What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques?

Share your advice and personal experiences, post a gear review or ask any questions you may have pertaining to outdoor gear and equipment.
Post Reply
quentinc
Topix Expert
Posts: 890
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:28 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Los Angeles

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by quentinc »

I find that any of those canvasy-looking khaki long sleeve shirts work. I have a cheap one from Campmor. I've never treated it with Permethrin, although that's a good idea. As Daisy notes, the only problem is if the shirt is pressed tight against your skin, in which case sometimes mosquitoes can bite through.
User avatar
kpeter
Topix Fanatic
Posts: 1449
Joined: Mon Jan 04, 2010 1:11 pm
Experience: Level 3 Backpacker

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by kpeter »

I just use the basic REI Sahara nylon shirts and pants. The weave is fine enough that mosquitoes do not penetrate it, although they certainly can get through slits and vents--hence the permithrin for a little extra help. Being thin and nylon it also dries very quickly, as oldranger notes. I do wear a tshirt underneath--more for comfort but this also provides me an extra layer if I need it. It can get hot, but I seldom am bothered by that at higher elevations.
User avatar
mshields
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:40 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Ojai, Ca

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by mshields »

mshields wrote:I will be hiking the High Sierra Trail in a few weeks? Could anybody give me some recommendations on long sleeve shirts (brand/make) that they have had luck with? I have never worn long sleeve shirts in the past, but after reading all these vampire stories I think I need to add to the wardrobe!!!
Thank you everyone (oldranger/wanderingdaisy/quentinc/kpeter) for the input; some good take home points:
- Synthetic (quick drying)
- Loose Fit
- Undershirt
- Periodic Partial Water Dips For The Evaporative Cooling Effect
- Possible Permathin Treatment

I will order something up tonight.
User avatar
sbslider
Topix Novice
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 5:37 am
Experience: N/A

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by sbslider »

Heading out tomorrow into Yosemite, hiking from Tuolumne Meadows to the valley. Treated a set of clothes with spray on permethrin, as I waited until the last minute. I have also read about buying higher concentrated permethrin, diluting it in water, and soaking clothes. I am thinking the treatment lasts much longer this way, is that true? Several other trips coming up this summer in our family, and getting lots of clothes treated inexpensively is attractive.

Thanks for the replies!
User avatar
SSSdave
Topix Addict
Posts: 3523
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Silicon Valley
Contact:

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by SSSdave »

After making input above on this thread, it occurred to me, that I probably ought to replace my old blue nylon windbreaker shell jacket I use carrying a backpack because after a few years it is showing fabric wear and the zipper can be ornery. Very few hikers or backpackers wear a nylon shell while carrying a pack though this person has done so for decades. Certain to take care of mosquito issues as their probosci cannot at all stick through tight weave nylon, much less when acrylic coated. Like almost all my backpacking gear I tend to customize things.

So ordered and just received via amazon, a Kariban unlined windbreaker for $21 plus $8 shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Kariban-Unlined-W ... indbreaker" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Features shown on web sites:

Nylon outer with acrylic coating
concealed hood with tear-relase fastening
two front zippered pockets
elastic cuffs, drawcord at hem


Selected size medium color white that I just weighed at 7.2 ounces or as much as a light cotton t-shirt. White not a good choice for those easily sun burned because it is a wee bit transluscent. Will likely dip the shell into a hot Rit dye bath of really light green in order to end up a bit off white. White of course absorbs less sunlight radiation so is cooler for summer backpacking use. One ought always buy a size larger than one's shirt size in order to be worn over other garments and not bind up with movements. Some more details not included on web sites.

The two zippered side pockets importantly are of reasonably good rectangular volume at 6 by 8.7 inches. One will find many windbreakers that do not have zippered pockets and some with rather small pockets. Beware as sizeable pocket size is rather important for hikers and backpackers.

