Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller, Gen 1.0; Discontinued by Manufacturer

I've been using the standard Thermacell model for over 2 years. In fact, I've gone through three of them. I've used them at home on my back deck, camping, and backpacking into the most densely populated mosquito habitat I've ever encountered. I'm talking clouds of mosquitos. No exaggeration...clouds.The product contained in the blue mat is very effective at deterring the little buggers. Mind you, there's always the possibility that one or two didn't get the memo and will land on you, but my experience overall has been remarkably good. My primary complaint with the standard model, is the cost and unreliability of the butane refills. Also, you can't fly with them (I had a dozen of them thrown away on one trip). Plus, I've never been able to keep them lit consistently over 5,000 feet, and occasionally, they go out for no reason - even at sea level.Secondly, the ooze from the liquid in the mats, eventually builds up over time and it is really nasty stuff. A couple drops took the paint off the top of my aluminum anodized deck table. It will eventually ruin the plastic housing on the unit itself. It's the consistency of dried syrup and nothing I've found will remove it easily. So when I saw this model, I was more than a little intrigued. Say goodbye to the butane refills. An 8oz. iso cart will provide up to 180 hours of run time. Of course that would require 45 mats, but hey, you get the point. As another reviewer mentioned, with the proper adaptor, you can also run it from a propane cylinder, though I STRONGLY suggest you don't do that. Iso-butane operates at a different temperature and pressure than propane. Using an adaptor in combination with a propane tank, at the very least will shorten the life of the product and may result in a clogged valve, rendering the unit inoperative.After reading a number of negative reviews about the product here on Amazon, I was concerned it may not work, I now wonder how many of the bad reviews here are related to using an adaptor with the wrong fuel. That said, I'm glad I went ahead and bought it. Frankly, I'm convinced most other problems reported here are related to either the type of iso cylinder, or simply not screwing the unit all the way down onto the cylinder.Some iso canisters have a slightly shorter valve stem, and that can result in the actuator needle not fully depressing the release valve. I've personally had issues with Coleman iso canisters, but Primus, MSR, Jet Boil and others work fine for me.Best of all, this unit uses exactly the same mats the standard Thermacell units use. I do wish it was a couple ounces lighter, but hey, at just 4oz it's worth it. In combination with Permethrin treated clothing and some concentrated Deet for backup, you should be bite free. I'm one happy camper!

I WENT BACKPACKING WITH MY DAUGHTER TO THE WIND RIVER RANGE IN WY. IT WAS HER FIRST TIME, AND I WANTED IT TO BE NICE. I PURCHASED THE THIS UNIT AND TESTED IT AT HOME FOR A MINUTE TO MAKE SURE IT WOULD LIGHT. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE...NOT SO QUICK. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT CAMP I BROKE OUT THE UNIT BEFORE THE BUGS GOT BAD. THE UNIT SEEMED TO BE LETTING OUT GAS, BUT ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE UNIT STARTED TO WORK, BUT THEN IT STOPPED. I TRIED IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUEL CAN, BUT NO LUCK. I WILL BE CONTACTING THERMACELL FOR AN EXCHANGE OR REFUND. I WOULD NOT BUY ONE OF THESE UNITS UNTIL THEY DO A BETTER JOB AT QUALITY CONTROL.UNDATE: 3/14/2018I ORDERED ANOTHER UNIT TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER TRY. I RECEIVED THE FIRST UNIT AND IT WOULD NOT LIGHT OR RELEASE GAS. I ORDERED A SECOND UNIT THINKING THAT THE FIRST ONE MIGHT BE A LEMON. THE SECOND UNIT ARRIVED WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I CONTACTED THERMACELL AND ASKED FOR HELP. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAD BATCH AND THEY ARE GOING TO SEND ME ONE FROM THEIR FACTORY. I WILL UPDATE EVERYONE IF THEY DO, AND IT WORKS.UPDATE: I RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM THERMACELL. THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO SEND THESE BRAND NEW UNITS TO THEM. THEY WILL REPAIR OR REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE. THIS DOES NOT WORK FOR ME, THESE ARE NEW UNITS AND THEY SHOULD PAY TO SEND THEM BACK. I WILL RETURN THEM TO AMAZON FOR A REFUND. THIS IS BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE IN MY OPINION.

This version of the Thermacell is fairly effective. I use it mostly for star gazing (astronomy) and it helps keep the mosquitos down to a limited number (why I said "fairly effective). I have multiple types of Thermacell devices and this is the best of the bunch. The fuel is not cheap, and considering that you also have to buy the treated products, you should be aware of the associated ongoing costs. The advertising showed a "dome affect" around the Thermacell and I found that to be fairly accurate (depending on wind/breezes). One thing I learned the hard way: there is a tiny hole on the side of the head (I assume its for verifying the device is burning fuel). If you turn that hole toward a breeze or wind, the "flame" will go out and you won't know until the mosquitos show up in mass. Find that hole and point it away from the breezes. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

It never arrived for some glitch, which is just as well as we would have returned it. there are lighter, more ergonomic versions on the market, with the same deterant features.They only work if you are stationary and only on mosquitoes.

Je suis très déçu, selon l'image le produit est avec la t'inquiète et je n'ai reçu que la tête, alors je ne peux pas l'utiliser

Esté producto tiene muy buen concepto, aunque el primero que me llego no funcionaba muy bien con un tanque de gas butano-propano Coleman y fue la razón por la que pedí me lo cambiaran, el que me llego de reemplazo funciona muy bien con el mismo tanque, les comento que solo lo he usado en mi jardín con una plaquita de la marca h24 ya que las que trae el aparato no las he podido encontrar en México y son muy caras en EEUU por eso decidí usar las comerciales de aquí, que son de menor tamaño pero entran muy bien en el aparato, lo puse funcionar en mi jardín que estaba infestado de mosquitos y a los pocos minutos se fueron ahuyentando (15 min aprox) aunque solo estuve como 20 minutos los mosquitos se ahuyentaron considerablemente podría decir que en un 85%, actualizare mi reseña una vez lo pruebe en un campamento.

I bear hunt regularly and find that the other versions of Thermacell, while extremely effective, always leave me with a little fuel left in the fuel cells after a stand hunting session. Unfortunately this isn't enough for another session on the stand so as a consequence, I have a bunch of partially filled fuel cells that might last for a quick fishing trip but not much more. This version is perfect because one fuel container will last me for multiple seasons, is not any more cumbersome to transport or use and is way more cost effective in the long run.., Love it!

I had a little trouble at first. I found that I didn't tighten the canister enough to allow the fuel to flow properly