Does DEET Destroy Outdoor Gear?

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  • Опубліковано 29 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 100

  • @HikeCamp
    @HikeCamp 4 роки тому +15

    Permethrin treatment on clothing all the way ... Been using it for three years and no damage.. Deet will melt the Nylon/polyester mesh fabrics.

    • @EddieErion929
      @EddieErion929 4 роки тому +2

      Hike Camp really?! Been considering this option, great to know about longevity. Thanks for putting this comment up!

    • @blackibex
      @blackibex 4 роки тому

      @tyvek05 The best is fire. Very effective. If you get my point. ;-)

  • @ronaldrose7593
    @ronaldrose7593 4 роки тому

    Hello Devin, you are to be commended for taking the time to do such a detailed experiment. I know that all of your viewers appreciate this informative video. I always do a more natural approach by using tea tree oil or some other 'natural' product. I'm concerned about Deet's detrimental effects on humans, like agent orange used in.Viet Nam or the use of Roundup weed killer. Thank for sharing your video. All the best of good health to you and your family. 🤗

  • @ScottANorman
    @ScottANorman 4 роки тому +19

    Now we'll know what happened in future videos if he wears any gear with a perfectly rectangular hole in it...

  • @patriotkennethburlingham7059
    @patriotkennethburlingham7059 4 роки тому +8

    What about permethrin? I spray my hammock, tarp, and clothing with it. I haven't noticed anything go wrong but I'm wondering if it's bad for the material 😬

    • @UrDoinItWrong
      @UrDoinItWrong 4 роки тому +3

      no, permethrin is known for being gear safe. same with picaridin, which is for skin application.

  • @danharrison5285
    @danharrison5285 4 роки тому +3

    Great video Devin! I over-sprayed deet on my Garmin fitness tracker about 4 years ago. It took about 7-10 seconds to warp the plastic and stop working.
    I read the owners manual, looking for how to contact Garnin and noticed that it warned to not get deet on it. They still replaced it, gratefully.
    I've watched your videos since early on. It's great info like this that makes your channel a must watch. I'm local, so I want to see a home-town-boy do well.

  • @jonsanford2515
    @jonsanford2515 4 роки тому +7

    I work for a large metro county government and our department has surveyors. We work very closely with the Health department to keep them safe from ticks and mosquitoes. Health says there’s no advantage to using products with higher than 30% DEET if you follow the application directions.
    30% concentration doesn’t damage most synthetics, though you do have to be careful with watch crystals, glasses lenses, anything rubber, and anything reflective.
    They say the best protection is permethrin on all outer clothes and gear, 30% DEET or picaridin on exposed skin, per the instructions. Most people don’t use enough. Skeeters and ticks will bite skin an inch away from where DEET or picaridin is sprayed.

  • @rayspencer5025
    @rayspencer5025 3 роки тому +1

    I was doing Frog surveys for Environment Canada, and DEET softened the plastic of my mechanical pencils so much they bent and my finger prints were deep in the plastic.

  • @Packsalot
    @Packsalot 4 роки тому +3

    This video caught my eye. Interesting experiment. I found out the hard way what a leaky bottle of deet inside my pack will do. I had some leak on my selfie stick that was in the same pocket and it completely melted and deformed the hard plastic. Made a mess. This is definitely info that people need to know. Don't get it near high valued plastic gear like your gimble, camera, etc. Thanks for making the video and sharing your experience.

  • @TheWasatchGearReview
    @TheWasatchGearReview 4 роки тому +1

    Dude, great vid! That stuff is bad news... have you ever gotten any in your mouth? Not a pleasant experience, lol. Thanks Dev 🍻

  • @biscuitblanco5599
    @biscuitblanco5599 4 роки тому +2

    DEET was developed in 1946 by the US Army and it was the only thing around for years until Bayer developed Picaridin in the 1980s. Picaridin works better at repelling insects than DEET and doesn’t melt plastic. Also, Permethrin (invented in the UK in 1972) is better for treating gear than either DEET or Permethrin but it is mui malo for your skin. I don’t know why anyone would still use DEET when there are better products out there.

    • @AJHart-eg1ys
      @AJHart-eg1ys 4 роки тому

      Close! DEET was apparently developed a couple of years earlier and tested as a pesticide before being used by the Army beginning in 1946. A minor difference.

