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Reviews > Health & Safety > Insect Repellents > Cutter Advanced insect repellent > Owner Review by Ray Estrella
Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent
TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, and in many of the western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I have made a move to lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with my wife Jenn or brother-in-law Dave. The Product
Manufacturer: Spectrum Brands, Inc. Product Description
Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent (hereafter referred as Cutter’s) is a personal insect repellent that is based on the active ingredient Picaridin. The bottles that I have say that they contain 7% Picaridin and 93% “other ingredients”. Field Conditions I have used this repellent outside of Palm Springs on the Pacific Crest Trail and the Skyline Trail. It has been with me on a 108 F (42 C) hike along the Kern River and up to then down the Rincon Trail. It has been used a lot in the Domeland Wilderness and the surrounding Sequoia National Forest where I took four backpacking trips and a camping trip in 2005. It saw a lot of use in Kings Canyon along Bubb’s Creek and the Kings River. I have used it in my regular local stomping grounds around Mounts San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. Observations
I first read about Picaridin and its use in Europe early in 2005. A friend forwarded me a link to a press release from Spectrum Brands that said they were cleared to begin sales of Cutter’s Advanced, a Picaridin-based repellent in spring and I immediately started trying to find it here in California but was not able to. I found it in Minnesota on one of my monthly trips and brought a bottle back to begin trying it out. The bugs were horrendous. Besides mosquitoes we were also assaulted by deer flies and horse flies. I sprayed my children and myself with the Cutter’s and we happily set up camp. Within a couple of hours my sister’s kids were getting eaten alive. Her four girls all hit my Cutter’s and finally as the afternoon wore on Jennifer admitted defeat and asked to use it. We spent three days there and were very happy that we had the Cutter’s along. Rather than take the big bottle on my hikes I pour an ounce (30 ml) into the little spray bottle seen in the first picture. This will get me through a few days of hiking. It works very well but…(Beware the backpackers “but”.) Unfortunately it does not last as long as I would like to see. If I am sweating hard I have noticed it wearing off in two to three hours. And as they recommend applying it no more than three times I will run out of coverage before my days mileage is put in. Needless to say I ignore the warning and reapply as I need to. Because of this I am still taking the 100% DEET on trips over four days in duration. I hope that Cutter can figure a way to boost the effective time. Another thing that I do not like for backpacking is the spray application. It works great for the children. But I find it difficult to spray myself sometimes. And I’ll be danged if I am going to ask Dave to spray me. It sounds too much like a scene from Bokeback Mountain. “Hey cowboy, it sure is buggy today. Get my back?” I also think that a lot of the product is wasted especially if there is even a gentle breeze blowing. I think that this year I am going to try hand applying it and see how that works. It will continue to have a spot on the shelf and I hope that further improvements will be forthcoming. Pros: No smell, works good, no residue, safe for kids and clothes Cons: Does not last as long as I would like, spray application wasteful
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