Mosquitoes are a common challenge for those who go on outdoor adventures. In my hiking journey, I’ve suffered a lot from mosquito bites—they seem to love biting me more than anyone else. At first, I didn’t know what to do or how to eliminate them.

But I don’t let that stop me from hiking and backpacking. When I’m heading into areas where I know there will be a lot of mosquitoes, I make sure to use different methods to keep them from biting me.

What to Wear in Mosquito Season

When mosquitoes are really bad, what you wear can help keep you from getting bitten. Wearing loose-fitting long-sleeve tops and pants makes it much harder for mosquitoes to reach your skin. 

This means you won’t need to use as much bug spray or sunscreen. It’s also important to choose the right fabric. Woven fabric, like the kind used in button-up shirts and hiking pants, is better than knit fabric because it’s harder for mosquitoes to bite through. 

For example, leggings are made of knit fabric that fits tightly, making it easy for mosquitoes to bite through. 

I used to get a lot of bites when I wore short-sleeved shirts and shorts, but now that I wear button-up shirts and hiking pants, I get far fewer bites. 

Even though you might think that long sleeves and pants will be too hot, loose-fitting clothes let air flow around you, keeping you cooler in hot weather.

Essential Oils

My first way to keep mosquitoes away is by using products made with natural essential oils. This year, I’ve been using a wristband and clip from ParaKito with pellets soaked in a mix of seven essential oils citronella, rosemary, geranium, mint, clove, peppermint, and cinnamon.

The wristband and clip have little mesh pockets where you put the pellets, and each one works for up to 15 days. I clip the ParaKito to my backpack and wear the wristband while hiking. This works well for me when the mosquitoes aren’t too bad.

For Clothing and Gear

Before going on a trip during mosquito season, I spray my clothes with Permethrin, which is a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in Chrysanthemum flowers. I spray everything I’ll be wearing, including my socks and hat. Unlike DEET, Permethrin doesn’t harm gear, so you can also spray it on your tent and backpack.

Last year, I went on three different backpacking trips to areas with alpine lakes, and the treated clothing worked really well to keep mosquitoes away.

A few mosquitoes landed on me, but they didn’t stay long enough to bite. It’s important to remember that Permethrin should only be sprayed on clothes, not on your skin. Also, while it’s drying, it can be toxic to cats but is safe once it’s dry.

For Your Skin

To protect your skin from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and fleas, you can use Picaridin. Sawyer makes a lotion version that lasts up to 14 hours and a spray that lasts 8 hours.

If you’re planning to swim in a backcountry lake or stream, remember that Picaridin can be harmful to aquatic life, so it’s important to wipe it off before you get in the water.

Create a Zone of Protection at Camp

The Backpacker Thermocell Mosquito Repeller is a handy tool that fits onto a standard fuel canister and creates a 15-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes. I’ve used it on several trips during peak mosquito season, and it really helped keep them away.

The device works by placing a repellent mat on top, which is heated by the fuel canister to release a thin vapor that creates the protective zone. Each mat lasts about 4 hours, so be sure to bring enough for your entire trip. 

Here’s a helpful tip: bring an extra partially used fuel canister from a previous trip so you can use the repeller while cooking with your stove.

The device uses very little fuel—one full canister could last for 90 hours if left on continuously. I usually only use the Thermocell at camp in the morning and evening when mosquitoes are most active.

Head Net

The final way I protect myself from mosquitoes is by using a head net treated with insect repellent. Even though it might feel a bit silly to wear, it really works! To make it more comfortable, I wear a hat with a brim underneath the head net to keep it off my face.