  • @BackcountryForward
    @BackcountryForward 4 роки тому +2

    This was a fascinating video! Devin, GREAT idea! Hope to see more “garage science” in the future!
    I’m really confused by the untreated nylon being waterproof and not being affected by the DEET 🤔 interesting.
    Thanks for the info,
    Keep Moving Forward!

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      Backcountry Forward thanks Jesse. Yeah the whole thing was wild. Didn’t know what to expect.

  • @MJGEGB
    @MJGEGB 4 роки тому +1

    I'm not too surprised at all. The last time I used deet I noticed that it was melting the finish off of my shovel handle in a very similar way. At that point I decided I didn't want to apply it on my person or anything I cared about.

  • @markmccarty9505
    @markmccarty9505 4 роки тому +1

    My buddy sprayed it on his bow and the paint peeled off. In a year !

  • @Ninja-cy9xb
    @Ninja-cy9xb 4 роки тому +1

    Great video! I really like the comparison between all the fabrics. Cool experiment! I agree it may not be the fabric but I wonder what else it effects. I have had issues with deet and sunglasses.

  • @RUTired
    @RUTired 4 роки тому +1

    Fantastic experiment! I've made the mistake of having deet on my hands while handling a USGS waterproof map. Had to throw it away :(

  • @andrewmaintenancerepairfie9538
    @andrewmaintenancerepairfie9538 2 роки тому

    So I had DEET OUTDOOR in the door jam of by BRAND NEW BRONCO!! It totally melted the paint & weather stripping!! It has completely turned into GUM!! Deet is monstrous! The shit is horrible!

  • @Clayonthetrail
    @Clayonthetrail 4 роки тому

    Permethrin and picardin lotion all the way. No need for deet anymore

  • @tornadokat
    @tornadokat 4 роки тому

    I took lemon eucalyptus spray to try it out and a little aerosol can of 30% DEET as backup on a trip. After discovering that the lemon eucalyptus wore off every half an hour or so when sweating I tried the DEET and it worked for hours.. but I oversprayed my $50 sunglasses and they fogged up, had to throw them away.

  • @tonygoodrow2505
    @tonygoodrow2505 4 роки тому

    Deet ate/melted all the rubber/plastic buttons on my Sony Alpha camera and part of my lens cover. I sprayed my body with deet while on a hike and my camera was hanging around my neck. The Deet transfer from my body to my camera and ruined it.

  • @lazylearner967
    @lazylearner967 2 роки тому

    Deet melted a Nalgene bottle of mine. It will destroy jackets, waders, anything nylon.

  • @robertclark8044
    @robertclark8044 4 роки тому

    Wish you had tested GorTex. It's the fabric my buddies are paranoid about getting DEET on.

  • @DieTabbi
    @DieTabbi 3 роки тому

    Interesseting. I spray it only on my skin, let it dry and had no problems with my motorcycle clothes in Scandinavia. Did I something wrong?

  • @2laughandlaugh
    @2laughandlaugh 4 роки тому

    Didn't know it affected fabric but I did know it will mess up plastic.

  • @alexonthemountain8343
    @alexonthemountain8343 4 роки тому

    Great video and good to know! Cheers bud👍

  • @The-Sound-Explorer
    @The-Sound-Explorer 2 роки тому

    Saw a buddy much of huge Ants trying to get into my tent, freaked out a little, a
    Sprayed them wish my “Max Deet” and within an hour it melted my tent… sucked! Still use that tent though…

  • @hucknbarry3496
    @hucknbarry3496 4 роки тому

    Never thought about it ruining stuff other than insects appetite. I spent my entire rei dividend on deet one year thinking it was going to be banned but got sick of the smell and still have 14 bottles somewhere . I adopted a charity blood donation method they they like better.

  • @petermican
    @petermican 4 роки тому

    I would worry what it does on your skin and your health ???¿¿¿???

  • @Alex360Videos
    @Alex360Videos 4 роки тому +1

    good test, i was wondering about this !

  • @jessicah3450
    @jessicah3450 3 роки тому

    It ate through the seats on the family boat. I think they're vinyl/faux leather.

