Best sandfliy repellent?

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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby sim1oz » Wed 16 Mar, 2016 6:46 pm

We met someone who had just finished the Dusky Track solo. It sounded like he had quite an epic trip with all the rain at that time. The waterfalls were gushing when we were on Doubtful Sound.

Had my annual check up with my doctor today and next time I plan to visit NZ Fiordland we are going to talk about sandfly strategies... avoidance and treatment.
Carpe diem!
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby RonK » Wed 16 Mar, 2016 8:45 pm

sim1oz wrote:...next time I plan to visit NZ Fiordland we are going to talk about sandfly strategies... avoidance and treatment.

Avoidance: Bushmans Heavy Duty 40% DEET.

Treatment: Paraderm Plus - contains an anesthetic to stop the itch and antiseptic the heal the bite.
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby Orion » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 6:28 am

I also had a bad time with the sandflies on a recent trip (Nov/Dec). DEET was quite effective but I just didn't want to wear it all day and sometimes at night too. Covering up is hard to do 100%, especially when it's hot, which it was most of our trip. The sandflies at times made us prisoners in our own tent (Iris Burn camp was the worst for us).

Myths about sandflies that I'd heard:

1. They aren't active at night
2. They don't bite when you're walking
3. They aren't a problem in the rain
4. Wind keeps them away
5. They aren't a problem above 1000m

All wrong. I was bitten in each of those cases, sometimes more than one case simultaneously (e.g. walking in the rain above 1000m). At night the space between our tent and the fly was a haven for them, even when the wind was ripping. There were often hundreds in there and some would inevitably drop in if the door was opened in the middle of the night.

Still had a lot of fun, but the flies wore out my patience a few times. Give me mosquitoes instead. Or leeches.
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Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby RonK » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 9:09 am

It's New Zealand. We have spiders and snakes, they have sandflies. :)
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby GPSGuided » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 9:54 am

I'd take spiders and snakes any day as they don't usually like being personal.


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Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby RonK » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 10:42 am

GPSGuided wrote:I'd take spiders and snakes any day as they don't usually like being personal.

But when they do... :(
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby roysta » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 11:38 am

I go there often and always take Aerogard with me, kills 'em off a treat.
Some of the NZ potions are just crap.


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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby Orion » Sat 21 Jan, 2017 12:26 pm

roysta wrote:I go there often and always take Aerogard with me, kills 'em off a treat.

Just a brand name for DEET (or picaridin, depending on the variety of Aeroguard).

roysta wrote:Some of the NZ potions are just crap.

Don't blame NZ. There are unreliable/bogus insect repellents sold elsewhere.
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby roysta » Sun 22 Jan, 2017 1:48 pm

Orion wrote:
roysta wrote:I go there often and always take Aerogard with me, kills 'em off a treat.

Just a brand name for DEET (or picaridin, depending on the variety of Aeroguard).

roysta wrote:Some of the NZ potions are just crap.

Don't blame NZ. There are unreliable/bogus insect repellents sold elsewhere.




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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby roysta » Sun 22 Jan, 2017 1:49 pm

Still works a treat and isn't as messy as Bushmans.



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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby enduro » Mon 30 Jan, 2017 9:04 pm

I'm heading to NZ SI in a few weeks to do the Transvers-Sabine and I would say final concern is about sand flies.

I may just take some DEET and Picaridin, one for each leg.
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby andrewa » Mon 30 Jan, 2017 9:14 pm

They can't bite through lycra.....

MYO socks and gloves. Head net. Detoll/tea tree oil/ baby oil rub on. Easy. I've spent lots of years avoiding them.

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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby wayno » Tue 31 Jan, 2017 12:36 pm

the repellents that work best often contain toluene, which disolves all sorts of plastic ....
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby roysta » Wed 01 Feb, 2017 5:16 pm

Actually Wayne, on this subject.
Any idea how the little pests might be further south, like around the Invercargill coast?
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby wayno » Wed 01 Feb, 2017 5:23 pm

in fiordland $%^&#@!
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Re: Best sandfliy repellent?

Postby enduro » Wed 07 Nov, 2018 9:55 am

I never go around to doing a follow up post from my 2 week hike on the South Is last year. We spent three weeks there total in 2017 and went back for 2 weeks this year.

Anyway, all I used was Aeroguard Odourless in a small bottle (125ml). It is truely is odourless and non-oily, but not tasteless so wash your fingers before eating. Make sure to spray evenly over exposed areas, even between fingers as those buggars will eat you. I use it all the time in AU for mozzies, ticks and flies. It's not so good at flies here in Perth as the flies are too dumb and land on you anyway. They don't spend much time on you but land on you again anyway.

If you apply Aeroguard Odourless evenly, you will not get bothered with NZ SF's. Much like hungry Australian mosquitoes, NF SF's will bare the stench of repellent to find a spot that tiny is that you missed.

SF's can't bite through clothing, even thin layers. You might consider stockings/leggings if tramping in shorts. Do take a mozzie head net for some moments of relief when needed. You should be able to get one for a few dollars and weighs only 30g if that.

Also consider packing a a light mozzie/noseum net for day time sleeps/snoozes. Even something that covers head and shoulders would do. On the Nelson tracks we were all exhausted but couldn't lay down for a rest for many hours after arrival at camp or get eaten alive. I'll be taking my OR Bug Bivvy next time.

I also took along a Arcteryx Konseal which is similar to one of these: https://arcteryx.com/ca/en/shop/mens/stryka-hoody and this was indispensable for protection against the elements and the SF's.
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