Something you should know about me before I get into this review: I am delicious. This, according to every mosquito that’s ever come within 150 feet of me. If there is a Zagat guide for mosquitoes, I am a consistent five out of five, a three-Michelin star destination on par with Le Bernadin. I am so irresistible to mozzies that nothing other than hardcore bug spray has ever stood a chance at keeping them away. Not citronella candles, not those apps that claim to make high-pitched squeals to scare them off, nothing. Until now.
In my latest effort to make my outdoor space usable, I tried out the Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller, and I’m delighted to say that using it felt like an honest-to-God miracle.
Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
Specifications
- Dimensions: 3.75 inches long x 3.75 inches wide x 4.25 inches high.
- Weight: 19.2 ounces.
- Active Ingredient: 5.5% Metofluthrin.
- Cartridge use time: 36 hours.
- Battery life: 6 hours.
- Charging time: 2 hours, via USB-C.
- Returns: Can be returned within 90 days.
- Warranty: Two years.
- Price: $39.99.
Pros
- It actually works!
- Creates a 20-foot protection zone in 15 minutes.
- Cartridges last for 36 hours.
- Scent-free.
- Portable.
Cons
- Refills are a little pricey, at $19.99 each.
- Charges a little slower than you might expect.
The Unboxing
The compact, lightweight box contained:
- E65 Repeller.
- Refill cartridge.
- Fast-charging dock.
- USB-C charging cable.
- Instructions.
The Design
The design of the E65 is simple, but effective: A squat black vessel with a magnetic lid and a slot for adding/removing refill cartridges. It’s not a thing of beauty, but it’s also not an eyesore, blending in with your other outdoor gadgets — bluetooth speakers, etc. — in an unobtrusive manner. There’s only one button on the device, which makes using it supremely easy. And, for once, there’s no required app or interminable setting up of Wi-fi connections.
The Set-Up
Again, this was extremely easy. You just tug on the magnetic lid, open up the device, and drop a refill cartridge into the slot, then replace the lid (carefully, so as not to damage the wick on the cartridge). Once you’ve chosen a spot that’s central to the outdoor space you’re using, hit the button on the front. The lights will cycle for up to a minute, then all four lights will illuminate. This means that the device is warmed up and starting to emit repellent.
The active ingredient in the repellent itself is Metofluthrin, an EPA-approved insect repellent that’s 97% effective against mosquitoes, but safe in all practical senses for humans (you should obviously not directly inhale it or rub it on your skin). Note: You should be sure to keep the cartridges away from any pets.
The Experience
Look, I’ll say it again, mosquitoes cannot resist me. On a story assignment in the Dominican Republic some years ago, I woke up to discover an actual swarm of the little bastards above my bed: I started counting the bites and stopped when I got to 200, and that was just between my knees and feet. I was a living human bite, 6’2” of pure, unadulterated, maddening itch. Still, the mosquitoes were trying to feed. The disgusting little freaks love me even more than I hate them, and I hate them a lot.
I was astonished, then, when I tried this device out and discovered that it actually works. I invited a few friends to hang out in my New Jersey back yard for an evening at the start of August, and while we would normally have to hose ourselves down with bug spray, there was — nothing. Nothing! 12 of us sat outside from 8:30PM to well after 1AM, and not a single bite was felt.
True to its word, and undetectable to us, the E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller had created a 20-foot no-go zone for mozzies around us, and we got to enjoy our whole night — and several since — without either swatting at the air or wafting a trail of Deet behind us every time we went to the cooler.
I’m still slightly dumbfounded at how well it works: I really have nothing negative to say about its function, other than that it charges maybe a little slower than you’d expect from the “Fast Charging Dock” claim plastered on the front of the box. This, though, is beyond nitpicking. The device has absolutely changed my outdoor experience. I’ve even taken to bringing it with me to other friends’ backyards (fun fact, it does not repel wasps, as I discovered at a particularly buzzy barbecue).
The Maintenance
Beyond charging, the only maintenance required is to check the fluid level in the cartridge, and replace when appropriate (refills are a little on the pricey side, admittedly, at $19.99 each).
Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
The End Result
What can I say? Spending time in the backyard no longer means slathering myself in bug spray, and for that, I am eternally grateful. The Thermacell E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller is light, compact, easy to use, and above all else, effective. If you, too, are a delectable treat to those demonic little bloodsuckers, this gadget is your new best friend.