  • @shawnr6117
    @shawnr6117 4 роки тому +1

    I could be wrong about the pricing but it seems like the cheapest and the most expensive fabrics held up the best.
    I'd like to know what happens with clothing fabrics, haven't noticed any problems with cotton over the years using Off deep woods at 25% deet not sure what 100% would do

  • @MatanuskaHIGH
    @MatanuskaHIGH 4 роки тому

    Also it weakens fishing line. So if you have it on your fingers hands and use spinning rod or bait caster the line will get weak and you will break off fish

  • @StacySalmans
    @StacySalmans 4 роки тому

    Don't know about fabric but I have overdosed on deet and gotten sick from it absorbing into my body.

  • @carson194
    @carson194 4 роки тому

    Good stuff, thank you for putting that together

  • @bigfootllamas777
    @bigfootllamas777 4 роки тому

    No problems but going to watch for it

  • @treksurbushing8279
    @treksurbushing8279 4 роки тому

    think about what is does to your skin...

  • @arcana1973
    @arcana1973 4 роки тому +1

    I had to watch just due to the thumbnail. I stopped using deet and switched to picaridin. I don't like the oily feeling deet leaves on my skin.

  • @MightyMidgey
    @MightyMidgey 4 роки тому +1

    Thanks for sharing your interesting investigation! It makes me wonder how the longevity and durability of most fabrics may be compromised by deet. Godo thing I haven't used the stuff in years!

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      Midge Barno the stuff is wild. I stopped using it a while ago too. I was cleaning out a fishing bag and found that bottle I used for this. That’s what sparked my brain to do this.

  • @articus5134
    @articus5134 4 роки тому +1

    This is a great video man! Love these kinds of experimental videos!

  • @spikester40
    @spikester40 4 роки тому +1

    Deet will also melt the plaster c covering on lanterns. It turns it cloudy and makes it rough.

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому +1

      spikester40 I’ve seen that happen before.

    • @gracefulonthetrail2244
      @gracefulonthetrail2244 4 роки тому +1

      spikester40 I unfortunately can verify this as true from firsthand experience. Ruined my favorite lantern. 🙁

    • @spikester40
      @spikester40 4 роки тому

      Tweety on the Trail mine too!!!

  • @thebackpackblazer3973
    @thebackpackblazer3973 4 роки тому +1

    Great test. I'm glad your weren't dissecting sleeping pads again. I have used DEET sparingly in the past, but only on external clothing thats not in contact with packs, bags, down, or rain gear. I've never had a problem with it but exercise caution because it can be destructive. Great video my friend.

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      The Backpack Blazer thanks man! Yeah I think my days of cutting open sleeping pads are over. 😬

  • @CanItAlready
    @CanItAlready 4 роки тому +1

    I've read on knife forums that deet can damage certain types of synthetic handle materials, like cold steel's kray-ex.

  • @MatanuskaHIGH
    @MatanuskaHIGH 4 роки тому

    I been telling people for years that DEET will melt laminate on clothing and other synthetic fabrics. I realized probably 15 years ago on a marmot rain jacket I had where it melted through the inside laminate on my neck area where DEET and sweat rubbed on it.

    • @MatanuskaHIGH
      @MatanuskaHIGH 4 роки тому

      It for sure melts seam tape. Most nylon Seam tape is usually PU so it’s gonna melt it.

  • @mariew3470
    @mariew3470 4 роки тому

    Thanks! I was just thinking of this yesterday as I packed my summer stuff.

  • @carson194
    @carson194 4 роки тому

    I have had a plastic watch face, a fossil ironman from several years ago, become foggy from DEET. I don't remember the concentration. I also had the ear cups on electronic hearing protection get out of shape from an aerosolized DEET that I believe was something in the 60% range

  • @Haphagurd
    @Haphagurd 4 роки тому

    I have GOT TO permethrin my stuff. I mostly avoid DEET cause the toxic nature especially around my kid. Great testing though really shows how bad this could be for your gear. Great video man!

