Everything is tradeoffs. I think the weight / bulk of a Thermacell is WELL worthwhile. It is not 100% effective though, it thins them out a lot but some are stubborn so I would not recommend counting on it, alone, for complete protection.
If there are no fire restrictions, the slow burning mosquito coils help some as do citronella candles.
If I'm going as light as reasonably possible, a Bearpaw Wilderness Designs bug bivy works well. For more space, check into REI's "Bug Hut II". It's kind of like their Half Dome in size only it's just screen.
For the trail, log house designs bug jackets and mittens seem to work pretty well. I don't hike in shorts but if I did I think their bug pants would probably do well, too.
My last trip I just wore jeans ... skeeters didn't get through. I wore a light flannel shirt coated with bug barrier spray I got at Sportsman's Warehouse and an Outdoor Research bug bucket when they got around my face too much.
For situations where the bug mittens get in the way .. like turning the crank on a reel ... nothin' works like DEET on the hands and wrists. Lemon grass oil isn't as effective but some people are twitchy about chemicals and while not as effective as DEET it's certainly better than nothing.
Tom
