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IS Avon Skin So Soft still the stuff to stop me getting muched whilst riding?
As I am now covered in bites 😡
Ride faster and don't stop :-). Skin So Soft basically drowns them, but is pretty minging on a sweaty ride.
I've never thought it was worth the greasy feeling, the smell and getting it in your eyes and mouth, but then I try not to stop for any longer than necessary when it's midgy! I try not to use products full stop now but would be tempted to suggest Smidge instead, at least you can rub that in until it's mostly dry rather than a slick of Skin-so-soft...
Genuine question though, are you getting midged when you're moving? Or is it when fixing punctures etc?
I was hiking and camping the other weekend and the midgies were apocalyptic, but even just walking at a steady pace was enough to see them off.
tried it camping in norway - didn't work that well, and didn't like having skin slathered in it, then clothes and sleeping bags. Used once, not again.
wnet for long sleeves, breezy camping spots and those wide-brimmed wire-edge collapsible hat/headnets.
I've always found Skin so Soft a waste of time. Smidge is pretty effective and most of the common insect repellents work. Stuff with DEET in it works very well but is a bit of an overkill IMO.
the smell and getting it in your eyes and mouth
Yeah - the world starts to look a bit soft focus and pink when you get it in your eyes. Given that its supposed to be a pampering skin care product I find it quite objectional stuff to have on your skin.
Skin so Soft is effective to a point but only in stopping an actual bite by making you too slippery. Its not any form of deterrent so you'll still have midges all around you.
Smidge is better in that its both a deterrent and bite protector.
I think the situation where SSS has the upper hand is its very persistent - once you're slathered in it the stuff stays put - so for rural outdoor work and the like it has its uses and for people who work in that environment all the time theres the advantage that its cheap. Its also quite an effective sun block as dust and dirt then sticks to it and creates a lovely opaque sun screen. 🙂 For stuff like camping and outdoor leisure the greasy unctuousness of it is too messy when you're using and wearing delicate performance fabrics that need to be quite clean to function
Skin so soft basically drowns em one by one.
Smidge on the other hand actually repels them and stops them from biting. It has transformed being outdoors in moderate midge's anywhere, and ticks do not like it either. You can get it most shops north of the border. The only thing I find is in a real severe midge-ing, the little buggers still go inside your ears, eyes, nose and in hair...
Anything with DEET in seems to annoy my skin, although probably better for flies and mossies.
Ok, think I will get some smidge then, as I was also going to use it for camping duties.
+1 for Smidge, it's been working well for me so far!
Mrs Pondo bought some SSS dry oil, or something like that - doesn't match the descriptions given in here, I'll give it a try and report back...
IS Avon Skin So Soft still the stuff to stop me getting muched whilst riding?
it doesn't work, you need either Smidge or Jungle Formula (has DEET, some people find that DEET irritates)
Smidge +1
Smidge is pretty well regarded, although not so effective on some welsh midges recently (according to others)
I was using Wilma's Nordic Summer and that was good too. Nice small tin that looks like boot polish, smells like pine tar mmmm
People say skin-so-soft doesn't work any more, not my experience though, it doesn't repel midges but I find it reduces biting. Probably because it feels as manky to them as it does to you. You can combine it with smidge or lethal levels of deet too of course (remember deet will melt some artificial fibres)
That jungle stuff is very good...
I would add anti-histamine tables and antisan cream.
Midges are crap flyers ,anything near 4mph and they are done. They follow your carbon dioxide exhalations to find you.
I favour long sleeves,sun hat and a breeze.
For the true wilderness experience find a big myrtle bush and scrub it over you.
Smell good AND repel the midges.
Midges are crap flyers ,anything near 4mph and they are done. They follow your carbon dioxide exhalations to find you.
I'd best leave the bike at home and get the bus then.
Mrs Pondo bought some SSS dry oil, or something like that - doesn't match the descriptions given in here, I'll give it a try and report back...
Been using that, and I'm a midges primary food source. So far so good. Will try Smidge too.. used to be able to get Autan cheap, but it didn't work for me.
Missed one horsefly though, lump like a golf ball on my back 🙁
For the true wilderness experience find a [s]big[/s] [b]bog[/b] myrtle bush and scrub it over you.Smell good AND repel the midges.
That is what Smidge was developed from.....
big myrtle bush and scrub it over you
Interesting! I'd heard this somewhere and tried just hiking about with two springs of it behind my ears, until the laughter and general abuse from others kind of put me off the look. Wasn't sure about smearing it on myself.
Had also heard rumours that the Vikings smoked bog myrtle before getting their pillage on, angered up the blood for more effective plundering I believe...
Scrubbing definitly worked for me on arran when i forgot the smidge and the headnet.
Also toadted a bit to smoke the tarp and surrounds.
Fresh meat is the answer. 🙂
ie, bring along a friend who hasn't been exposed to them. won't stop you getting bitten, but they seem to prefer newbies, so there will be less.
Big Myrtle's bush sounds an interesting repellent, but I think you'd have to know her pretty well.
This stuff works well + it has a SPF of 15. Downside the smell is quite strong!
[url= http://www.planetnatural.com/product/insect-repellent-w-spf-15/ ]Herbal Armor[/url]
Though I think it may have been discontinued..