  • @scottanthony1616
    @scottanthony1616 4 роки тому

    Maybe you also do a test with PERMETHRIN, if you need to do another test in the future. Thank you for sharing, take care stay healthy an God bless you and your Family always. 👼🏻🇺🇸🔥☕️🇺🇸👼🏻👼🏻👼🏻👼🏻

  • @edcatt9196
    @edcatt9196 4 роки тому

    I've had problems with DEET and Lycra fabrics (I do some bikepacking wearing Lycra). The elastane seems to loose it's stretch, but not immediately! It took maybe 3 or 4 weeks before I noticed the effect. Lycra wasn't a fabric you tested, but I thought I'd put it out there for others to consider.

  • @throwinflies1977
    @throwinflies1977 4 роки тому

    Creative experiment! In my neck of the woods the mosquitoes are so big they are frequently mistaken for robins. Good idea here looking at what deet actually does to our gear. I've had it melt/delaminate rain jackets and like others have noted it reacts negatively with various plastics and god knows what else.
    I'd be interested to see a long term result from this single exposure by each fabric (that didn't already fail) over a time of say 6mo or a year to see if the materials that seemed to hold up actually do or not. Very thought provoking and insightful test!
    I noticed some people favor permethrin to deet, but isn't it highly toxic to cats, fish, and bees? I'd hate to discover after the fact that I'd killed any of the fish I released because my sleeve is toxic, or my cat that gets into everything got poisoned by sleeping on my clothes for instance.
    I recently picked up some permethrin because like many of you I loathe using deet but have held off from treating any of my gear until I get this hashed out.
    Do you have any experience using this chemical Devin?
    Do any of you have any suggestions like separating my gear away from the cat then steering clear of him while wearing treated stuff, or only treat certain items, or not using it period, or???
    I know this has veered slightly off topic but my dilemma is possibly ruin gear vs possibly harm animals. For now I lean towards deet but as you can tell my research is far from complete.

  • @PeteLovesPixels
    @PeteLovesPixels 4 роки тому

    Sorry for being a little late to the party here. Great video, your data seems very solid. It left me with questions though. I am very curious if you would be willing to repeat the test with other fabrics. Specifically I'd like to know how deet reacts with waterproof breathable membrane products like Gore-Tex which is a teflon membrane. I don't think I saw any of these types of fabrics in the test. I'd also like to see other membrane products that are not teflon based tested. You have given me grave concerns about my gear. I am a kayaker my gf has a drysuit with a teflon membrane while mine is a PU non porous hydrophillic membrane. We camp/kayak and in the early season with many bugs and questionable weather makes being stuck in a drysuit while setting up camp not uncommon. I think have to give up deet entirely. What is the best alternative currently available?

  • @Mountain_Maxx
    @Mountain_Maxx 4 роки тому

    Deet is some crazy stuff man, it is almost astounding what it will destroy. Nice job man, i liked this video.

  • @mandigummels
    @mandigummels 4 роки тому

    Deet ruined my rubber shoes and plasticy watch similar to Dan's watch

  • @eljayhughes
    @eljayhughes 4 роки тому

    Nice to know, but what does deet manufacturer say and fabric manufacturer say?

  • @Stoney_AKA_James
    @Stoney_AKA_James 4 роки тому

    I have to agree with Dan.
    Several years ago while jungle training in the Amazon I used 100 percent Deet and it "melted" part of my rubber Casio watch band!

  • @GraveCh1LL
    @GraveCh1LL 4 роки тому

    How are you holding up, Devin? I haven’t seen you upload a new video. Hope everthing is okay. Cheers!

  • @charleshollowell8398
    @charleshollowell8398 4 роки тому

    My friend had parts of his tent that were almost transparent. He sprayed deet on it.

  • @EddieErion929
    @EddieErion929 4 роки тому

    Just thx so much/ I needed this info

  • @Leadmeoutdoors
    @Leadmeoutdoors 4 роки тому

    Bro! I can’t use deet anymore. I saw it strip a polyurethane layer off a countertop and ever since then, I said “never again”. I stick with permethrin and pircaridin now days. Great video!

  • @terryweaver9770
    @terryweaver9770 4 роки тому

    Pardon my ignorance, but is Deet the same thing as Permethrin? & if U apply Deet or Permethrin several times thru out the life of the product do they both tear down the fabric? What if U’r about to start a long distance thru hike? What do U use to spray w/, Deet or Permethrin? What says U?

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      Terry Weaver they are not the same. For skin application I use Picaridin.

