zika carrying variety). A study by consumer reports suggested the top two repellents in general were two that contained Picadirin. I've yet to see any study which shows one or the other has higher efficacy (specifically against Aedes or otherwise), while Picadirin has been shown to be generally safer for children and the elderly.

Importantly, the so called "natural" repellents are largely useless. And while you may feel better applying them to your family because they don't contain the dreaded "chemicals", WCW57 is absolutely right that you should be incredibly diligent in selecting these products. That said, Picadirin products are decidedly not in the list of "natural" repellents as Picadirin is a compound manufactured in a Bayer lab, earning it the dreaded "chemicals" label.