Abstract The present study reports temperature dependent rate constants k ₁ for the title reaction across the temperature range 213 to 293 K obtained in a Knudsen flow reactor equipped with an external free radical source based on the reaction C₂H₅I + H^• → C₂H₅ ^• + HI and single VUV-photon ionization mass spectrometry using Lyman-α radiation of 10.2 eV. Combined with previously obtained high-temperature data of k ₁ in the range 298–623 K using the identical experimental equipment and based on the kinetics of C₂H₅ ^• disappearance with increasing HI concentration we arrive at the following temperature dependence best described by a three-parameter fit to the combined data set: k ₁ = (1.89 ± 1.19)10⁻¹³(T/298)^2.92±0.51 exp ((3570 ± 1500)/RT), R = 8.314 J mol ^–1 K ^–1 in the range 213–623 K. The present results confirm the general properties of kinetic data obtained either in static or Knudsen flow reactors and do nothing to reconcile the significant body of data obtained in laminar flow reactors using photolytic free radical generation and suitable free radical precursors. The resulting rate constant for wall-catalyzed disappearance of ethyl radical across the full temperature range is discussed. Highly correlated ab initio quantum chemistry methods and canonical transition state theory were applied for the reaction energy profiles and rate constants. Geometry optimizations of reactants, products, molecular complexes, and transition states are determined at the CCSD/cc-pVDZ level of theory. Subsequent single-point energy calculations employed the DK-CCSD(T)/ANO-RCC level. Further improvement of electronic energies has been achieved by applying spin-orbit coupling corrections towards full configuration interaction and hindered rotation analysis of vibrational contributions. The resulting theoretical rate constants in the temperature range 213–623 K lie in the range E-11–E-12 cm³ molecule ^–1 s ^–1, however experiments and theoretical modelling seem at great odds with each other.