Permethrin on packs/shelters

[BlackHatGuy]

Does permethrin bond to cuben? VX21 and such?

Or when you treat a cuben shelter, do you just treat the netting? And when you treat a pack, do you just treat the shoulder straps/hip belt?

Danke for any info.

[Brad P]

Insect Shield says it doesn’t work on water resistant material, so I would assume not.

[BlackHatGuy]

Thanks Brad.

[Rex Sanders]

The Insect Shield process has more limits than DIY permethrin sprays like Sawyer’s:

https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-insect-repellent-treatment/

For use on clothing, tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor gear.

It’s specially formulated not to stain or damage your clothing, other fabrics, gear, and equipment — including plastics or finished surfaces.

Sawyer Permethrin is ideal for treating backpacks, tents, camp furniture, hammocks, mosquito netting, luggage, and even bed sheets.

Sawyer permethrin spray should work fine on VX21 and DCF/cuben. I’d spray the entire shelter and backpack if you want complete protection, through permethrin on your shoes, socks, and other clothing is far more important.

You could ask Sawyer, too:

https://sawyer.com/faqs/ (scroll to bottom)

— Rex

[jimmyjam]

IveI been spraying my tent or tarp and inner and backpack and of course my clothes for five years and have found zero ticks on me while hiking the AT. Working in my yard is a different story as I got a nasty infection from a bite on my knee and had to be treated with antibiotics.

[Ken Thompson]

Permethrin bonds to fibers. Has to be able to soak in.

And you know that promotional stuff from Sawyer applies to regular backpacking fabrics. No way they were thinking of cuben.

[James Marco]

Many silicone coated products are slightly water absorbent. As such, they will absorb enough permethrin to be effective. I spray my tents and tarps all the time. I sometimes have a group of dead mosquitoes/flies in the peak in the morning. Yes, it does work, at least to some degree. (silnylon)

Some items absorb very little. PET for example. Often, fleece is made from recycled PET bottles and it’s overall effectiveness with permethrin is debatable. After 5-6 washings, there is essentially none. Yet, my nylon pants are good for 50-100 washings. Whatever you consider effective… I cannot say I have tested all the newer fabrics, coatings, etc.

[MJ H]

If I wanted to spray my bivy (MLD Superlight), would it work to spray the upper fabric (with DWR coating) more than to spray the silnylon bottom? I know it will keep ticks off me while I sleep if I zip myself in, but would rather just keep it open unless I’m actively bothered by mosquitoes.

I’ve never used Permethrin before, but the recent news and a few threads here got me to buy a bottle.

[Author]

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