If a mosquito is anywhere in a 100-mile radius, it will find me. And when it does, the bite doesn’t just itch — it swells into a welt that hurts for days. I spent most of my life trying bands, oils, sprays, and eventually just avoiding being outside after dusk. Nothing worked.
I was in Bend, Oregon when the mosquitoes were particularly relentless. I’d been the main course for what felt like an entire family of them and I was done. I stopped by REI and asked what they actually recommended. They introduced me to the Thermacell E55 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller and I bought it on the spot.
To my genuine surprise and delight — it actually worked.
Why I recommend it
The Thermacell creates a 20-foot mosquito-free zone. I’d place one on the picnic table and another at the door of the tent, and my entire site would be clear for the whole evening. I haven’t been able to sit outside at dusk like that since I was a kid. It’s now a staple for every outdoor adventure — camping, van life, backyard evenings, all of it.
The E55 is rechargeable and the smallest of the Thermacell lineup while still offering the greatest coverage. That combination is why I chose it over the others.
What you’ll need
The unit comes with a 12-hour refill, but invest in extra refills before your first trip — 12 hours goes faster than you think. Thermacell makes refills that each last 36+ hours, and having them on hand means you’re never caught without coverage mid-trip.
One important habit: keep it charged. I’ve been out in the field when it died and learned that lesson the hard way. A small battery backup in your kit is worth having if you’re going off-grid for multiple days.
Missy’s Honest Take
This is one of those pieces of gear that genuinely changed how I experience the outdoors. If you’re a mosquito magnet like I am — if the bites hurt and swell and ruin an otherwise perfect evening outside — this is the thing that fixes it. I don’t go anywhere without it.
Get this gear
If mosquitoes keep you from enjoying time outside, this is the solution. It’s the one thing I wish I’d found years earlier.
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You’ll also need:
- Thermacell Refill – Don’t leave home without extras
One more thing
That first evening in Bend after I set up the Thermacell — sitting at my picnic table at dusk, no buzzing, no swatting, no retreating into the tent — I just sat there. Outside. In the evening. Like a normal person.
It sounds like a small thing. It wasn’t. 🌲