• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • REVIEWS
  • Articles

Outback Review

Australia's Camping Gear Authority

Follow us for the latest reviews:
FacebookInstagram
  • Tents
    • Family Tents
    • Roof Top Tents
    • Swags
    • Cheap Tents
    • Hiking Tents
    • Pop Up Tents
    • Coleman Tents
    • 4 Person Tents
    • 6 Person Tents
    • 8 Person Tents
    • 10 Person Tents
    • Best Tents 2018
  • Camping Accessories
    • Bedding
      • Sleeping Bags
      • Kids Sleeping Bags
      • Camping Mattresses
      • Camping Stretchers
    • Gazebos & Shade
      • Gazebos
      • Camping Tarps
      • Beach Shelters
      • Beach Umbrellas
    • Camp Furniture
      • Camping Chairs
      • Camping Tables
    • Cooking
      • Camping Stoves
      • Camping BBQs
    • Fridges & Ice Boxes
      • Fridges
        • Evakool Fridge Review
      • Ice Boxes
      • Cooler Bags
    • Toilets & Shower
      • Camp Showers
    • Other
      • Camping Lights
      • Camping Torches
      • Camping Generators
      • Mosquito Traps
      • School Camp Gear
  • 4WD
    • Awnings
  • Fishing

Best Mosquito Trap in Australia for 2019

Screen Shot 2018-04-17 at 9.31.21 pm

Review by: Guest Writer

Last Updated: April 2018

If there’s one thing that can turn a blissful night under the starts into a miserable and uncomfortable camping trip it’s the mosquito. Those little buggers are nuisances, but if that wasn’t bad enough, they can be vectors for dangerous and debilitating diseases like Dengue fever and Ross River virus. When you’re out and about on camping trip, it’s important to do everything you can to keep mosquitos away from you and your family.

However, with so many mosquito traps on the market, it can be hard to know what device will be best for your needs. So, in this article, we’ve compiled reviews of four of the best mosquito traps and repellents available in Australia to assist you with your decision.

To make things easier, we’ve highlighted our top pick – the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit – for its reasonable price, portable set-up, and strong repellent capabilities. Budget-conscious campers will appreciate the Enforcer Bug Zapper, which is both cost-efficient and reliable at killing mosquitos. As with all camping gear, choosing a mosquito trap is about finding the product that’s best for your needs. Luckily, we’re here to help.

Ranking:
#1
Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit

Buy at Tentworld.com.au

Rating:
4.5 Star Rating
Method :
allethrin
Duration:
Effective for 3 hours (per ‘mat’)
Pros:
Dispenses small amounts of repellent into the air over an extended period of time, 21m2 bug-free zone, Allethrin is harmless to humans and pets, 98% effective against mosquitos, according to Thermacell, Comes with 4 allethrin ‘mats’ and one butane gas cartridge for 12 hours of protection (extra supplies sold separately)
Cons:
Requires replenishment of mats and butane
Ranking:
#2
Enforcer Insect Zapper (10W)
Enforcer Insect Zapper

Buy at BCF.com.au

Rating:
4 Star Rating
Method :
electricity
Duration:
Effective for 5000 hours (per lamp)
Pros:
Attracts and zaps insects, Weatherproof, 200m2 bug-free zone, Removable insect tray with cleaning brush, Self-cleaning vertical grid, Works on all insects, not just mosquitos
Cons:
Might be considered cruel or unsightly to some, Could be dangerous around small children or pet
Ranking:
#3
Waxworks 6 Pack Citronella & Sandalwood Coils
Waxworks 6 Pack

Buy at BCF.com.au

Rating:
3.5 Star Rating
Method :
citronella
Duration:
Effective for 3 hours (per coil)
Pros:
Uses nature’s mosquito repellent – citronella, Comes with an aesthetically pleasing terracotta holder, Can be burned safely inside the holder , Smells pleasant, Environmentally- friendly
Cons:
Requires replenishment of coils, Terracotta holder isn’t great for lightweight trips/backpacking
Ranking:
#4
Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller
 

Buy at BCF.com.au

Rating:
3.5 Star Rating
Method :
allethrin
Duration:
Effective for 4 hours (per mat)
Pros:
Disperses allethrin into the air over a period of time, Includes water-resistant carry-pouch, 21m2 bug-free zone, Comes with 3 allethrin mats for 12 hours of protection (extra supplies and fuel sold separately), Compatible with camping gas canisters
Cons:
Most expensive product in review

Detailed Reviews

But, before you get into the reviews, let’s briefly discuss the qualities you ought to look for in your mosquito trap:

1. Type of repellent: Not all mosquito repellents are made equal. Some are more effective at repelling mosquitos while others seem to attract them. Additionally, some are harmful to pets and humans (especially small children), so they might not be ideally suited for families.

