How National Park Rangers Protect Themselves From Bugs (and How You Can Too)
Clothing that offers plenty of coverage should be your first line of defense against buzzing, biting pests. The less skin you leave exposed, the fewer bites you'll endure, so if you're venturing into buggy territory, wear long sleeves, long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes. 'That might seem counterintuitive when it's super hot out, but being dressed correctly for the environment that you're going into really can make or break your day,' said Gantt. Park rangers recommend wearing long sleeves and long pants if you plan to explore a buggy area. Everglades National Park for NYT Wirecutter
Loose clothing is more effective at preventing bug bites than anything form-fitting, Gantt added. Tight clothes, like workout leggings, lie right against your body and offer only a thin barrier between a mosquito and your skin. Loose-fitting clothes that hang off your body create more distance, so even if a mosquito were to land on you, it would have a harder time finding your skin.
A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt is a good option if you're headed to a warm, humid climate. Something made of UPF fabric will help protect you from the sun, as well as any bugs that come your way. Consider the Bluesmiths Kanaha Hydrophopic Shirt or the Patagonia RØ, which Wirecutter's outdoor experts recommend in our guide to beach gear.
As with shirts, pants that are loose and lightweight are an ideal choice. Consider Marmot PreCip Eco Pants, Wirecutter's pick for rain pants. They're made of nylon ripstop fabric, a thick material that bugs aren't as likely to pierce. Yet they're breathable enough that you won't feel sweaty or clammy after walking around.
Pair your long pants with some tall socks, like these extra-long Farm to Feet Damascus Light Targeted Cushion Crew socks from our guide to hiking socks.
'It's very easy to take preventative measures' when you're visiting an area that's teeming with ticks, explained Pollock. In addition to 'trying to stay away from tall vegetation,' she said she recommends tucking pant legs into a pair of socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
According to Wirecutter's outdoor experts, the Farm to Feet socks offer more coverage and protection than shorter socks. Plus, it's a lot easier to tuck your pants into them.
Gantt said her favorite piece of gear to put on when she's surrounded by buzzing pests is an NPS-issued jacket. It's made of layers of tightly hatched mesh that mosquitoes and other small biting bugs, like no-see-ums, can't infiltrate.
Though we can't all get kitted out by the NPS, we asked our staff if they owned anything similar. Wirecutter staff writer Evan Dent said he wore The Original: Bug Shirt when he worked in wooded areas as a canoe-trip guide in northern Ontario, and this long-sleeved hoodie is made from densely woven material that bugs can't bite through. Plus, the mesh sleeves and side cut-outs allow cooling breezes to pass through, and the sleeves and waist have drawstring closers that seal the garment from biting pests. It also has a zippered hood, which includes a netted face mesh covering and can fit over a baseball cap.
Gantt said that many Everglades rangers and visitors wear headnets when mosquitoes are especially active. Writer Trey French likes to pull on his Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net when 'things get biblical' on his hikes through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The soft polyester mesh fabric net effectively blocks bugs, keeping them out of your face and, maybe more critically, your mouth. It's treated with an odorless repellent that's effective through 40 washes, and it has an elasticized draw cord that creates a seal to keep bugs out. A head net that fits over a hat can help keep mosquitoes, flies, and other small flying insects out of your face. Everglades National Park for NYT Wirecutter
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