Thermacell Cambridge Mosquito Repellent Lantern; No Spray Mosquito Repellent For Patios; Includes 12-Hours of Protection; DEET-Free, Scent-Free, No Flame Citronella Candle Alternative

Despite all the great reviews, I was still skeptical when I ordered this lantern. However, I was desperate, so I tried it. The last few years or so, I've developed a horrible reaction to mosquito and other bug bites. Example: One tiny bite on the back of my hand caused my entire hand/fingers/wrist to swell up, with visible redness (and extreme burning/itching) all the way up to my armpit. I've tried citronella torches, candles, wristbands, etc. (They help a little, but I still get bit.) I couldn't enjoy my backyard anymore, because just one bite would ruin me for the next day or so. I feel like I'm stuck inside, watching from the window, while everyone else is out enjoying the pool and yard.I didnt know that these Thermacell products existed until a few weeks ago, when I was researching mosquito lawn services, repellants, bug lotions.... anything that might let me enjoy our yard now that winter is gone. I found that the Thermacell products were FAR cheaper than any services I was quoted on. So I thought I'd give Thermacell a try first. I've been testing this lantern for a couple weeks now and have not been bit by a single bug! (We've used it at least 10 nights now. ) Tonight, I didn't realize the butane had run out. My husband was bit twice in a few minutes and we just KNEW the lantern must have run out. (No way could we have mosquitos around with our lantern on! We're THAT confident in this thing now.) Once I switched to a new butane cartridge, the bugs went away again and we had no more bites!I also ordered the 120 hour refill kit that includes both pad and butane refills so that I don't run out and get stuck inside again! So happy I won't have to pay for chemical treatments in my yard!P.S. The lantern does provide some decent glow, but it's small, plastic and looks it. It doesn't fool anyone into thinking it's a pretty, decorative table lantern. It's a great tool, just not as "decorative" as I thought it would be. (Since this thing will be a permanant fixture on my patio table, I'd happily pay extra for a nicer looking, non-plastic model if they ever make one!) When I order products for the rest of the yard, I'll probably skip the lantern and order the towers that come in various colors, because they have a cover/lid to place over them when not in use. The lantern has no top cover/lid, so we have to keep it indoors when not in use.) The great thing is that the refills I have will fit all of the Thermacell products!

So far, this is the only item I have found as an insect repellant that actually works and does not require me to oil up my bod like I am doing a remake of Baywatch with nasty smelling chemicals.I live in an area directly adjacent to both a large wooded area and a lake, so it goes without saying that this time of year sucks for bugs. What is hilarious is that my waterfront place was a couple of hundred bucks more a month, but it was doing me no good since I was getting devoured like a friggin buffet every night that I wanted to sit out there. Maybe there is just something in my body's PH that makes me more attractive to mosquitos for some reason, but it seems like I always get nailed far worse than the average person. It's like my blood is a bug version of Krispy Kreme.I tried a couple of other similar products to this and faced nothing but disappointment. I also tried the arm bands that look sort of like a fitbit to no avail. What the hell? With all of the massive technology of our modern age and yet we can't manage to effectively repel a bug? After seeing this product and the good reviews I finally just said what the hell and bought it, even knowing that many of the reviews on Amazon are bogus these days. Worst case scenario I figured I would be out 30 bucks and call it a day. So like a Tuesday night bar tab. To my amazement, the thing actually worked! You mean people actually make products which do what the manufacturer says they will?The "lantern" itself is pretty easy to put together. Unless you are complete idiot you will be ready to rock and roll in only a couple of min. The light itself has 2 settings, one is just normal light and the other is "lantern" type flickering for those nights you are looking for ambiance. All the chicks in your neighborhood will be sure to want to bang you as a result. Once you have the fluid casing in, you throw on a pad and just tap the igniter button a few times in rapid succession and it fires right up. You are going to want to set it outside for about 10 min or so before you head out. It takes a bit of time to lay down the perimeter. Once it gets going, you are pretty much good to go. If you are used to getting ate alive on a regular basis, the difference you notice will be immediate. All the sudden the back patio is not off limits after dark anymore, which is a pretty liberating feeling just in general.The bad aspect of this product is that once you start using it ThermaCell pretty much has you by the balls, as you are not going to want to go back to the previous state of affairs. The result is you are stuck buying expensive refills forever, or at least until another company comes up with something that works better. Like say maybe a mosquito effected only virus that wipes out the entire world population? Hey, a guy can hope, right? All in all, this product is full of epic win. Maybe not epic win like dating a couple of female, twin, contortionist, supermodels, but epic win nonetheless.

