ThermacellMosquito Repeller Patio Shield; Includes 12-Hour Refill; 15 Foot Zone of Protection; Highly Effective Mosquito Repellent for Patio; Bug Spray Alternative; Scent Free

I didn't get this item for free, so you can trust that my review is solid. Mosquitos are pretty picky about who they prey upon. They prefer a particular scent and blood chemistry which is why I can understand why the reviews range from "didn't work" to "changed my life." Let's face it - when you're in an area where mosquitos are so thick that you can hear them buzzing and watch them landing on your skin, you should just go inside. Not much is going to save you. However, if you're like me and your skin lights up with a neon sign for the mosquitos (and you are the ONLY one they're biting in a group), you're happy to try just about anything that will keep them away from you.My husband bought this Thermacell Repeller so I would stop complaining. I still haven't stopped complaining (sorry, honey), but I have stopped flapping my gums about mosquitos. We put this Repeller out on our porch during the beginning of summer, before the mosquitos were really out and about. About mid-summer I started telling my health care provider (and all of my friends) that I must be going through menopause early or having some major blood chemistry change, because mosquitos were no longer seeking me out of a group. As long as we were outside around our home, I just wasn't getting a bite. It was miraculous and beautiful. Then we went to a friend's house. Ouch. They were all over me again. It took me a while to realize (yeah, I'm a little slow) that the reason I wasn't getting bit at home was because my husband had lit the Thermacell each time we were outside. I honestly didn't even realize it was on and running. It doesn't make noise, doesn't product a smell, and doesn't really take up any room at all. Pretty dang amazing. We went through 3 scent pads this summer and one fill of butane and it keeps on going. It's easy to throw in a bag and take anywhere with us. Most everyone who visited this summer has purchased one. I advise you do the same if you're a mosquito magnet like me. It really is a game changer.

Mosquitos vanished within a few minutes of turning it on. The pads didn't last as long as advertized, and the igniter did not work on a second unit I bought. But the one unit worked perfectly and made a huge difference in our camping trip in Wyoming.

I really love this!! After 15 minutes you can tell it's working as the flying critters go away. I took one star away because it's hard to see if the light comes on after ignition. Each vial lasts approximately 12 hours and they give plenty of pads for the top. I did leave outside while it rained, I don't think that was the best. But once I replaced the pad it was fine. But I bring it inside to avoid in mishaps

I feel like I can enjoy my backyard with this thing. Very Effective. The fuel and the pads last quite a while. It doesn't get too hot, so I don't feel like it's a safety concern. Perfect size to take with you camping.

The first thermacel unit I purchased worked for a few months but then the orange light would not come on and unit did not heat. I purchased a second unit thinking it was a fluke, but after going through only one fuel source, same thing….cannot turn unit on……..when it worked it was great, but to have 2 units fail it is just wrong….there has to be something better on the market.Sadly I cannot recommend this product.

Product keeps mosquitoes away. We use when camping or on patio. It’s nice to leave on table to keep a zone mosquito bite-free! 🦟

I am one of those unfortunates that happen to be a mosquito magnet. People all around me can be untroubled while I need to flail at the hordes of ravening mosquitos who are obsessed with my tasty, tasty blood. I enjoy sitting outside in the evening but I don’t enjoy the itchy welts later, or the creepy whine of the attackers around my face. I hate drenching myself in poison, and other remedies are never effective.So far this product seems to be working quite well, with an absence of mosquitos when we have used it, although it’s sometimes hard to tell why. The mosquitos don’t seem to be awful right now, although earlier in the season when we had some horribly hot days they seemed to immediately Velcro to all exposed skin that was outside. Will test further, although we used it with success in our most mosquito-prone area.One thing I did not like is that although the photo with the product seems to show food and drink within the radius of protection, sitting by the people, instructions recommend keeping food and drink out of the protected radius. So if I want to sit outside on the patio swing with my can of Diet Coke and a snack on a table beside me, that’s going to be problematic. I guess just keep that in mind, especially with children.I ended up with the cheapest model first, that has fuel cartridges and then the little patches that go on top to be heated and disperse the repelling agent. Not fond of the thought of liquid fuel lying around, so I ordered a model that heats after being charged electronically - and found that it uses a liquid cartridge of the dispersal agent! Guess I can’t get away from the liquid. I will need to look at other models to see if I can get the best of both worlds and no liquid cartridges.Hope the combo of the two will provide the ultimate protection, since apparently breezes can also affect its effectiveness.Looking forward to a less itchy summer!

The product works well but the fuel cell only lasted two evenings out. About four hours.