I’ve always been prone to mosquito bites. My friends say I have sweet blood. However, after a constant barrage of attack, the funny side soon begins to wear off.

For those, like myself, who love spending time outdoors and don’t want to be plagued by bugs, Thermacell has come up with something a little different. The best part is that it doesn’t require spraying yourself from head to toe or burning bizarre-smelling incense.

To help you learn more about their products and how they compare, I’ve put together these Thermacell reviews.

What is the Best Thermacell Repellent? — Find Out Now

Thermacell mosquito repellers share some features including a standard 15 feet protection radius, non-use of DEET, and refills that work for all their products. Find out which lantern or handheld is best suited for your needs.

Best For Patio Use - Thermacell Bristol Mosquito Repellent Shield Lantern

Anyone who enjoys throwing grill parties in their backyard knows that bugs can be a total mood-killer. This Thermacell mosquito repellent is designed for use on the patio.

The unit looks very similar to ordinary LED light lanterns. And because it has no smell even when it’s turned on and working, I’ve had at least one guest mistake it for a regular LED light. With a 15-foot radius, it creates a sizable mozzie no-go area for you to relax and enjoy your patio time. 

In the box you get the lantern, 1 fuel cartridge, and 3 insect repellent mats. (To learn what these are for, click here or skip to the bottom of this article.)

What’s amazing about this product is that it works as advertised. One fuel cartridge lasts me 12 hours and 1 mat lasts 4 hours. In some cases, they lasted me longer.

This Thermacell repellent is silent, odorless and water-resistant. It’s also very straightforward to use. After turning it on, just give it around 15 minutes to heat up and work. The mosquitoes will be gone before you know it.

Dimensions: 5 x 4.5 x 9.1 inches

Weight: 0.6 pounds

Pros

• Wide repellent coverage

• Great fuel efficiency

• Light is unobtrusive; not glaring

• Extremely lightweight

• Long protective time frame

Cons

• Requires 3 AAA batteries, which are not included

• A handful of buyers say they still get bit

Most Portable - Thermacell MR450 Armored Mosquito Repellent

I feel this could be one of the best Thermacell mosquito repellents for those who get active outdoors.

If you enjoy fishing, hunting or hitting the trails, it features a muted ignition which shouldn’t scare off the wildlife. Plus, its rubber casing provides the unit with protection and a decent grip, even when the elements are against you.

Furthermore, it’s designed to be extremely lightweight and the belt clip is a nice touch, which also makes it handy for carrying around.

This Thermacell MR450 Armored Portable Mosquito Repellent protects you against mosquitoes in an area the size of an average campsite, patio or deck. The kit includes a repeller unit, three repellent mats and one fuel cartridge, which lasts 12 hours.

Dimensions: 7.8 x 2.9 x 1.8 inches

Weight: 0.4 pounds

Pros

• Great for use in all types of weather conditions

• Provides 15 feet of protection

• Lightweight and portable

• Muted ignition

• One of the best mosquito repellents for gardening, hiking, or fishing trips

Cons

• The repellent indicator light may be too bright in some cases for hunting

Best Lantern For Outdoors - Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Lantern

This particular Thermacell lantern is designed for outdoor activities and use. If you are going camping or having a gathering outdoors, this is one of your best bets to keep the mosquitoes from taking their shots. The casing is durable, and it’s shock-proof and waterproof so it’s the perfect companion for outdoor trips.

Unlike other models, this lantern can be separated into two halves. The LED light and the repellent feature can be used independently although I like to save the batteries so I just really use it for the repelling feature.

Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 4.3 inches

Weight: 1.59 pounds

Pros

• Best for use outdoors

• Light and mosquito repellent features can be used separately

• Water and shock resistant

• Has a built-in hook so you can hang it up on a pole

Cons

• The light uses up a lot of battery

Thermacell Reviews: My Top Choice

Preventing mosquito bites is important, aside from making your life miserable, they can cause infections or transmit diseases. Thermacell products form a valuable tool to keep yourself and your loved ones bug-free.

Out of the models I’ve tried through the years, I find the Thermacell MR450 Armored Portable Mosquito Repellent the most useful and flexible. Because of how portable it is, I just clip mine to my jeans and bring it everywhere when it’s mosquito season and I need to stay and work outdoors.

For these reasons, it’s my top choice. 

What To Look For When Buying A Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit

When searching for Thermacell Mosquito Repellents, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Convenience and portability

If you love to go camping, hiking, fishing or hunting, you might want to consider the weight and portability of your Thermacell Repeller. Look for something lightweight and easy to carry.

Design

Ask yourself which type of design is the best for you. Some of them are made specifically for carrying around while on the move, whereas others are better suited to your patio table in your backyard. 

Location

Think about where you intend to get the most use out of your Thermacell product. The patio, garden, campsite, watching little league or perhaps on the trails? As my Thermacell reviews have shown you, they do offer different types of repellents tailored to varying activities.

Energy

Consider the time-frame of the repellent according to your needs. How many hours do you need it to be working?

What is it and How Does Thermacell Work?

The concept behind Thermacell Mosquito repellents is simple. They’ve created a gadget which releases insect repellent and causes a flying insect exodus, particularly where mozzies and black fly are concerned.

Since the launch of their original product MR-XJ Mosquito Repeller, they’ve developed lanterns, units that work off camping gas canisters (Backpacker), and devices specifically for the patio. 

Yet, you might be thinking, does Thermacell work?

Well, the answer is, yes. 

Field tests carried out by experts indicated that when using a Thermacell Mosquito Repellent device, it provided an average protection rate of 93 percent.

What’s more, scientists have gone as far as to suggest it “may be a functional alternative to DEET dependence.” 

Next question, how does it work?

Fuel-Powered Unit

Thermacell Repellents use a butane cartridge that heats a mat soaked in mosquito repellent.

As the mat warms up, the repellent is then released into the surroundings. 

Mosquito Mats

Doused with repellent, mosquito mats are to be placed under the grill on the face or top of Thermacell Repellent units. Make sure to dispose of the mat once it turns from blue to white. 

There is one point I'd like to highlight. Be responsible: don’t throw away the used mats into any kind of water source. The insecticide Allethrin is harmful to fish and other aquatic life.

Butane Refills

These are the power pack of your device. Installation is a straightforward affair, you take off the cap and simply screw it into the bottom of the unit. 

Each unit has some form of operation and ignition switch. All that’s required is to turn it on and press “start” to fire up the fuel. Refer to your operation manual for specific instructions.

For more product details, you may wish to check out Mosquito Repellent Refills, 60-Hour Pack in my Thermacell reviews section.

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent: What You Need to Know

My Thermacell Reviews wouldn't be complete without talking about some basics.

After Sales Service 

In the unfortunate event that your repeller unit develops an issue, find out whether the problem is the device or the fuel supply by replacing the cartridge. 

Thermacell offers a one-year warranty for defects. This also applies to accessories. However, if you register your product directly with them, they will double it to two years from the date of purchase. 

Where to Buy?

You’ll find the Thermacell range in most leading retail outlets. However, if, like me, shopping online is more your style, your best plan of attack is to check out Amazon. They stock all the leading devices, accessories, bundles and necessary refill packs to help get you started. 

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