Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller with 20’ Mosquito Protection Zone; Bug Spray Alternative; Scent Free

In summer we sit on our porch in the late afternoon watching the sun set. We have a large property by the mountains, and a canyon stream runs about 500 yards below. Then come summer mosquitoes. We don’t have swarms. This is not Alaska fishing. But they come for dinner.My mosquito protection is my wife. Mosquitoes don’t find me tasty. They always go for her. Every time. And she gets huge welts wherever they feed. I can sit there and maybe get an occasional bite. She gets ravished. And hates the smell of bug spray.So this thing comes. For first time we can sit past sunset. She hasn’t had a single bite. If there is mosquito bait, she is it. Proven over years. The device worked. They didn’t even come for proven prime bait.Our porch is partially covered. We get a canyon breeze at sunset, but it is not strong on the porch. We place the device right between our porch chairs.Review summary: It worked for us in our little corner of summer mosquito lands, in the mountains of Utah.I should add: we have the E65 model (which, I just recently saw, the NY Times reviewed also as best), and it has the larger 36 hour repellent cartridge. For us that is definitely working as expected, and lasting about as expected. Some of the other models apparently had much smaller cartridges. Whatever the cost, at a few hours a night, we will buy more. Just remember to turn it off when you go inside.

This actually works here in the Pacific Northwest.It is a repellent that forms a dome like zone that works well to repel insects, particularly mosquitoes in our case. It is a portable zone of protection that works great for a picnic table, a grouping of chairs or as a personal space if you and someone are sitting outside admiring the view.The caveats are that it does have a limited are of protection (like an invisible tent), it doesn’t work as well in any significant breeze as the effects are dissipated, needs recharging after an extended time, and the vapor cartridges need to be replaced periodically depending on how much you use it.

