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Midges, what really...
 

[Closed] Midges, what really works?

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[#6157714]

I have used Avon So Soft for a few years, but what else works well?

Looking for body stuff and also whats good for putting around the tent?

Cheers 🙂


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:13 am
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Smidge


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:18 am
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DEET.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:23 am
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Nets and smoking.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:24 am
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a not-particularly-stiff-breeze.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:28 am
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Not visiting Scotland between April and October


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:29 am
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Careful wth DEETn- it's an excellent solvent, wrecks clothes and paint, and stings like #%#% when you start sweating or it goes in your eyes.

Buts it's very effective...


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:31 am
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Smidge


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:34 am
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Running round in circles screaming and waving your arms about wildly..


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:34 am
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Wasabi


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:35 am
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Eat a lot of Marmite and garlic.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:35 am
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Nothing.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:36 am
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Smidge is about as effective as 50% Deet IME, but no where near as nasty. It's all I used and I'm out and about in midges all summer without too much drama.

If you're static for any length of time (camping, belaying etc), then a head net is essential.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:36 am
 iolo
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DEET works but is pure evil stuff that eats clothes.
Avon skin so soft works for me.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:38 am
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smidge is good, when that fails, 100% clothing coverage of your skin including face.

They are going to be fierce this year, i go bitten a wee bit camping out south of Loch awe last week.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:41 am
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I've always found that Jungle Formula works and (the standard stuff) is natural. You can also get 50% DEET extra strength stuff.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:43 am
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Winter


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:52 am
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 11:55 am
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.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:18 pm
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try Products with picaridin as the Active ingredient


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:26 pm
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Walls, windows, doors and a roof.

NB - the doors and windows will need to be closed.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:28 pm
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spiders


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:28 pm
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mudshark - Member
spiders
apparently bats eat the most midges.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:37 pm
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another smidge vote.
have they changed the skin so soft recipe - or are they getting used to it?


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:39 pm
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have they changed the skin so soft recipe - or are they getting used to it?

It never worked (well, maybe back in the 50's it did).

If midges were not biting you while wearing SSS, it's not because of the SSS.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:44 pm
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Tennis Racquets.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:46 pm
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Skin So Soft is hippy bollocks.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:50 pm
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Skin so soft works by virtue of the midges drowning in the oily film left behind..... Presuming you didnt rub it in .it in no way repells them

I find the same things that stop me getting attacked by mozzies in africa work on the midge.

That is non scented soap , no deoderant and garlic tabs


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:53 pm
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have they changed the skin so soft recipe - or are they getting used to it?

There are several different versions of skin so soft most of them don't have any Active ingredients for bugs....

picaridin was the Active ingredient in some versions and is a v effective alternative to DEET without some of the nasty side effects.

It doesn't last as long as deet but other than that I've founnd it to be effective with midges etc


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:53 pm
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spray on factor 2 sun tan oil with a few drops of tea tree oil and a cap full of dettol repels biting insects and members of the opposite sex.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:57 pm
 grum
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SSS worked a bit for me - as above it's not a repellant though. Smidge is by far the best thing I've tried.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 12:58 pm
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Skin so soft as said only seems to work to the extent that it drowns the buggers.

Smidge really does work. Last year we were waiting outside for a tour of Kinloch castle on the Isle of Rum. We were wearing Smidge and the grey mist was all around us but we were not bothered at all. Other people waiting were being bitten to pieces.

Smidge is also a lot more pleasant to wear than most credible alternatives


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 1:00 pm
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Smidge.
Which reminds me, need to buy some more. Whatever it was that bit me on the knee on Tuesday night has left me with a swollen calf and ankle, as well as a course of antibiotics to get through.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:13 pm
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Dog urine


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:17 pm
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Smidge has made bivvying in Scotland in summer possible.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:34 pm
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Smidge is very good.

I'd still want a head net for any sitting about in areas with lots of midges though.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:44 pm
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Smidge really does work. Last year we were waiting outside for a tour of Kinloch castle on the Isle of Rum. We were wearing Smidge and the grey mist was all around us but we were not bothered at all. Other people waiting were being bitten to pieces.

One of the odd things I've noticed about smidge, is that the midges still hang around and even land on you, but don't bite (especially in bad areas). It's odd at first because you tingle, expecting the bites, but they never come.

Best test for me was at glen nevis a couple of years ago. long sleeve/trousers, hood up and smidge on my face and hands.

Tried to pitch the tent in quite possibly the worst midge swarm I have ever seen. I had scores of midges hanging from my eyelids, where I couldn't put smidge. Then, once in the tent, I had a huge red ring around the bottom of my back where my top had ridden up whilst pitching. Not a single bite on my hands or face though (well, other than my eyelids!).


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:51 pm
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Get a midge catching machine then make burgers out of them. No idea what they'd taste like but seen a tribe on telly doing this with swarming insects.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:54 pm
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A good thick layer of goose fat solves most of life's problems I've found.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 2:58 pm
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peterfile - Member
Then, once in the tent, I had a huge red ring around the bottom of my back where my top had ridden up whilst pitching.
Rookie mistake, always spray around around your waist line! Agree about them still swarming you though, they do, but least they don't bite.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 3:00 pm
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Tried to pitch the tent in quite possibly the worst midge swarm I have ever seen. I had scores of midges hanging from my eyelids

That doesn't sound like my idea of fun.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 3:11 pm
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Smidge has transformed summer up here.

Avon just drowns the beggars one at a time it seems.
Anything with deet/monster chemicals in burns my poor gentle skin and only lasts a couple of hours.

Smidge just works, and for a long time.


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 9:53 pm
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Sit on the beach with an offshore wind.

Or buy a boat and admire the Scottish countryside whilst afloat

Love from Ayrshire


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 9:58 pm
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Smidge just works, and for a long time.

How much do you need to use?
Just a sm...
IGMC 😀


 
Posted : 01/05/2014 10:01 pm
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