Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

We've been having a lot of mosquito issues here in Texas since the wave of storms in May. The mosquito problem is awful right now, with many different species and a huge number of them. I've been trying out numerous types of control, from oils, sprays, incense, coils and Thermacell. Out of all the different products, this is the one I was most excited about, especially after reading all of the positive reviews. Not only would I be able to use this in the yard, but I intended to take it with me backpacking and camping too. First Test The device itself is packaged nicely, and comes with the butane bottle and 3 pads. The first time I tried it, the wind was blowing moderately, as it does in this part of the world. We literally set the device right next to us, upwind so it would blow the vapor our way. I could visually tell that it was on, as there was a faint orange light, and the wispy vapor emanating from the device confirmed it. However, it did nothing to repel the mosquitos who wanted to feast on us. They were still bold and coming right up to us. I gave up and sprayed myself with Insect Shield oil spray, and that kept them at bay. Perhaps the wind was reducing the effectiveness? Second Test So, I waited until we had a calm day, and headed out again with Thermacell. Once again, I placed it right next to me, upwind. Again, the device seemed to provide no protection at all from hungry mosquitos. They were still flying all around me, and trying to land. This time, I lit some citronella incense and they immediately flew away. So, now it's not looking so great for Thermacell. Pad Longevity I went ahead and left the pad burning to see how long it would last. The first time I used it for 1 hour, and this time, I let the clock run. Well, I was dismayed to see the pad turned white within the 3 hour total mark, which is less than the advertised 4 hour total. Overall, this made for a disappointing experience with this device, and as much as I wanted it to work, it just didn't for me. Not keeping, and can not recommend this item.