Hiking allows you to get up close and personal with all elements of nature, including unwelcome pests such as mosquitoes. Since mosquitoes can spread serious diseases like malaria and West Nile virus, it's important to protect yourself from mosquito bites on the hiking trail. Since many hikers don't want to weigh themselves down with bottles of mosquito spray, try wearing a special mosquito-repellent shirt to keep mosquitoes away.
Permethrin Shirts
Permethrin is a chemical that acts as both an insecticide and a mosquito repellent. While permethrin should not be applied directly to skin, it can safely be used on shirts and other articles of clothing. You can buy a pretreated permethrin shirt or use a permethrin spray to treat a regular shirt. Since pretreated permethrin shirts don't require additional spraying throughout the day, they are idea for those who want to pack lightly for a hiking trip. To ensure that you don't damage your pretreated permethrin shirt, follow all washing instructions carefully.
Shirts Treated with DEET
Most experts consider diethyltoluamide, commercially known as DEET, to be the most effective mosquito repellent, though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that it be used sparingly. Since clothing cannot be permanently treated with DEET you cannot buy pretreated DEET shirts, but you can spray regular clothing with DEET before hiking. Sprays with a concentration of DEET higher than 20 percent should not be used on clothing. Wash your DEET-treated shirt immediately after returning from your hike and be sure to also wash all traces of the chemical from your skin. Do not use a spray with a DEET concentration higher than 10 percent on children and never apply any DEET product on an infant. If you develop a persistent or painful rash after using DEET, consult a doctor for treatment.
Mosquito Net Shirts
Shirts made of mosquito netting offer a chemical-free solution to mosquito protection. The shirts are made of the same fine mesh that is used for the mosquito netting used in tents and over beds. The shirts usually feature hoods and fitted cuffs for extra protection. The hood can also be used to ward off ticks when hiking in heavily treed woods. Despite offering full coverage, mosquito net shirts are lightweight and cool, making them useful for physically strenuous or warm-weather hikes.
Street Clothes
If you don't feel the need to wear a specialized mosquito shirt, you can get some protection by choosing a regular shirt that won't attract mosquitoes. Even if the shirt is untreated, long sleeves will offer some protection against bites to your arms. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, so avoid black shirts or other dark tones. It's also easier to spot mosquitoes if they land on a lighter colored shirt, which allows you to gauge the size and number of mosquitoes around during your hike. Shirts that have some sheen to reflect the light will further repel mosquitoes and keep you protected.
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