Bugs seem to be a hot topic which reminded me of something.

I am normally a go without bug repellent guy unless the skeeters are of biblical proportions. But I have been bringing along a bottle of 100% deet and a tube of Ultrathon lotion for all of my summer trips. I think I have been on the same bottle/tube of both for 3 years.

The reason I like the Ultrathon is that I have seen the spray on deet eat and craze the face on my watch. And I suspect it causes similar damage on a less visible level to other plastics in clothes/camping gear. You can control where the Ultrathon goes. BUT-I caution you- make sure it is "fresh." On my last trip I reached for the Ultrathon lotion and what came out was a sticky separated mess like marshmallow creme in a jar (seriously). It wouldn't rub in and my hands were sticky even after multiple washings, hand santizer and even a couple of those damp sanitary baby butt wipes.

So make sure your Ultrathon lotion is fresh or test it at home.

Then again maybe I'm the only one.

tg

The same thing happened to me after just 1 year. If you're going to buy it, use it the whole summer. It is well worth the extra cost!

On my recent trip, my Ultrathon(r) was also separated. I shook it vigorously and it seemed to be OK. But I wonder if it loses some of its effectiveness?

captn-i have noticed SOME separation in the past but this was different. i shook and kneeded the tube to no avail. i do think it worked to repel bugs but the sticky hands sucked!

tg

Thanks for the heads up. We accumulated a lot of this last year at my house (not quite sure how we messed up the inventory). I plan on using some of it up the week after the fourth when I go in with my son. I'll have to be sure and check it out before I pack it.

should they change the name to Semi-Ultrathon now?

That's why I use the spray! ;-)

Bruce

I had one tube that was almost empty that was separated. I tried mixing it but it didn't really take. My guess is that tube was two or three years old.

I like my Thermocell, no spray, used last year first time on Crooked in early August. We had 3 between 5 of us. As long as we stayed inside the triangle we were ok! Walk away though, lookout, the mossies sounded like power lines. Anyway's, didn't spray the whole trip...

ultrathon spray can has a valve assembly integrated with the top of the can. if it gets knocked off center, the whole can will discharge. if bagged or double bagged inside a pack, it won't help.

I used Ultrathon a few years ago when backpacking in Glacier National Park. It worked great, but it also melted part of my watch!

otto-OFF deet will do that to!