How to Prevent Mosquito Bites on Outdoor Adventures

Heading out during mosquito season? These tips help prevent bites while hiking, camping and backpacking, with gear and strategies that make a noticeable difference in buggy areas.

I’m one of those people mosquitoes seem to love — and unfortunately, that’s not something I can change. But over the years, I’ve figured out how to manage them well enough that they don’t ruin my hiking or backpacking trips.

On trips into buggy areas — especially around alpine lakes, river valleys, or anywhere with standing water — I go in prepared. Instead of relying on just one solution, I use a combination of strategies that work together to reduce bites as much as possible.

What to Wear During Mosquito Season

What you wear can make a big difference in terms of how many bites you get. Covering up with loose fitting long sleeve tops and pants makes it much more difficult for mosquitoes to reach your skin. While it may seem that wearing long sleeves and pants will be too hot, I find that loose fitting layers allow air to circulate to keep me cooler in hot weather.

In terms of fabric, woven is better than knit since the weave is tighter and harder to bite through. For example, leggings are made of tight fitting knit fabric and make you an easy target since mosquitoes can easily bite through the fabric. I prefer to wear button-up shirts paired with hiking pants, and I get far less bites than I used to when wearing short sleeve tops and shorts. And you won’t need to carry and apply as much insect repellent or sunscreen when using this approach.

The Royal Robbins Expedition III shirt, made from 100% recycled polyester, features a tightly woven fabric with chemical-free Mosquito Protection Technology™ – creating a chemical-free barrier that effectively shields against bites while staying environmentally friendly. I like the loose fit of the top for hot weather since it allows air to flow and keeps me cool on trail and at camp. It also provides sun protection with a 40+ SPF rating.

Essential Oils

When mosquitoes aren’t out in force yet, I rely on products that use natural essential oils. I’ve been using a wristband and clip from ParaKito that hold pellets infused with a blend of seven essential oils, including citronella, rosemary, geranium, mint, clove, peppermint, and cinnamon oils. The wristband and clip have mesh pockets to insert the pellets – each of which lasts up to 15 days. I attach the clip to my backpack and wear the wristband while hiking.

This has worked well for me in combination with treating my clothing when mosquitoes aren’t too aggressive — but on its own, it’s not enough for heavy mosquito conditions. In those situations, I rely more on applying repellent to my skin and wearing a head net.

Treating Clothing and Gear

If I had to pick one thing that makes the biggest difference during peak mosquito season, it’s treating clothing and gear with permethrin. This means spraying items like socks, pants, shirts, and even hats so they’re protected before heading out. I also treat gear such as my backpack and tent. I usually do this a day or two before a trip so everything has time to dry completely.

I’ve been using this method for over five years and consistently get far fewer bites than I used to. The product I recommend is Sawyer Permethrin.

Permethrin is a synthetic version of chrysanthemum-derived pyrethrin and works differently than typical bug spray. Instead of simply repelling mosquitoes, it affects insects when they land on treated fabric. Unlike DEET, it doesn’t damage gear and remains effective through multiple washes.

It should be applied to clothing and gear only — not skin. While wet, it can be harmful to cats, but once fully dry, it’s considered safe for use around pets.

While I usually treat my own clothing with a permethrin spray, these No Fly Zone socks from Farm to Feet feature a factory treatment of permethrin that lasts up to 70 washes — and makes it easier for me to keep track of which socks are already protected. As a bonus, these socks are made entirely in the U.S. using wool sourced from sheep raised domestically.

For Your Skin

When essential oils don’t provide enough protection during the height of mosquito season, I apply a repellent lotion to exposed skin. I use a Picaridin-based repellent, which protects against mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats, chiggers and fleas. I’ve found it to be effective without the strong smell or sticky feel that some other repellents have.

I don’t rely on this alone, but combined with treated clothing, it helps fill in the gaps. If you plan to take a dip in a backcountry lake or stream, this product can be harmful to aquatic life so make sure to wipe it all off before getting in the water.

At Camp: Creating a Mosquito-Free Bubble

Even if things are manageable on the trail, mosquitoes tend to come out in full force in the evening and early morning when you are at camp. This is where I use a small device to create more of a bug-free space so I don’t have to retreat to my tent.

The Backpacker Thermocell Mosquito Repeller fits on a standard fuel canister to provide a 15-foot zone of protection. I’ve used it on many trips that were during the height of mosquito season, and it really kept the buggers at bay. It works by placing a repellent mat onto the top of the device. The mat is heated by the fuel canister and emits a thin vapor of repellent that creates the protection zone. Each repellent mat lasts about 4 hours, so make sure to take enough for the duration needed for your trip. Tip: take an extra partially filled fuel canister leftover from another trip so you can have protection while you cook meals using your main fuel canister.

Another product I’ve used to create a zone of protection at camp is the Flextail Tiny Repeller S. This device uses a rechargeable battery instead of a fuel canister, and also doubles as a compact lantern with multiple light modes. In addition to using outside of my tent while relaxing or cooking, I’ve used it hanging between my tent body and rainfly and noticed fewer insects in that space. It can be hung from the built-in clip, attached magnetically, or set on a surface, and the battery indicator makes it easy to monitor how much charge is left.

See my full review of the Flextail Tiny Repeller

Head Net

The last line of defense against mosquitoes that I use is a head net that’s been treated with insect repellent. However ridiculous it feels to wear, it really works. It helps to wear a hat with a brim under the head net to keep it off your face. And a head net barely weighs more than an ounce, so it’s worth taking anytime insects might be an issue. I use the Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net.

Final Thoughts

While mosquitoes are part of hiking and backpacking in many areas, no single prevention method works perfectly on its own. I’ve found that combining a few strategies makes a big difference so you can still enjoy the experience — even when mosquitoes are out in full force.