Flight friendly Skin so Soft

agrinnall

I'm going to argue that it is Overseas, as my destination is Skye and you have to travel over the sea to get there! And of course, if there is a solution it could apply to other destinations with annoying biting creatures when you arrive (NZ sand flies are a particularly painful memory).

Does anyone know if it's possible to get Avon Skin so Soft in a format that is acceptable for carry on luggage? Everything I've managed to find is in volumes of at least 150ml, I wondered if there are either smaller bottles or something like a gel stick available?

pogofish

Skye is not overseas - and arguably not since 1995 when the bridge permanently connected it to the mainland!



Here's a pic - Skye Bridge at sunset, taken from Balmacara, where the midges were flaming fearsome that night!

And don't be another mug taken-in by the Skin so Soft puff - The stuff has little or no value as a repellant and even the cash-in version with added DEET is just average.

Boots Silver (stronger) or Yellow tin repellant did me very well on Skye last year (and indeed most trips west for the last two decades, incl work trips to test the effectiveness of many other brands of repellant and other interesting compounds), if that's any help and you do get that in various flight-friendly forms/sizes - if you are coming in to a major UK airport, you will almost certainly find a Boots in the concourse. There are other good brands of course - Jungle Formula but that gives me major skin irritation problems and whatever else is in it destroys plastics/synthetic fibres, so glasses/sunglasses, collars and tents etc take a hammering.

And if you are camping on Skye, think-on the little site at Uig or at Loch Greshornish, nr Edinbane - the geography of these sites, by the sea, slightly raised and breezy helps keep the midgies at bay to significant degree with minimal chemical intervention. Uig has the advantage of other amenities and a slightly bonkers pub a short stagger from the site too. Remember that there is a reason why many residents retreat indoors for a good dram or two around sunset!

michele-p

Hi, I'm not sure the size you can get from Avon, but you can get a travel bottle set from £ shops that has a squirty bottle in, which you can decant into. HOWEVER - if you want to use this to stop being bitten it really didn't work for me last year on holiday (in greece not scotland, but scottish midgies are like no other!). I was bitten to death, even with also wearing citronella bands.

Boots sell a small aerosol size of their mozzie spray with Deet, and I'd go for the high strength one. It's hand luggage size, and would work much better!!

agrinnall

pogofish wrote: »

Skye is not overseas - and arguably not since 1995 when the bridge permanently connected it to the mainland!

That just reinforces my argument: it's impossible to get to Skye without crossing a body of sea water by some means, be that one of the ferries or via the bridge (well, I suppose you could travel under the water, but given what happened to the nuclear sub that ran aground that might not be a great idea ). I've been travelling to Skye since 1992, and not once have I managed to get there without going over water.

Thanks for the info about the Boots products, I'll have a look at those then. I've never actually been too troubled by midgies in Skye before, but that's probably because most of my trips have been early or late in the year, this time I'm going in June (to Sabhal Mor Ostaig). My worst ever midgie attacks were in Glen Trool and at the foot of Ben Klibreck.

Pollycat

I decant Avon S-S-S into a cabin luggage OK size bottle.
I save all the little pots and containers that are cabin OK and wash them out.

Alternatively you can buy a set from most £1 shops as mentioned above.

peachyprice

Just decant it.

halogen

As a long term resident of the midge ridden west coast of Scotland I concurr with the suggestion that SSS isn't that effective. I also have an mild allergy to DEET which makes a lot of mainstream brands also not great. I've found superdrug insect repellent gel a lifesaver ( boots did a version too) although I fear this may have been discontinued. Citronella based items are good and if you are wild camping, light a safe fire- the smoke is a great repellent.
I would suggest that there is also no need to try and pack repellent. The local shops sell a wide range of repellents suited to dealing with the particularly vicious Skye midges. ( My normal reaction to a midge bite is a small lump maybe 7mm across but my Skye midge bites were at least 12mm )

dondo

We used Smidge when we were in Scotland a few years back and it was great

Comes in 75ml

https://www.smidgeup.com/

As an aside the lady in the B&B we stayed in Skye said that midges don't like it when it is "too" anything- too wet, too cold, too windy, too sunny

sheramber

Midges don't like heat, cold or wind.

As they like marshy, humid conditions I don't think wet is a problem to them but heavy rain would prevent them flying as they are so light.

We have used Smidge for several years, since it was developed, and found it effective.

It lasts for 8 hours without having to be re applied and is water repellent.i

I react badly to midge bites but donlt get bitten with Smidge.

You do need to out it on before you go out and make sure you cover all uncovered skin. Avoid teh eyes and lips- it tastes vile.

https://www.smidgeup.com/

The only problem is the midges still fly around you without landing and you can breathe them in.

Gloomendoom

Weird thing is that all midge bites do to me is leave a small red pinprick sized mark. Mosquitos on the other hand give me great big lumps.

Skin-so-Soft appears to work for me and my wife but it could be that we wouldn't have got bitten anyway if we weren't wearing any.

pogofish

dondo wrote: »

We used Smidge when we were in Scotland a few years back and it was great

Comes in 75ml

https://www.smidgeup.com/

Ahh, Ali Blackwell - I used to work with her, before she went-on to form her own company.

Never tested this stuff as I'd moved-on to other work before it launched but I reckon this could be very effective indeed.