The nylon coating does not breath. Ideally I prefer uncoated however such wind proof jackets have been rather non-existant for over a decade as manufacturers see water proofness as a feature. Jackets like this should not replace rain jackets like my Marmot Precip because they are not seam sealed. Also one ought not regularly use a pricy well constructed lightweight rain jacket while carrying a backpack because it will likely abrasion wear and seam stretch due to forces. Another useless feature as a backpack carrying shell often on windbreakers is an inner mesh lining. One can usual cut those out but that can be messy. That is why this product is called unlined. One does not want layers because it is important to be as thin and cool as possible and quick drying. When one does find a non-coated synthetic fabric it is usually polyester. However fabric weaves on polyester fabrics may not provide enough to keep out all squeeter pokers and the fabric more readily wears thin.

Single seam stiching so not bombproof double plus stiching of expensive garments. I applied thin dabs of flexible fabric cement to key locations on the stiching to make sure it does not unravel. That is the most likely way inexpensive nylon clothing is likely to fail because there are potential strong forces with a heavy pack being carried.

The front and 2 side pocket zipper seemed reasonable. The front zipper has a small pull tab and the side pockets do not. I will modify each zipper with a larger custom pull after visiting a drugstore women's hair accessories section maybe with a fabric pony tail loop.

The waist band drawcord ends with a small loop at both ends that may only be bowtied to secure as is. So will add one of my cord locks to one end.

This windbreaker has a sizeable hood that uses velcro under the collar to secure. I want a hood on my rain jacket but not on my backpacking shell. So may decide to cut it off which would be a trivial process. Probably would reduce the weight by an ounce plus.
User avatar
SSSdave
Topix Addict
Posts: 3523
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:18 pm
Experience: N/A
Location: Silicon Valley
Contact:

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by SSSdave »

Bottom areas of windbreaker. Modified each zipper pull adding women's Goody pony tail bands to the small metal zipper pulls. Added a cord lock to the waist drawstring. Put maybe 1/8 teaspoon of forest green Rit dye into 3 gallons of hot water to dye the purchased white ripstop nylon fabric.
Image

Packs small:
Image

Side view with Osprey Aether 70 pack. Normally the bottom of the windbreaker is above the top of the pack waistbelt, thus not between skin and waistbelt. In front I often have much of the front zipper down to increase cooling.
Image
User avatar
rlown
Topix Docent
Posts: 8225
Joined: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:00 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer
Location: Wilton, CA

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by rlown »

Looks like a nice purchase.. How do you feel about cooking in that windbreaker? I know it depends on one's approach to cooking.
User avatar
maverick
Forums Moderator
Forums Moderator
Posts: 11823
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 5:54 pm
Experience: Level 4 Explorer

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by maverick »

Bring this thread back up because it looks like those blood sucking vampires are
starting to get busy, and this thread has a lot of useful information to makes ones
time in the backcountry more bearable.
Professional Sierra Landscape Photographer

I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

Have a safer backcountry experience by using the HST ReConn Form 2.0, named after Larry Conn, a HST member: http://reconn.org
User avatar
jessegooddog
Topix Regular
Posts: 240
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2010 3:39 pm
Experience: N/A

Re: What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?

Post by jessegooddog »

Herbal Armour and/or Badger Anti Bug Balm (easy roll on) works well for me. I try to hike in weather not too hot for lightweight long sleeves and pants. I never ever use Deet; I suffered with migraines for over 30 years after working in a bug bombed building.
User avatar
sheperd80
Topix Regular
Posts: 167
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 1:17 pm
Experience: N/A

Post by sheperd80 »

Nothing has worked well for me except sleeves and a good fire. Picardin and Deet seemed about the same. They work ok in some areas but those high altitude skeeters are big and tough and they just dont seem to care.

For the record I used 40% Deet and it was pretty ineffective. They were landing right on my wrists right after spraying them.

I bought some 99% Deet at shaver lake store. I think ill try a blend of picardin on my clothes and gear and just a little deet on exposed areas. We'll see how that goes!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 42 guests