thermacell

Who doesn’t hate mosquitoes? Save your summer with the Thermacell MR150

Mosquitoes can be a terror that make what should be an enjoyable experience quite miserable instead. Sprays work, but they can be messy and wear off in wet – or sweaty – conditions. If you’re hunting, scented sprays and repellents have the chance of blowing your cover. Open flame repellents are okay as long as you aren’t on the move and the weather permits. The Thermacell MR150 is a lightweight option that you can take anywhere and use in any outdoor environment.

The MR150 is scent and DEET-free, silent, uses no open flames, and one package can be used for up to 12 hours of mosquito-free satisfaction. Each package comes with the MR150 unit, 3 repellent mats, and 1 butane fuel cartridge. It functions by heat-activating the mat, which releases the mosquito repellent into the air, creating a 15×15 foot dome of protection wherever you may be.

Always, the skeptic, I used the Thermacell in various outdoor settings to see if it was as effective as advertised. To be clear, this product is only intended to repel mosquitoes. While you may still have gnats and other critters in the area, my entire family and I were mosquito-bite free after many hours in the presence of the Thermacell MR150. For a family like mine that normally can’t go outside to play with our dog without returning to our house with multiple mosquito bites, this product is a welcome addition to our lifestyle.

The product is light enough, but I do wish it were a little less bulky. The operation is incredibly simple. Insert the mat, screw in the butane cartridge, turn the switch to the “ON” position, wait a few seconds for the gas to start flowing, press the start button 3-5 times, and verify that the appliance light is glowing. When finished, you simply turn the switch to the “OFF” position and allow it to cool before storing.

This product retails for $24.99 and comes in a variety of colors, depending on your preference. Refill packages can be found online. It is an effective mosquito repellent option and is a great addition to your next outdoor adventure.

Thermacell MR150 Listed Features:

Active ingredient – D-cis/trans allethrin
Assembly Details – No assembly required
Batteries – N/A
Dimensions – 7.6″ x 3″ x 2″ (L x W x H)
Hours of Protection Included – 12
Light – No
Model Number – MRLJ
Rubber Armor – No
Warranty – 1 Year Satisfaction Guarantee
Weight (lb.) – 0.4
Zone Check – No
Zone of Protection Size – 15 Feet

Thermacell Heated Insoles

We finally got a stretch of weather here in the Pacific Northwest worthy of being called winter. Still mild by the standard of bearded northmen, but cold enough I finally got to put Thermacell’s Proflex Heavy Duty heated insoles to use.

Thermacell has a pretty neat setup here. The padded Li-Ion batteries fit in the heel of the insoles. A little heating element winds its way through the insole. The whole unit is controlled by bluetooth using an apple or android store app. After opening the box, charging the batteries and reading the manual, I found a couple of things I really want to keep an eye on as I test these out.

The Thermacell bluetooth smartphone app. Simple, effective.

There’s a battery in the sole. When I’m out travelling on the leather express slapping pavement with my hobbit feet, am I going to feel these things digging into my feet?
The manual talks about the heating element warming your feet but keeping mild enough that it doesn’t cause your feet to sweat (then subsequently freeze). Will the heat be sufficient at the various levels of control provided by the app?

Setup is pretty easy. Put the batteries in the charger. Trim the insoles as needed to fit in your boot. Download the app to your smartphone. Once the batteries are charged, insert them into the insoles. I sync’d then to my phone in under a minute. Slip the insoles into your boots and fire them up!

To start with I turned the insoles up to high. I put one foot on the cold floor and the other on top of an insole. After a minute or so, I thought I felt a little heat. I took my foot off the insole and put it back on the floor and realized just how much warmer it had been. Subtle, yet effective. The same can be said for the number of times I’ve worn them out in freezing temperatures. It’s enough heat to make a positive difference, not enough to bake your feet.

So far, I’ve used these for more than a week in sub-freezing temperatures. I really like them and am just waiting for another patch of snow to give them a much more thorough testing phase. I’ll get back to you with updated results once I’m able to.

Stay tuned..

Thermacell ProFlex Heated Insoles

Not too long ago I had the chance to start testing Thermacell’s Proflex heated insoles. My initial impressions article can be found here. These are the heavy-duty, premium offering from Thermacell so if these aren’t sufficient, I don’t think any of their options will be.

Being adequate isn’t a concern here though. If your worries are related to the temperature output, the three settings between 100F and 115F are more than capable. Thermacell states they want settings that keep your feet warm, but not hot enough to start sweating. During some extended jaunts in the snow, I found starting on medium then quickly turning the insoles down to low was plenty effective at keeping my feet warm on the move. If you’re going to be sitting still for an extended time (hunting blind, patrol base) the high setting will eliminate frozen foot syndrome.

The lesser of my two main concerns going into testing was battery life. These are pretty small batteries so it seemed natural to wonder if they would hold up. Thermacell advertises up to 8.5 hours on the low setting. I’ve found this to be pretty accurate. Considering how effective these insoles are at heating, you will often find yourself either using a lower setting than you expected or turning them off for a spell. On on charge I got more than a week of off and on use.

The greater of my two concerns was comfort. The insoles themselves seemed a good middle ground between cushioned and firm, but having a battery under my heel gave me pause. Luckily, this turned out to be a (mostly) unfounded worry. The cushion on the battery ended up being sufficient enough that the battery didn’t even get noticed until near the end of the day. I never got near the level of discomfort I was thinking would hit. Well played Thermacell…

As I covered in my initial impressions article, linking these to my iPhone via the free app was painless. Being able to keep an eye on battery life is a big plus. Changing settings is just a click of a touchscreen away. All told, this aspect of the product was a total breeze.

So, if you find yourself with ice block feet on a regular basis, check out Thermacell’s Proflex insoles. While MSRP on these is $199.99, I was able to find them new online for around $135. I’d say they’re very much worth a look.