OFF Clip-On Mosquito Repellent: Product Review

Most of us know the facts about mosquitoes - they can carry the West Nile Virus, they're attracted to body heat and sweat, they like fruity and floral fragrances, they can breed in a tiny amount of standing water, hot and humid environments are a natural breeding ground, and their bites make us scratch and itch. It's almost impossible to avoid mosquitoes in most cases because they are even attracted to the carbon monoxide our bodies produce when we breathe. So it's man against nature in the war on mosquitoes.

What is your weapon of choice in the war against mosquitoes and their itchy bites? Toxic spray repellent with harsh chemicals such as DEET that soaks into the skin? Citronella candles or torches that give off thick stinky smoke? A less toxic (and less effective) repellant such as Avon "Skin So Soft"? Natural essential oils such as peppermint, lemon eucalyptus, thyme oil, or geranium oil? The essential oils work about as well as a spray on repellant with DEET but they are still topical and have to be applied to the skin.

I recently tested a clip-on mosquito repellent from the OFF product line made by S.C. Johnson. It clips on to your clothing, purse, or belt and requires no spraying. Here are the details on this exciting new product.

The clip-on starter kit comes with a hard plastic repellent fan unit, a refill disk, and 2 AA batteries. The kit retails for around $8.99. Refill disks cost about $3.99 for a pack of 2.

The plastic clip-on piece pops open to hold the disk, which easily slips inside, and then you simply snap the holder shut. The two batteries pop into a hatch on the back side of the unit.

Each disk is coated with a new active mosquito repellent called Metofluthrin. Metofluthrin is odorless, does not need to be applied to the skin, and does not require heat for activation.

When the unit is powered on, air is drawn into the device with a tiny battery fan. Then, the air passes through the Metofluthrin disk and is blown out from the bottom of the unit. The fan keeps the repellent circulating in a perimeter around the person wearing it. Actually, you can just sit it on a table or chair beside you and it will work just as though you had it clipped on.

Each disk lasts up to 12 hours and has an indicator meter that shows how much longer the disk can be used. An on/off switch lets you turn the unit off to preserve the 12 hour working capacity, so the repellent can be used multiple times for either 12 hours or up to 2 weeks, whichever occurs first. The batteries should be replaced when you no longer feel air blowing from the fan.

I give the OFF Clip-On Mosquito Repellent unit 4 out of 5 stars. It's compact in size and weight, is sturdy and stays clipped on nicely, works well to keep the bugs from biting the person wearing it, is portable, and convenient to use.