Not having done much in Scotland I have never had to bother with midge repellant but have recently started using DEET. It is pretty well known that DEET can melt plastic and nylon. Has anybody got any knowledge or experience of what it might do to lightweight tent materials. Is it possible it could cause damage eg if you are wearing it and get it on the groundsheet? And what about Goretex waterproof jackets and trousers?

David

never used DEET so can not comment but why not try "Avon skin so soft" with the pink top it works for killing midges and it has not melted any of my kit

I don't know if this adds any creadance to Alan's suggestion, but I have seen Avon for sale in Tiso, Rose Street Edinburgh. (I originally thought Avon was only available if you went to a "party" - would seem not!)

Mark

I saw a comment in one of the Outdoor Mags only this month that the Royal Marines (honestly!) use one of the Avon products to keep midges away! Perhaps it is the same one that Alan mentions. I suspect if they do it must be effective as I can not imagine the average Royal Marine wearing a woman's beauty product for fun whilst in action in places like Afghanistan. Although, of course, the late great WA Poucher of guide book and mountain photography fame always wore immacualate make up when out on the hill - foundation, blusher the lot. He was the chief perfumier for Yves St Lauren or Chanel I seem to recall.

David

I don't know about tents and jackets, but I do know that DEET 'melted' my plastic alarm clock. My brother had a similar experience with a synthetic watch strap. Nasty stuff!

I know lots of people who swear by Avon 'Skin So Soft'. I've used it once or twice, and it does seem to work, but the conditions weren't extreme. I've yet to test it in a full-blown midge storm!

Viv

Deet certainly has an adverse effect on plastics but there is nothing better to keep midges off you. You just have to be careful with it. Avon Skin So Soft has been used by hillwalkers, the Forestry Commission etc for a number of years now but I've heard that the constituent that midges don't like has been removed. Apparently Avon didn't like their image being tarnished by hairy forestry workers. However, that could well be some kind of rural, as opposed to urban, myth.

I shouldn't have thought Avon would have wished to lose a significant number of customers for an otherwise mediocre product on that basis Cameron ?

Image, it's all about image...

At first it seemed strange to me too, If I released a product and discovered it had a customer base that I wasn't aware of I'd be quite a happy chappy. But a cosmetic skin product being discovered strong enough to kill, even if it is just midges, could be a bit of an image worry. There could be truth in the rumour.

Saying that, we still eat and drink HP Sauce and Coke.

Maybe "Avon Midge Repelant" could appear on the market soon. They already know how to make it, just needs rebranding.

David

never used DEET so can not comment but why not try "Avon skin so soft" with the pink top it works for killing midges and it has not melted any of my kit