I am one of those people that as soon as it turns dusk, I am attacked by tons of mosquitos. It is awful! My partner and I love sitting on our balcony with our kitties after work. We bought a citronella candle, sprays and THIS LANTERN. We put them all out on one day and haven't had a bug bite since. I MEAN ZERO BITES. It has been over two weeks since we have been using these products.READ ME!!!Tonight, I started getting bit all over by mosquitos. Candle-lit, spray-just went off, lantern-empty cartridge. After two weeks the cartridge ran out from use and we immediately started getting bit. So yes, IT WORKS.PROS: portable, lightweight, easy to put together, handle, has a light, looks cute, WORKS!CONS: inside hole to see if the lantern is lit is pretty small and only a 12 hr fuel. Expensive to replace fuels, but worth it if u spend a lot of time outside IMO.EDIT: purchased May 2021, today 10/04/2021.We have LOVED this product and it worked so well!! It kept bugs away! However, after 5 months is no longer works. It won't light. We have replaced the batteries, fuel, and pads. Still doesn't work. I'm really sad because this product was so good. However, it seems to be short lived and that it doesn't have the quality to hold up for the long haul. I would think you would need to buy one of these every summer. So essentially $24 a year roughly.

I purchased one of the table size lanterns and every time I use it I’m amazed, and so are everyone else whose had a chance to experience it. I’m sad for those who’ve had bad experiences in the reviews because I don’t know why. I’m so satisfied with how well this keep mosquitos away that I just purchased the tiki lamp.It does take 15 min to spread the initial 15 feet (as it tells you), so either start it up before you go outside or have a back up in place (I use cones or deet free repellant incense). It’s portable, soundless, odorless and smokeless.It’s super easy to use. The blue pads turn white when they’re used up and need to be replaced, and when the canister is empty the orange light dies out and you no longer hear the very subtle hiss it makes when it releases the heat to the blue pad.Downside, yes, you have to replace both the pads and the cartridges. But for me it’s SO worth it because I don’t have to dump my money into smelly smoky products or even wear repellent that never works and leaves me sticky (btw, these need to be replaced over time too). I’ve spent just as much money on all that and it never works, at least this does. And they have blue pads and canisters available that last longer than the starter kit so there’s that option.Love, love, love!

I think it actually ATTRACTS mosquitoes. I used it twice and the second time I let it "warm up" for almost an hour. I had two lanterns within 15 feet of each other and I sat directly by one. I saw mosquitoes flying right over me and the lantern and of course I was bitten several times.Since you cannot return an item like this to Amazon, I contacted the company Thermacell directly. The woman took my info and the Amazon order number and said someone would follow up within 24-48 hours to start the return process.A week later I called back to check and a guy who sounded like he was working out of his garage or something told me if I had not received a call, then they had not gotten to my ticket yet and I needed to wait. When I informed him of the ETA for a callback I had been given, he said they don't give time estimates. They get to when they get to it. I asked him how long I should wait before I call to inquire on the status. He started laughing and said "you want to inquire on the status" and said I would have to wait. I said "So if a month goes by and nothing, I should still wait?" He said yes that means they have not gotten to the ticket and they will get to when they do. I stated I may have to contact my credit card to void the sale in the meantime. He chuckled again and could not care less.AVOID this product/company!(I will however say Amazon was great about helping me resolve the refund/return issue!)