Community Forums

Coolzzy · 08-03-2018, 12:46 PM

I've recently gotten into using a thermacell lantern while enjoying my patio in the evening. It really keeps the mosquitos away! I also purchased their backpacker gen 2 model which works great for the patio as well and is cheaper to run since it uses camp stove isobutane cans instead of the expensive plastic proprietary canisters the lanterns use.

What color is your backpacker model where it screws into the can?

--back story - -

Anyway I took the backpacker to Yellowstone a few weeks ago and it would not ignite. I was at 6300 feet and thermacell claims it works up to 7k feet. I was bummed and eaten by mosquitos but thought maybe I was "close enough" to the limit so it wouldn't work there. I then camped at 5k feet the following weekend and it would not light their either. I was ticked, and emailed the company. After explaining my plight and trying their suggestions to no avail, they sent me a replacement unit. Here's the kicker. The replacement they sent me is blue where the other one was orange. I can't find picture evidence of a blue one anywhere online but do see lots of complaints about the backpacker model not working at altitudes within its listed range. The new one lights up quicker and you can hear gas moving through it at a higher rate.

Does anyone else use a backpacker model thermacell and what color is the aluminum bit at the end where it screws into the fuel canister? I'm wondering if I have a newer unit than what is available for purchase, it came from the factory directly and has a big quality control sticker on the side of it. I'm headed up to 6500ft campground this afternoon and fingers crossed this baby lights up and keeps the bitey things at bay like it does at my home elevation of 2kft.

On a side note, I did a test last night of not running the device while on the patio. I thought maybe there weren't many mosquitos to start with because the mosquito abatement crews had been working my area pretty heavily this summer. Well a few hours later and my wife is upset because she has several welt size bites itching like crazy (the mosquitos love her as much as I do apparently). We've been using the lantern model for several weeks with nary a bite so I'm a believer in the tech for sure.

jbeyersdorf · 08-03-2018, 04:31 PM

I love my thermacel!

I have only used the one with the plastic fuel cells...

This is the only product that I have ever seen that really works at keeping mosquitos away!

Coolzzy · 08-05-2018, 02:44 PM

I was surprised my new replacement unit lit up easily at 7200 ft this weekend. It would occasionally go out and need to be relit but it kept the mosquitos away. Now the knats ignored it completely, in fact it may have even attracted them. My lantern unit that uses the plastic fuel cells also had no problem lighting and staying lit at altitude.

Super Thirty · 08-06-2018, 08:49 AM

I have been using thermacells for about 10 years and have found that the odd one will not perform well. The typical problem I’ve encountered is the burner doesn’t get hot enough. We currently have a lantern Model that burns fuel like the smaller ones but the pad stays blue for almost twice as long. You can hear the burner and see the flame in the opening but it’s range is not very good. Looks nice on the picnic table though.

60sumtin · 08-07-2018, 07:46 PM

I have the backpacker model but I have no idea if its a gen 1 or 2. The base of the unit is orange with a brass insert that threads onto the tank. It looks exactly like whats shown on their website.

Coolzzy · 08-10-2018, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60sumtin

I have the backpacker model but I have no idea if its a gen 1 or 2. The base of the unit is orange with a brass insert that threads onto the tank. It looks exactly like whats shown on their website.

They mua have sent me something special, it's blue at the. Base. The gen 1 and gen 2 are both orange at the base, the difference I believe is in the threads and the depth of the insert. The gen 1 units were very picky on what brand of fuel canisters they would thread onto so the thread design was updated for the gen 2 but they visually are identical. The model numbers are different, the gen 1 is MR-BP and the gen 2 is MR-BPR.

60sumtin · 08-10-2018, 03:07 PM

The only model number I can find is on the box and its marked as MR-BP CA. Maybe CA designates those are to be sold in Canada. Don't know. Just a guess.