Use bug spray on exposed skin and stay away from brush and tall grass. Long pants and shirt are best, but not always practical in really warm weather. A product with DEET, like Deep Woods Off, is usually recommended as the best, but there are other alternatives, some of which are listed below. heli ski canada

DEET –This brand of bug spray is actually considered by many people to be the most effective bug spray currently on the market. This spray is also considered to be pretty safe since it was accepted by the CDC. Even so, its effectiveness comes at a price; it can be found to be a little bit too strong by many people. DEET can cause skin irritation in certain people who have more sensitive skin, can damage plastics and clothing and it also smells pretty bad. It is often found in certain products such as OFF! Bug sprays which actually have about 25% of the stuff in them. heli skiing

Picaridin – a good alternative to DEET; found in Off! Skintastic Clean Feel and others. Lighter scent and feel. We’ve had decent results with this spray, but it needs to be reapplied every 3-4 hours.

Lemon Eucalyptus –This particular option is extremely appealing for a variety of different reasons. If you are not such a huge fan of normal chemicals used in bug sprays, then you would probably prefer this alternative method for protecting your skin from insects. This way is completely natural and even the smell could be preferable for you (assuming you prefer the smell of lemon pledge over factory chemicals). It seems to work great for short hikes, however it might need to be reapplied on longer walks and trips. 

ExOfficio garments treated with Permethrin that puts the bug protection right in the fabric. Lasts for a certain number of washes.

Permethrin sprays are available to treat clothing yourself. Permethrin is toxic to cats, so stay clear of using it if you have kitties in your household. It is supposed to be toxic when wet, but OK when dry - up to you if you want to still use it.

Transfer some bug spray into a travel-size spray bottle and seal in a zip-loc baggie - less bulky to tote in a backpack than the larger bottle it comes in. Don't spray directly to your face! Spray your hat or a cotton bandana and tie around your neck. Keeps the mosquitoes at bay without risking getting chemicals in your eyes/nose/mouth.

Sunscreen/Bug Spray combo products - are not recommended because they need to be applied at different frequencies. For max effectiveness: apply sunscreen first, then bug repellent. DEET can destroy synthetic fabrics. If you are wearing sensitive types of clothing materials, it might be a pretty good idea to simply avoid using anything that has DEET in it.

Fun-fact!

Mosquitoes/bugs are thwarted by a slight breeze… so if it’s breezy or you keep moving the chances of being bit are lessened... but you still need protection.