Touring - Insect Shield and other Mosquito Repellents

Has anyone here used this stuff (http://www.insectshield.com/) touring? How about the spray on do-it-yourself variants? Do they work well enough to, say, set up a tent in Alaska and jump inside without significant bloodloss?

I've also read a few journals where folks were using bug suits, herbal oils, and burning mosquito coils all over camp, but these where mostly passing mentions without much information or discussion.

Maybe its just wistful thinking, but I'm hoping there is a better way than the spray. So, when you can't avoid camping in a mosquito infestation, what works best for you?

sorry, dont know this stuff. Who knows if its bogus or what. What I do know is that I generally dislike putting deet and such on so much that I will usually go with long pants, long shirt if its really bad, along with a cheap and light head net if it is truly horrible. Usually if I can cover up everywhere cept hands and face (using a hat and bandana for back of neck) then I only have to put bug spray on not too much of me.

Are you going to Alaska? Here in the east (Montreal, Ottawa area) black flies early in summer can be just downright maddening. Ive been camping where its been so bad it takes the fun out of being there.
In any case, Ive tried bug shirts (shirt plus hood with screen) found them too hot. I have used the lightweight headnet sometimes, but you cant eat with it...

oh, rmemeber that dark colours are worst for attracting mozzies and black flies. Lighter colours are always better.

That stuff looks like it's permethrin based, so it should be effective. It's even 'natural' in a sense; it's derived from the chrysanthemum.

Folks around here swear by Thermacell. I've had excellent results with mine.

We use long sleeve insect shield shirts as part of our camping kit for touring in New England and Eastern Canada. They seem to work well, are made of appropriate lightish weight synthetics, etc. They are especially good to quickly pull on during a bug emergency, such as encountering a swarm of black flies when grinding up a hill. And they double as a warming layer in camp.

The US Army uses the same technology as part of the kit to avoid tropical diseases such as malaria. It does work. I'm not sure it is a complete substitute for deet, which I actually keep at all times during the summer in my handlebar bag.

Jim

Don't get deep woods off on your helmet, tent, or anything plastic, even a plastic watch lens. It can melt them.
I ruined a good helmet this way. Just a little overspray from my arm when the helmet was hanging on the bars.