  • @maximeruest237
    @maximeruest237 4 роки тому

    Great video! Would you think the deet sticked to the table by going throught certain fabric then melted the said plastic table?

  • @tracyazhikes
    @tracyazhikes 4 роки тому

    My sons allergic to Deet. Good thing I do not use. Not to buggy where I am at.

  • @RonKris
    @RonKris 4 роки тому

    I know years ago when I was in college, some DEET leaked onto one of my books, the DEET ate away the printing on the book cover.

  • @26parma
    @26parma 4 роки тому

    It's science

  • @CaptainCamp
    @CaptainCamp 4 роки тому

    Cool experiment, thanks a lot for the insights!

  • @Oldsparkey
    @Oldsparkey 4 роки тому

    The real answer will be in the long run as to the damage and how sever Deet can be to the new outdoor items. There is already a long list of stuff to NOT use it on. if you really want to see what Deet can do find some they issued back in WW 2 and the Korea conflict. Since you are not willing to spray Deet on your good items it appears you know the answer.
    I stopped using it years ago and then along came Permethrin which I use ONLY on fabrics. On the skin it's Sawyers , Fisherman's Formula , with Picaridin

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      Chuck Littleton this is a fair comment. Thanks!

    • @Oldsparkey
      @Oldsparkey 4 роки тому

      @@BackcountryExposure I did some digging around on the web and actually found some of it. Used a lot back in the 50's , it was ( & is ) some nasty stuff. The bottle is about 4 inches high and is composed of 75% DEET and ethanol
      www.omahas.com/shop/ww2-mosquito-repellent/

  • @douglass69
    @douglass69 4 роки тому

    I’ll bet it’s melting the table also.

  • @RetrieverTrainingAlone
    @RetrieverTrainingAlone 4 роки тому

    Excellent! I've had DEET turn plastics into goo. I wonder what is the effect of DEET on DWR finish on rain gear? I live in Alaska and like the Thermocells to repeal skeeter.s...especially at base camp a Thermocell that repeals mosquitoes around a 10 foot dome.

    • @BackcountryExposure
      @BackcountryExposure  4 роки тому

      Missy Skeeter I have a thermocell and like it. I imagine over time it’s going to eat it up.

    • @emainz1
      @emainz1 4 роки тому

      Does the thermocell actually work? I’ve seen/read mixed reviews. I’m the type of person who attracts skeeters even at 12k feet in 40 degrees weather. So aggravating.

    • @RetrieverTrainingAlone
      @RetrieverTrainingAlone 4 роки тому +1

      @@emainz1 Thermocells work but there is a lag time....I usually start 2 outside my tent in the morning, then wait in the tent about 10 minutes and then move them to my cooking area. They typically reduce a intolerable swarm of mosquitoes to an occassional mosquito. They work best for stationary activities like eating at camp. For hiking, I always have a headnet and use it whenever mosquitoes get dense.

    • @emainz1
      @emainz1 4 роки тому

      Missy Skeeter thanks for the response! I’m going to check it out. Having something like that for camp would be ideal. I typically have to use rain shell with mosquito net while eating at camp but it gets annoying pretty fast having to move up the net just to take a bite of food. Thanks!

  • @AJHart-eg1ys
    @AJHart-eg1ys 4 роки тому +1

    I bought a bottle of 100% DEET a year or so ago. I wanted a smaller size for hiking, so I bought one of those plastic travel bottles you find in the travel-sized bins at Target or Walmart and poured the liquid from the larger bottle into the smaller one. I then put that bottle in a sandwich baggie with some other odds and ends.
    The DEET dissolved the bottle into a rubbery liquid, but the baggie held it all in. I can't recall whether it was a freezer baggie.

  • @thaddeusmikolajczyk9055
    @thaddeusmikolajczyk9055 4 роки тому +1

    Deet will melt plastic like sun glasses and it tarnish metal object.

  • @RViscara
    @RViscara 4 роки тому

    Dude I like your UA-cam channel I like who you are that said. I want to say this in meanful way which is don’t put those ridiculous blue led lights in your shelves in the background in your garage. Do you seriously want to look like every other douche bag gamer 22 year old man Child UA-camr?!! You are better then that so seriously from one guy to another that blue LED light thing is so played out already have some better creativity and originality. By the way in the hot climate and with cotton clothing that deet will eat up