Bug spray

[Catrin]

I used stars to designate the county because Catrin had been encouraged in another thread about her trip to not give details as to when and where she'll be. I was just trying to respect her privacy.

I sometimes get overly comfortable here and post details I normally wouldn't on an open forum - so am just trying to get better. I don't mind being more specific after my return but...

[indysteel]

There are incidences of Lyme Disease in Marion County btw. That park you ride in all the time probably has deer ticks--since it has plenty o' deer. So, you do need to be aware of ticks, even on your weekday rides. Just an FYI that other animals carry deer ticks, too.

[NbyNW]

Look for Insect Shield clothing. Ex Officio has it, LL Bean too. There may be other brands.

Bugs love me, and I get big welts from mosquito bites. Hate wearing DEET. I got spooked one time when I wore DEET and was carrying an old hardcover book around, with a red cover, and the next thing I knew the red coating on the book was melting off the book and coating my arms. Being a book lover, I was more worried about the condition of the book.

I've got Insect Shield pants from Ex Officio. They convert to shorts. And I have a jacket, same company, in a light mesh fabric so it's not terribly uncomfortable in warm temperatures. Nice long sleeves with thumb holes in the arms, and a hood that I can pull tight around my face if the bugs are being extra aggressive. I live in this clothing when I camp. They make life better.

[goldfinch]

I am in part of the country where there is a lot of Lyme disease and now there is a new tick born illness in the area: http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/126725658.html. So, I use the proven DEET. Even though I stick with DEET it does look like eucalyptus oil may be a decent alternative, if you aren't sensitive to the oil. There is some research showing its effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes. I would really like to see some good research its use in repelling ticks as Lyme disease and other tick borne illness is such a growing problem.

[trickycoolj]

I'm a big fan of Off Family spray. It's a non-aerosol with a neon pink spray cap, contains DEET, and has a more pleasant floral smell. I get 3 inch welts (currently heeling one on my forehead!) so I wear this stuff anytime I'm in a buggy situation.

A few years ago hiking in the alps and doing other outdoor activities in Austria and Germany I was chewed up and spit out by the mosquitos that left 3 inch and bigger welts thanks to being a different type of mosquito than where I live. Another ingredient they use in the EU that that is an effective DEET alternative is Icardin. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icaridin) It doesn't melt plastics and has less odor. I can't say for sure whether I've seen this ingredient in the US, I haven't run out of Off yet. I believe Icardin helps repel tics as well since they are very prevalent in the Alps and are moving north into Germany. Freaked me out since tics are an afterthought in the wet PNW climate.

[chryss]

I live in Alaska now, so of course I have had an intense crash course in bug spray!

You've already told most of the points I'll reiterate, so they are:

• Most brands don't map to ingredients. So there's Off with DEET and Off without DEET (dunno what they use). Cutters with DEET and Cutters with Picaridin (getting back to that in a bit).
• DEET is a solvent. A really really nasty one. Apart from anything else -- I don't think harm to humans (compared to the harm you can take from insect bites, and again, I'm in Alaska...) is proven that well, and even if it is, I'm willing to take the risk. I am however not willing to have my gear dissolved!
• I've been going fishing a lot this summer, sometimes in places thick with hungry mosquitoes. So here's my approach: Before going out spray those parts that will not touch anything else -- top of your head, legs from the knee down, back of the neck and shoulders, upper arms, chest -- with DEET-containing bug spray. You don't need anything like 100%. 20% OFF is fine. Then take a bottle of bug spray containing Picaridin. It'll work ok, keep the bugs mostly at bay and massively reduce the number of bites you get, but will have to be renewed every 30-60 min or so. Use that for hands, face, exposed flesh. I haven't found anything that works as well as Picaridin, except for DEET. Also, have a small bottle of Cutters (with Picaridin) in your pack at all times.
• Wear a hat or cap. Spray it.
• This doesn't cover ticks, sorry (we don't have them here, and I'm not up with that).
• One of the greatest investments I made was in a Buff neck scarf with Insect Shield built-in. It worked GREAT... for the parts covered, that is, my neck and ears.
• For road biking, you usually don't need it. For mountain biking, you do. I've had swarms of mosquitoes come down on me, even get into my helmet and bite my scalp to pieces, at a wooded stop or when breaking down on a mountain bike trail.

Here's a photo of me on a windy day in July on the Arctic North Slope:

[OakLeaf]

Here's a photo of me on a windy day in July on the Arctic North Slope:

Holy @!%@, I'd heard they were aggressive up there, but I had no idea they were so BIG!!

I don't know about Alaska, but in Florida, 12-13 mph seems to be the fastest they will chase. Some road riders might have to take precautions, too. If you're doing a longer road ride and plan to stop for restroom breaks, you DEFINITELY do, even if your moving average is much higher.

[Catrin]

Well, I DID buy some "Deep Woods Off" - but did I remember to use it? NO... hopefully I will do better this weekend.

How DOES one check for ticks without another set of eyes to help? Obviously I can't see all of me...

Yikes those some huge dive bombers!

[OakLeaf]

How DOES one check for ticks without another set of eyes to help? Obviously I can't see all of me...

Mirror for your back, fingers for your scalp, neck and nether parts.

[indysteel]

OMG, Chris. That picture gives me the willies. I spent a very long afternoon/evening on an island near Juneau a few years ago. The mosquitoes were as thick as I've ever seen and whatever bug spray they offered at the lodge where we were only held them slightly at bay. I was with a friend and just watching them swarm around (and knowing they were swarming around me) was enough to send me indoors.

[chryss]

Holy @!%@, I'd heard they were aggressive up there, but I had no idea they were so BIG!!

Shhh, don't tell anyone, but the big ones are actually the easiest to deal with as they are slow. I was quite fine that day and hardly got bitten at all. The small ones here in the Interior are a lot harder to keep at bay (or photograph, for that matter).

As for cycling, we usually say if you're faster than 6 mph you're fine, but that isn't quite right as they can hold on to your socks and bite your ankles. But mostly as long as you're moving at bike speed and protect some key places you're fine even in thick mosquito land.

[Catrin]

Reminds me of one of my mountain bike rides last week. I was at the bottom, close to water, and apparently I was moving at just the right speed to present a good roving buffet target I am quite slow on the mountain bike, but this is an incentive to get a little faster!