Mosquito proof shirt for the Sierra

[Brad Rogers]

I’ve got a trip planned on the SHR and JMT in early August this year, earlier than normal for me, and with the heavy snow year, I imagine the mosquitos will still be out in force.  I was planning on wearing an OR Echo for sun protection, but since the mosquitos will be out, I am looking at other options.  I ran across this shirt and didn’t know if anyone had any experience with it.

Duluth Trading Co. Breezeshooter Long Sleeve Shirt

https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-breezeshooter-long-sleeve-plaid-shirt-45201.html?dwvar_45201_color=MED

 

[Ralph Burgess]

Whatever you get, spray it with Permethrin.

[Larry Swearingen]

And don’t forget your headnet !

Larry S

[Brad Rogers]

I always treat my shirts with Permethrin, but normally I plan my trips around peak mosquito season and have been quite lucky, as usually have no issues, not even in Brooks Range.   I’ve worn tight weave nylon shirts on trips before, including the REI Sahara shirt and Ex Officio Minimus shirt, but they are all sort of stuffy and sweaty (of course most everything is compared to the Echo) and I am looking at possible options.  I see it’s polyester rather than nylon, but I’m not sure if that would be any better.  Poly sure does stink more than nylon.

[jscott]

Actually my nylon sun shirt is mosquito proof without permethrin. I use a bit on it anyone in high season. Nylon hiking pants like the classic ones from REI also can’t be bit through. I use sun grubbies for mosquito protection too–because I also use poles, which leave the backs of my hands defenseless. Permethrin on these is alright because I remove them to eat.

a headnet with wide spacing in the net makes wearing it not so bad, in terms of having a cloud in front of your eyes. Which I find annoying.

edit: you posted while I was writing; sorry for the duplication of topics.

the linked drape hat is fabulous for mosquitoes (and sun!). You can pull the drape up over your nose if you enter a swarm of mosquitoes. That way your neck and head and most of your face is protected without having to use a net.

https://www.sunprecautions.com/product/48100

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I’ve been bitten through nylon shirts and pants. What stops them is layers. Tights under the pants or a skirt over the pants. A shirt under the nylon shirt. Need layers for the ankle region because if you sit down and your pants raise up to expose your ankles, they’ll bite through your socks. I get more bites on my ankles than anywhere it seems, probably because I never wear layers of socks. A headnet is necessary for sanity.

[jscott]

https://www.mountainhardwear.com/canyon-pro-long-sleeve-shirt-1764271.html?dwvar_1764271_variationColor=492#q=sun+shirt&start=8

i wear this in blue. Some will find it too hot. Actually white is a great color for sun! It’s pretty darn mosquito proof but a spritz of permethrin can’t hurt.

[Paul McLaughlin]

My experience is: if it’s knit, I get bit. I Have a woven nylon shirt from LL Bean that I have almost never been bit through – but it has happened once or twice. Generally I can count on that shirt; I guess some skeeters have whatever it takes – thinner proboscis or something – to get through, while most do not.

I have put deet on my polyester knit shirts (Terramar) with no ill effects to the fabric. Have not yet tried with my OR Echo, but I think If I were going out in serious skeeter season – which I try to avoid – I’d go with the woven nylon shirt. My nylon wind pants – various pairs, heaviest fabric was 1.6 oz taffeta, lightest .9 oz  – all keep the buggers at bay.

[Brad Rogers]

Yeah, I guess if the Breezeshooter shirt is “perforated” the skeeters will find those perforations and bite through them.

I have treated Echo shirts with Permethrin with no ill effects to the shirts.  I haven’t run into many mosquitos with them, as I too try to avoid peak season, so I can’t comment on how well it worked.

Maybe I just wear one of my regular old nylon shirts and just get sweaty.

[BlackHatGuy]

A bit different, but you might consider this over a very light wicking shirt. Permethrin baked in. Mostly mesh, with nylon on high wear areas.

[Matthew / BPL]

Doug, have you worn one of those in the sun? I’m intrigued.

[BlackHatGuy]

“Doug, have you worn one of those in the sun? I’m intrigued.”

I have one, but have not worn it hiking, only at rest. I also haven’t really backpacked in a heavy mosquito area in a long time.

[Tom K]

“I also haven’t really backpacked in a heavy mosquito area in a long time.”

You’re about to in about 6 weeks, my friend.  ;-)

[Matthew / BPL]

lol

[Sam Farrington]

Years back, bought a couple of polo shirts that were mesh woven to a thickness of around 1/8″ with lots of small spaces in the weave. Many miles of BPing eventually wore them out, but mosquitos (and flies) absolutely could not poke (or bite) through them, probably because when they perched, the mesh was just too thick for them to reach the skin. The openings in the weave also let in the air and were good for evaporating sweat. But repellent still had to be used for the exposed extremities. Was never bitten on the shoulders or torso wearing these shirts, even during swarm season.
Just to let you know that a solution is possible.

