Tester Bio
Name: Anthony (TJ) Smith
Age: 30 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
Weight: 155 lbs (73 kg)
Email address: tjsmith1946@gmail.com
City, State, Country: Pensacola, Florida USA
Date: August 28, 2005

Backpacking Background: I have been camping for a little over 5 years now, mostly car camping. I have recently begun backpacking, and I am constantly adding new gear to my “collection” in an effort to get my gear list tailored more towards backpacking, specifically lightweight backpacking. Most of my backpacking trips are short duration, not more than one or two nights. However, I am planning some longer trips in the near future.

Product Information

Year of Manufacture – 2005
Manufacturer URL – www.spectrumbrands.com
Stated Weight – 6 oz (170 g) Large Spray Bottle, 1 oz (28 g) Small Spray Bottle
Weight as Delivered – 7-3/8 oz (208 g) Large Spray Bottle, 1-3/4 oz (50 g) Small Spray Bottle, 1/4 oz (6 g) Wipes (weight is including packaging)

Initial Information/Observations

I received this item on August 23, 2005. It shipped in a plain brown box, with 4 large bottles, 4 small bottles, and 20 wipes contained within. Also on the outside of the box was a copy of the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for both the sprays and the wipes. The MSDS sheets are also available on the Spectrum Brands website.
The individual packages appear to be the actual retail products, containing all labeling and directions for individual use. The product has a very mild smell in the package, which upon application the smell appears to completely dissipate within a matter of minutes. The product does not leave a greasy or oily feeling on my skin when applied. I did not open any of the wipes for the Initial Report, and as such can't report any information on those. I will detail my impressions of the wipes in my Field and Long Term Reports.
The large spray bottle has a locking-type mechanism which appears to keep the bottle from spraying while stored in a pack. The small bottle has a cap that covers the spray mechanism, affording the same protection.

Test Plan

I intend to utilize the Cutter Advanced on a variety of day and overnight backpacking trips, car camping trips, and trail maintenance activities with my local hiking club. Expected conditions during the testing period should range from a high in the 90s F (32 C) down to lows around freezing, 32 F (0 C). I anticipate a wide variety of precipitation, but I do not expect to use the repellant in snow. I also anticipate a variety of wind conditions during the testing period. During the testing period, I anticipate encountering an active insect community, even into cooler weather.

The following are a list of issues I intend to explore:
Ease of Use - How easy is the product to apply? How easy are the wipes to apply? Do I need more than 1 wipe for an adequate application?

Actual Use - How frequently does the product need to be applied? How well does it hold up to sweating? Rain? High Humidity? How well does the product appear to repel insects? Does it prevent problems, even in areas densely populated with mosquitoes and gnats? Even though it is listed as unscented, does it have any noticeable odor in actual use? Does the product leave my skin feeling oily or greasy when applied as directed? I don't normally have a reaction to products containing DEET, do I have a reaction to the Picaridin? Does this product cause any problems with exposure to my other gear, clothing, or packs like products containing DEET do? How long does the actual amount of product last under recommended applications?

I also intend to report on any other issues that may arise during my testing of this product.

My thanks to Spectrum Brands and BackpackGearTest for allowing me to test this item.

Read more reviews of Spectrum Brands gear
Read more gear reviews by Anthony Smith

Initial Report

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