Natrapel Insect Repellent |
Owner Review By Bob Dorenfeld
August 10, 2014
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Tester Bio |
Name:
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Bob
Dorenfeld
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I'm an active hiker, snowshoer, skier, and
backpacker. Home base is the Southern
Colorado Rockies, where I'll hike from 7000 ft
(2100 m) to alpine tundra, with desert trips at lower
altitudes. Six to 12 miles (10 to 20 km) daily is
my norm, with elevation gains up to 4000 ft (1200
m). Many of my backpack trips are two or three
nights, other trips are longer, and I usually
carry about 30 lb (14 kg). My style is
lightweight but not obsessively so - extras like
binoculars, camera, and notebook make my trips
more enjoyable.
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Email: |
geartest(at)sageandspruce(dot)net
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Age: |
56
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Location: |
Salida, Colorado, USA
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Gender: |
M
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Height: |
5' 6" (1.68 m) |
Weight: |
140 lb (64 kg) |
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Product Overview
Manufacturer: Tender
Corporation
Website: www.tendercorp.com
MSRP: US$5.99 Quantity: 3.4 fl
oz (101 ml) Dispenser:
pump bottle Active Ingredient: Picaridin
(20% by volume) Stated Effective
Protection: 8 hours
Measured Protection: at least 4
hours
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Natrapel is a DEET-free insect repellent that can
be applied directly onto skin to provide
protection against flying and crawling insects
such as mosquitoes and ticks. Its active
ingredient, picaridin, is used worldwide as an
effective replacement for the older chemical DEET.
And, unlike DEET, picaridin will not melt nylon or
other plastics (according to a paper published by
Duke University). My own tests at home and
in the field have also confirmed that picaridin is
inert on plastics. The US Environmental
Protection Agency has found that in recommended
dosages picaridin does not pose any significant
health effects for adult persons. It is not
recommended for dogs or other pets. Besides
the 3.4 fl oz (101 ml) pump bottle reviewed here,
Tender Corporation also makes Natrapel available
in a 1 oz (30 ml) pump bottle, 6 oz (177 ml)
continuous spray bottle, and as a box of wipes.
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For 35 years I've relied on insect repellents using
DEET for my primary shield against mosquitoes and flies
while outside camping in the wilderness. What finally
motivated me to look for alternatives was a lingering
suspicion that DEET might not be safe on my skin and,
most recently, a leaky container that spilled DEET onto
a nylon bag, melting its corner and creating a sticky
mess to clean up. OK, time to look for another product!
I found Natrapel at an outdoor products store, and after
a bit of research decided to give it a try this summer
in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico.
Field Performance
It has been a wet summer since early July in the
mountains, so I've had a good test environment. I
normally use repellents in the afternoons and early
evenings when the bugs are most bothersome, and before
ducking into the tent I've had it on my skin for two to
four hours. I've not yet had a chance to test the
full stated effective time of eight hours, however.
Usually I apply Natrapel using the backs of my hands (to
avoid getting it on my fingers) and rub it on my
forehead and neck, then a bit onto my lower arms (if
exposed). That's it for me - I use as little as I
can get away with, both to conserve the repellent and
to avoid unnecessary overexposure to the active
ingredient. The clear liquid is slightly more
viscous than water, and easy to spread on skin without
having it slide off first.
Picaridin itself is
odorless, but Natrapel has other inert ingredients (not
named on the package) that impart a strong "perfumy"
scent that's not unpleasant (perhaps like lemon), but
definitely quite noticeable. I would have
preferred a more subtle smell; but like most odors,
after a while I get used to it and don't notice it much,
if at all.
But
does it work? Yes! Natrapel is at least as
effective as DEET for me against mosquitoes and flies.
As for ticks, where I hike and backpack (mostly in
Colorado's Rocky Mountains) I rarely see them so I can't
attest to Natrapel's effectiveness against those little
critters. But I notice that mosquitoes would fly
right up to my face, buzz around for a moment, then back
away. Go find another host! Same for the
flies - they definitely didn't like my skin when
treated.
Although the original pump-spray
container works well, it's larger than I want to carry
in a backpack, and the clear plastic cover for the pump
top would be either too easy to lose or might pop off in
storage. So I've transferred the liquid to a small
plastic container with a folding lid that seals well
with no spills so far (see photo). For a two-night
trip I might use about 10-20 drops of Natrapel. I
still have plenty of the original container that I
purchased, and expect it to last the rest of the summer
bug season.
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Concluding Thoughts
I'm happy to have found an insect repellent that seems
to be a good or better substitute for that old standby
DEET. Natrapel and its active ingredient picaridin
work well for me. I'm always cautious about
applying chemicals to my skin, and I'm conservative with
the amount I use over a season - just enough to repel
most of the bugs, and only when they are at their worst.
The small amounts of Natrapel that I use do the job.
Pros
- non-DEET based
(does not melt plastics) - does not leak out
of other (non-original package) sealable containers
- easy to apply
Cons
- strong lemony odor at first application
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Reviewed By
Bob
Dorenfeld
Southern Colorado Mountains
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