Thermacell is a lineup of mosquito repellent products designed for outdoor and camping use. Find out how Thermacell products work today in our review.
What is Thermacell?
Thermacell is a lineup of lanterns, flashlights, torches, and more that repel mosquitos. They’re found in outdoor supply stores, camping retailers, and similar outlets. You can also find them at Costco, Walmart, and many other similar retailers.
Using Thermacell, you can put up a virtual forcefield around your campsite or outdoor picnic area, letting you live life outdoors without the threat of mosquitoes. In promotional images for Thermacell, customers are seen using the products while hunting, camping, fishing, or even just sitting in their backyards.
You can place Thermacell lanterns on a table or on the ground to repel mosquitos around your area. Or, you can attach the portable Thermacell products to your backpack for protection while hiking.
How Does Thermacell Work?
Thermacell has a number of different products. However, they all work in pretty much the same way. All Thermacell products repel mosquitoes in a 15 foot by 15 foot radius by creating a zone of area repellant.
Thermacell products use a repellent called allethrin, which is a synthetic copy of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum plants. Chrysanthemum plants use this repellant as a natural defense mechanism against mosquitos and other pests. Using a synthetic version of this repellant, scientists have been able to replicate the effects.
Each Thermacell device has a butane cartridge inside. This cartridge delivers cordless, portable heat to a metal grill. Behind that metal grill is a small mat soaked with repellant. The heat activates the repellant, dispersing it from the mat into the surrounding area. That’s what creates the zone of protection.
In any case, here are some of the common traits across all Thermacell products:
-Covers a 15×15 foot area
-Uses an odorless repellant
-Small and portable
-No open flame
-No contact with skin or clothing
-Unlimited usage (you need to buy refills periodically, however)
Thermacell Products
Thermacell has six core products in its lineup, including:
-Mosquito Repellers ($24.99): These are compact, lightweight mosquito repeller tools that can easily be held in your hand. Unlike the lanterns or torches, they’re not designed to be placed standing-up on a surface. However, you can easily let them lie on the ground on a table, or in the grass. Prices range from $24.99 to $29.99.
-Mosquito Repeller Lanterns ($21.99+): Thermacell’s Mosquito Repeller Lanterns are actually dual function products. They’re LED lights that can illuminate a patio or campsite. And, they provide the same 15×15 foot protection you see with other Thermacell products. Prices range from $21.99 for a basic outdoor lantern to $59.99 for the “Trailblazer Camp Lantern”.
-Mosquito Repeller Torches ($34.99): Thermacell’s Mosquito Repeller Torches can protect an average-sized patio or deck. The main difference between the torches and the lanterns is that the torches are more decorative and less portable. They can fit in with your existing garden or backyard, for example. In fact, most people won’t know that they’re secretly repelling mosquitos.
-Backpacker Mosquito Repeller: This product actually hasn’t yet been released. However, it’s scheduled to arrive in 2017. When it launches, you’ll be able to attach the repeller to your backpack, providing easy protection while hiking or walking around outdoors.
-Mosquito Repeller Refills: Each standard Thermacell refill mat will protect you from mosquitos for about 4 hours. The company also sells a Max Life mat that offers up to 12 hours of protection. Max Life mats are priced at $20.99, while single pack refills (containing three mats and one butane cartridge) are priced at $7.99. You can also save money by ordering the Value Pack ($20.99 for 12 mats/4 butane cartridges) or the Mega Pack ($44.99 for 30 mats, 10 butane cartridges).
-Mosquito Repeller Accessories: Some of the Thermacell accessories include hats ($14.99), holsters with clips ($15.99, designed for use with the original Mosquito Repellers), an All-Purpose Swivel Light ($9.99), and a Tree Hanger ($12.99). All of these accessories are designed to make Thermacell products easier to use outdoors.
About Thermacell
Thermacell is an American company based in Bedford, Massachusetts. The company can be reached by phone at (781) 541-6900. You can also get in touch with customer service by email at customerservice@thermacell.net.
Where to Buy Thermacell Products
Thermacell products are available for sale online through Thermacell.com. You can also find them at retailers across America, including at Walmart, Amazon, and most outdoor or camping supply stores. Costco also carries the lanterns and refill packs, and they tend to be the cheapest at Costco.
What Do Customers Have to Say About Thermacell?
Thermacell products are generally well-reviewed online – which is surprising for mosquito repellers. Typically, mosquito repeller review websites are flooded with people claiming they didn’t work.
In any case, Thermacell has over 1,000 customer reviews posted on Amazon and maintains an average rating of 4.3 stars out of 5. Some of the pros and cons we’ve learned from these reviews include:
Pros
-Works even in areas that are very prone to mosquitos
-Turn on the repellers with a click
-Replacing pads is easy
-Works much better than other mosquito repellers on the market
-Most customers agree that once you start using it, it’s tough to go outside or camping without it
Cons
-Purchasing refills every few hours can get expensive
-Some customers complain that the device isn’t actually a repeller: it’s a mosquito killer. The repeller used by Thermacell actually scrambles the nerve signals in insects, causing them to fall down twitching. There’s some controversy over the effect this has on cats, with some customers saying that the chemical used in Thermacell is toxic to cats. Our research shows that allethrin, like most insecticides, is toxic to everybody – but the doses are so weak that they only affect mosquitos.
-Some customers complain that the scent repels deer and other animals as well, although these reports are rare (and are deer really going to get within 15 feet of you?)
Should You Buy Thermacell?
Thermacell products are a popular way to solve mosquito problems in and around your house. Whether you’re an avid camper and hunter, or you just like to sit outside in the evening, Thermacell products can be used to repel mosquitos in a 15 x 15 foot radius around your home. There are lanterns, torches, and handheld portable devices you can use to ensure mosquitos never bother you.
Reviews for Thermacell are surprisingly good online. Customers praise the effectiveness of the devices and state that they were surprised by how well they worked. Reviews are available from hunters, campers, and homeowners who just like to sit outside.
Overall, Thermacell products appear to work as advertised to safely, odorlessly, and effectively repel mosquito problems wherever you are outdoors.