[Geoff Caplan]

A few additional notes.

Someone on here who is a guide in Alaska did some practical tests last season and found that light colours attracted significantly fewer bugs.

And according to some field tests by Skurka, factory-treated permethrin works better than self-applied.

I’ve had a good experience with a light-coloured, factory-treated, tight woven nylon safari shirt. But despite generous venting, it’s quite sweaty to wear.

For something more breathable, I think you’d have to experiment with Sam’s idea of a loose weave that’s thicker than a mosquito proboscis. That’s going to vary by area though, because these can be as large as 19 mm, which would hardly be practical. And if the weave is too loose smaller bugs are going to get you.

So for general protection on a long hike, I suspect that a nylon safari shirt specifically designed for bug protection is your best all-round option, despite the mild discomfort.

(For people in Europe who can’t access the brands listed above, the Craghoppers NosiLife range has worked well for me, and can often be found at very attractive discounts).

[Ross Bleakney]

This is relatively heavy*, but quite comfortable and excellent at dealing with bugs: https://www.bugshirt.com/. The mesh is standard no-see-um netting, which means it keeps out all the bugs, but isn’t as easy to see through as Nanoseeum . That is the only thing I don’t like about it (I prefer looking through a headnet like this one: https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/bug-head-net/).

If you want a lighter approach, then you could go with a headnet like that, along with a windshirt. I’m pretty sure every windshirt keeps the bugs away (I’ve never been bitten through any) so you might as well get the most breathable option, which I believe is currently the Patagonia Airshed.

I am personally wary of chemicals (whether they are applied by me or the company) but if I went that route, I would just apply the stuff myself. In the past (when I wasn’t so reluctant to use the stuff) I had more success with DEET than permethrin.

* On my scale a men’s size large weighs a little less than 10 ounces (275 grams).

 

[Geoff Caplan]

” I had more success with DEET than permethrin”

I’m pretty sure that DEET is intended for use on the skin, while permethrin is only for use on fabrics.

From what I’ve read, you won’t get much toxic exposure from permethrin on clothing, particularly when factory applied.

I avoid DEET unless I’m in extremis – nasty stuff, but most test show that the substitutes are less effective.

[Justin Mckinney]

Ex officio Reef Runner, long sleeve, button down shirt. It’s light weight , cool, and the weave is so tight , that mosquitos can’t but there injectors through the fabric. I’ve been wearing these for years. Time tested and proven.

[Paul McLaughlin]

I never found my nylon shirt to be drastically more sweaty than my knit shirts; the big difference I have found is in how they handle the change to sweat to cold. When cooling off after exertion, the nylon shirt is cold against my skin when just slightly wet, while my knit shirts, terramar and Or, hardly even feel damp after just a few minutes even when very wet – I dive into a lake sometimes to cool off with the shirt on, and in a few minutes it doesn’t feel wet on my skin. But while on the move, there is not a big difference to me. Also the nylon shirt takes much longer to dry.

Of course, in some conditions that can be a benefit. Jump in a lake, and get back on the trail wet, and you have a nice micro-climate that lasts a while; and it lasts longer with the nylon shirt.

[AK Granola]

I just fled my garden, after encountering more mosquitoes than I have seen here in ten years! I was fully clothed in cotton sweats and sweatshirt, loose fitting (I’m old, I don’t do skin tight). I even had a headnet on. The mosquitoes were frustrated because it was difficult though not impossible to find a good spot to bite. Then the little jerks discovered that my gardening gloves have cloth on the backs. My knuckles were devoured! They’re swollen and puffy and I guess I’m now ready for the Sierra!

I will wear a loose fitting RailRiders shirt, loose Sahara REI pants, a headnet and gloves treated with permethrin. And have Deet as a backup!

[Terry Sparks]

I’ve found that permethrin treated clothing is all that is needed and had that tested last year in Yellowstone while thru-hiking the CDT.  I have a dedicated set of clothing that’s treated with the permethrin but my hands were getting slaughtered to the point of having bruising marks under my skin appearing from the countless bites being inflicted. I finally got smart and put stuff sacks over them, of which they couldn’t bite through.  I had no other problems anywhere else being I also had a head net.

[Brad Rogers]

Gloves are a good question too – I normally wear an old pair of REI polyester fingerless sun gloves.  If I treat them with permethrin is that enough?

[Matthew / BPL]

Based on my previous experience, no.

I have some thin goatskin work gloves from Ace Hardware that I have considered taking with me during heavy mosquito season.

Breathable woven nylon gloves would be amazing but I’m not aware of anyone who makes those.

I’ve considered taking some Yama Rain Pogies as mosquito protection. I feel like you could sit and enjoy the view with your hands in your lap without getting bit.

Nitrile gloves from your FAK would provide protection while around camp or during lunch.

[Tom K]

Why not just treat your regular gloves, usually some form of liner glove, with permethrin?  I should think nitrile gloves would get clammy pretty quickly-they don’t breathe.

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