Amazon Prime Day Deal: The Thermacell E-Series mosquito repellant system keeps bugs 20 feet away, and it's $5 off (that's a 13% price drop) for Amazon Prime Day right now. The main unit stands about 5 inches tall and holds a 6.5-hour charge while dispensing a DEET-free repellant.
Longer, hotter summers mean one thing: longer, itchier, angrier mosquito seasons. And if June's sizzling heat waves are any preview of summer's dog days, you're gonna need more than good vibes and a flickering citronella candle to make it through.
I was playing it fast and loose with the usual bug defenses: sprays that smell bad and taste even worse and candles that burn out faster than your will to be outside. Then I met my new summer MVP: the Thermacell. It's a compact, affordable, bug-repelling gadget that's kept my backyard hangouts and balcony beers almost entirely bite-free.
Made by Massachusetts-based company Thermacell, this line of mosquito defense devices works by diffusing a scentless, invisible mosquito repellent into the air. The magic? It doesn't smell, doesn't stick to your skin and it actually works.
I've been testing the smallest in the lineup, the Thermacell E-Series, with a fast charging dock. For around $40, this little puck creates a 20-foot bubble of bug-free bliss. It's available at REI, Amazon and other retailers, and it might just be the best $40 you spend this summer (that isn't on frozen margarita mix).
How does Thermacell work?
The rechargeable device releases a trickle of vapor, similar to an oil diffuser, that contains a synthetic version of a chemical found in the chrysanthemum flower. According to Griffin Dill, an integrated pest management professional at the University of Maine I spoke to, these compounds excite insects' neuroreceptors, which dissuades them from feeding. Because of this, you might still see bugs flying around but they're far less likely to bite you.
Thermacell's formula is effective in deterring dozens of species of mosquitos, black flies and biting gnats. Thermacell
I also spoke with Thermacell Senior Product Director Adam Goess, who performs research and testing in the company's sprawling laboratory in the swamps of Florida -- the mosquito capital of America. As of our speaking, they've found the device to be effective in deterring dozens of species of mosquitos and even black flies and biting gnats.
In my testing, it worked just as advertised. I ran the Thermacell around my outdoor dining table and lounge setup on five evenings during twilight when bugs are particularly ravenous. My yard has a pool, so you can only imagine the sort of swarms that descend on the space during summer.
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