2. Duration of effectiveness: Some mosquito repelling systems require consistent replenishing of their repelling device or chemical while others rarely require any attention. If you’re out for an extended period of time or you camp frequently, you might opt for a low-maintenance mosquito trap.

3. Method: In addition to different types of mosquito-repelling chemicals, mosquito traps have different methods of emitting these chemicals, each of which has various advantages and disadvantages. Some mosquito traps don’t emit any chemicals at all, instead relying on electricity to kill the mosquitos altogether.

4. Price: Always a factor in determining what gear you’ll buy for your next camping trip, the price is important to consider when deciding between different mosquito traps. Some traps have high upfront costs but require little maintenance or replenishment over the long-term. Others have small upfront costs but require frequent replenishment so can be more expensive over their lifetime.

Now that you know what to look for in a mosquito trap, let’s get right to the reviews:

Top Choice:

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit

Screen Shot 2018-04-17 at 9.31.21 pm
Overall Score
%
Buy at tentworld.com.au

Super compact and incredibly effective, the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit is our top pick in this review. Its sleek, portable design makes it convenient to use wherever life’s adventures take you. The device uses allethrin, a known mosquito repellent that is harmless to humans and pets, so this is a great device for families with small children.

The 21m2 bug-free zone is large enough to protect the whole group at dinner, but multiple devices could be combined to increase the coverage zone. The device includes four allethrin ‘mats’ and one butane gas cartridge, so it’s ready to go right out of the box. The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Unit’s reasonable upfront cost and ease of use means it’s a sure bet.

21m2 bug-free zone

Dispenses small amounts of repellent into the air over an extended period of time

Runner Up:

Enforcer Insect Zapper (10W)

Enforcer Insect Zapper
Overall Score
%
Buy at BCF.com.au

The only non-chemical-based mosquito trap in our review, the Enforcer Insect Zapper relies on electricity to protect you from the flying nuisances. The Enforcer attracts and zaps mosquitos using a weatherproof 5,000-hour (yes, you read that right) lamp so you don’t have to worry about them ruining your evening meal. Since it relies on electricity to operate, the Enforcer is effective against all flying insects, so you don’t have to worry about pesky flies, either.

The self-cleaning vertical grid and removable insect tray make maintenance of the Enforcer simple and convenient. With a 200m2 coverage area, this is a truly fantastic mosquito trap that won’t let you down. Campers with families might want to consider that the electric bulb could be dangerous to pets or small children, so the device must be used appropriately. The Enforcer’s very affordable upfront investment and minimal maintenance costs mean that it’s great for budget-conscious campers.

Attracts and zaps insects

Removable insect tray with cleaning brush

Best Value:

Waxworks 6 Pack Citronella & Sandalwood Coils

Waxworks 6 Pack
Overall Score
%
Buy at BCF.com.au

Environmentally-conscious campers in mosquito territory can rejoice with the Waxworks Citronella and Sandalwood Coils. The coils use nature’s mosquito repellent – citronella – to effectively deter those flying pests without resorting to man-made chemicals. Waxwork’s citronella and sandalwood coils safely burn for three hours each inside a purpose-built and aesthetically pleasing terracotta holder, so you can enjoy your camping vacation without worry.

Campers will have no regrets with this set-up from Waxworks as the coils are affordable, easy to use, environmentally friendly, and smell great when burnt. We’d recommend the citronella and sandalwood coils for use while car camping instead of backpacking because the terracotta holder makes them a bit bulky for lightweight endeavours.

Comes with an aesthetically pleasing terracotta holder

Environmentally- friendly

Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller

Thermacell Backpacker Mosquito Repeller
Overall Score
%
Buy at BCF.com.au

Yet another great mosquito trap from our friends at Thermacell, the Backpacker Mosquito Repeller fits securely on top of a camping gas canister and burns allethrin to keep the mosquitos at bay. With a great 21m2 protection zone, the Backpacker Mosquito Repeller is perfect for use with the whole family. The Backpacker comes with 3 allethrin mats for 12 hours of protection but a small 100g fuel canister can work for a whopping 90 hours with this little device.

The Backpacker Mosquito Repeller even comes with a water-resistant carry pouch to make transport a breeze. The most expensive mosquito trap in our review, the Backpacker Mosquito Repeller is a great option for campers looking for quality and fuel efficiency in their devices. This lightweight and portable mosquito trap is great for families and solo backpackers alike!

Compatible with camping gas canisters

Includes water-resistant carry-pouch

Outback Review Monthly Newsletter

Check out our Camping Stretcher Review Page

Best Camping Stretchers in Australia for 2019

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Spread the love

Footer

PRIVACY POLICY

This website uses cookies, including 3rd party cookies. By using this website you consent to the use of these cookies.

TERMS OF USE

EARNINGS DISCLAIMER

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you click on one of these links and make a purchase we may receive a commission.

As an Amazon Associate, Outback Review earns from qualifying purchases.