Update (5/12/22):I tried using the product on a breezy evening and as I suspected, the wind impacted the effectiveness. While I think there were fewer mosquitoes (just a guess), I was getting bitten and decided to go back inside. I do think it’s effective if it is not too windy. Will buy some more repellent and continue using it.(Original Post). Let's start with the most important question...does it work? It does work (or at least has worked for me and my specific set up)...more about that shortly. And I will continue to use it (and purchase more repellant refills). Why only 4 stars? Instructions need to be improved and not quite sure about the value proposition (cost) for the repellents. But the product has worked for me so far (several hours of use) and I really hate mosquitos. And I did not have to put on bug repellent to keep them from pestering me.After reading several reviews and wanting to gain access to my patio without being attacked by mosquitos, I decided to buy this and give it a try. I decided on the battery operated version for my patio. The setup instructions were not clearly written (I will provide the information I wish they had provided shortly as well).I am not a entomologist or an aerosol vapor flow expert...that said, here are my observations and recommendations.1.) I don't believe the graphic that shows a 20" protective bubble is reasonable representation of what to expect from the product. The unit emits a vaporized repellent into the air (visualize the smoke from a candle) which is highly influenced by wind or, a ceiling fan. As the repellent is diluted to into the air, the effect dissipates, meaning less protection from mosquitos. The graphic shows a group of people sitting outdoors with a bubble shield, exactly 20 feet around them. If there is no wind, maybe that depiction is a somewhat reasonable representation. But when you set an expectation that there is a protective bubble, people will take it literally. Hence the 1 star reviews that says it does not work.In my situation, I am on covered porch where there is a wall behind me and to the left of me but the front and right side are completely open to the wind. So there is a "pocket" where the repellent is protected from from being completely dissipated or blown downwind. This would seem to me to be the ideal set up for this device. Haven't tried turning on the ceiling fan on the porch. If the results are significantly different, I will update this review.2. Confusing instructions included in the box at best. Here is a suggestion...how about a QR code that takes you to a video called first use. Let me summarize the information I believe needs to clearly provided:a) Plug the unit in before use (instructions said this). You will see 3 chasing dots (blinking on and off in a chasing pattern) until the unit is charged (instructions have some confusing series of gray and white dots that does not look anything like what the unit looks like while it's charging). When fully charged, the three dots above the charging port will be on. Also, no word on whether you can plug the unit into a wall socket and use it while it is recharging. And the instructions do not say it takes 5 hours to charge when the battery is completely depleted (that is what the support person told me). Also guessing the unit does not trickle charge when charging is complete...so you probably should not leave it plugged in for extended periods of time.b) The repellent is in a small plastic container with a lid. The instructions in the box don't really show you how to hold the lid to remove it (there is a confusing drawing with two diagonal arrows which wasn't useful at all). Hold the sides of the bottle with your thumb and forefinger. Hold the front and back center of the lid in the center with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. Separate. Just like the picture on the Amazon website (which I just saw).c) How about a recommendation on turning it off after your use and whether to remove the repellent container and put the lid back on. Absolutely nothing said in the instructions. Also, maybe recommend charging the unit so it will be ready for your next use? What if you are not going to use it for a week or a month...should you not leave the unit plugged in to a charger for extended periods? Again, it would be useful to know if you can use the unit while it's plugged in and recharging.3. General thoughts about toxicity: Google mosquito deaths and the results say mosquitos kill over 1 million people a year. One of the prominently displayed 1 star reviews talks about the toxicity and that you can get headaches or dizziness. Everyone is different and I enjoy being outside without having to put insecticide on my skin. I have not gotten headaches or dizzy. Your results may vary.Now I want to compliment Thermacell on their customer support. They answered the call pretty quickly, were very helpful and pleasant to work with. Also, very generous warranty.I have written this whole review sitting on my porch and did not have a single mosquito come near me. Houston, Texas, in May on light breeze afternoon.Again, I would recommend it to friends and would buy it again.Now for some unsolicited advice to Thermacell. Seems to me you have way too many versions of this product which confuses the buyer. Also, it appears the repellents have changed over time with some of your later repellents that are "safer" than your earlier versions. Might be useful to make this information more explicit if correct. Hopefully you are reconciling what products to sell and which products to sunset. Also, on the box that is covered with pictures and graphics, the actual product version was in smaller print and greyed out (easily overlooked). So it took me a minute to find it when support asked me what device I was calling about.Very simple electronics upgrade...I would recommend resettable timers on the device indicating battery life and how much time remains before the repellent needs to be replaced. Either LED timer display (not 3 LED lights) on the device or bluetooth app on your phone. Seems obvious you are using the "razor and blade" method of pricing for product, where razors are cheap but the blades (refills) are where you generate your profits. The unit works well enough that a little upgrade to provide the user more information about battery life or how long until I need to replace the repellent cartridge would justify paying extra for the "razor". Just one opinion and you have been in the business for 20 years...so you know what your are doing.

It works. I was getting eaten alive by mosquitos until I got this. I’m a deck sitter and we live in a neighborhood with lots of trees and lots of mosquitos. I hated to buy stuff on my skin! I was skeptical at first especially because of price, but decided to give it a try. I place it on the table near me and I have NO mosquitoes at all bothering me. The refills are pricey for me because I’m outside so much, but to me it is so worth it. It works!

Everyone that hates mosquitoes should get a thermacell. The only downside is having to think ahead and turn it on 10-15 minutes before you want to be outside but seriously nothing else I’ve tried actually keeps them away. We now have three thermacell devices and I recommend to anyone. Truly odorless, and really keeps mosquitoes away. Wish it had an auto off feature because we’ve forgotten to turn off but the oil lasts super long so even then we still had half the oil left over.

Highly impressed with this little device! Easy set up, quick charge. It takes a bit for it to get going, so I turn it on, then get my coffee going, and ho back onto my back porch. Prior to Thermacell, drinking my morning coffee on the porch was a game of Dodge the mosquitoes. Now it’s next to nothing. A great improvement. I use it for about 30 mins each morning, and charge it every 3rd day. I just ordered those refill cartridges. I say go get it if you want to enjoy your porch without getting bit up by the mosquitos.

I was recommended by this product from a family member who lives in Florida. (More familiar with mosquitoes than me - from Colorado). The machine does appear to work fairly well. But after using just a couple hours over four days I have to replace the repellant already ?The repellant that comes with the machine lasts 12 hours only. And the refill looks like it lasts 40 hours. So time will tell. It seems like an expensive venture to repel the creatures. Luckily they are gone by September…