Mosquitoes are some of the most annoying bugs in the world, and they can even be dangerous. In addition to landing on your skin, making irritating buzzing noises, and leaving itchy bites behind, they can also infect you with a number of different illnesses. Because of that, it’s important to have the right protection when you go out.
But what mosquito protection is really the best? In addition to normal mosquito repellents like sprays and bracelets, you also want to make sure you’re wearing repellent clothing. There’s more to mosquito repelling clothing than just the amount of skin it covers. While you should try to keep as much skin covered as possible, there are other factors to keep in mind as well.
In addition to having designs that cover your skin, there are many articles of clothing that have mosquito repellent infused. Not only that, but there are multiple clothing brands that are specifically designed to be mosquito-proof regardless of the article of clothing you wear.
The Science Behind Mosquito Proof Clothing
Two kinds of mosquito clothing are available. With the first type, the fabric hasn’t been treated by any repellents or chemicals. With the second, the clothes have been treated with insecticides that can kill mosquitoes that come too close.
Non-Treated Options
Average clothing can protect you whether or not it’s been treated with chemicals. As long as the fabric is woven tightly enough, mosquitoes can’t get to your skin underneath to bite. If the clothing is loose, the mosquitoes may be able to fly underneath, but you’ll still be more shielded than you would be without clothing.
That’s why your first course of action should be to wear long pants, socks, and long-sleeved shirts. If it’s too hot for pants or long sleeves, you should still take steps to cover as much skin as you can.
There are some untreated bug jackets that are specifically designed to keep bugs away from your skin. That includes mosquitoes, bees, and no-see-ums. If you want a chemical-free option, these are ideal. If you’re going to be in a more dangerous area and want a chemical-free option, try a mosquito hat.
Treated Options
Other types of clothing are available to help you avoid bites. These are ideal if you’re going to be in dangerous areas, or if you’re going to be outside for prolonged periods of time, such as when you’re camping.
The most common mosquito repellent used on fabrics is Permethrin. This repellent is registered for use with the EPA and has been tested and proved effective at repelling mosquitoes. When you use this repellent, even loose, breathable, and thin fabrics can be protective shields.
The CDC recommends using Permethrin-infused clothing to repel mosquitoes and prevent the spread of disease. Clothing that has been treated with this repellent can repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other troublesome bugs. In addition to buying pre-treated clothes, you can buy this solution separately and use it to treat your clothes.
The Best Mosquito Repellent Clothing Options
#1. Coghlan’s Bug Jacket
This is a good clothing option if you’re looking for bug protection that hasn’t been treated with chemicals. The polyester fabric is woven tightly enough to keep mosquitoes away from your skin, and the design is specifically created to keep you safe from bug bites.
In addition to having a jacket component, the garment includes a hood made out of fine mesh. This can keep away mosquitoes, no-see-ums, deer ticks, wood ticks, and a variety of other biting insects. To keep mosquitoes from slipping under the clothing, the jacket comes with elastic cuffs, a drawstring waist, and a zippered neck to allow easy face access.
The jacket comes in four unisex sizes ranging from X-large to small. The X-large can fit people weighing up to 300 pounds. The large accommodates up to 240 pounds. The medium can fit people weighing up to 200 pounds, and the small can fit
up to 160 pounds.
It’s a lightweight material that’s cool to wear, so you can wear it in warmer climates and seasons. This is ideal given that most mosquito activity happens in humid areas. The jacket is flame-resistant and created out of one hundred percent polyester fabric.
#2. Camo Coll Outdoor Anti-Mosquito Mask Hat
This is another good piece to add to your wardrobe, especially if you’re going to be in dangerous areas for a while. If you plan to camp or trek around swampland with a lot of mosquitoes, you want to be as protected as you can get. This hat doesn’t use chemical protection, but the mesh offers a covering for your face.
Unlike the jacket, the hat is available in six colors. Khaki is the most standard, but there’s also blue, dark gray, navy blue, olive green, and pink. The fabric is one hundred percent polyester and finely woven mesh. Just one size is available, but it should fit the majority of people.
The brim is 3.5 inches, allowing the mesh netting to extend far enough from your face not to be interfering or annoying. In addition, the hat offers a sun protection factor of more than 50. It helps to repel mosquitoes and other insects, and it’s vented to allow a constant flow of fresh air as you move around.
A chin strap is attached to the hat. It’s adjustable, with cord locking technology to secure a comfortable fit. This allows the hat to remain on your head no matter how strenuous your treks are.
The hat is geared toward capers, hikers, hunters, fishermen, and anyone else who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors.
#3. Sawyer Products Permethrin Clothing Insect Repellent
Permethrin is the most common material used to protect clothing against insects. Some materials come already infused with it, but if you want to add an extra layer of protection to your non-infused outfit, you can purchase Permethrin separately.
In addition to being effective against virus-spreading mosquitoes, this repellent is able to kill mosquitoes, mites, no-see-ums, and multiple species of ticks. Studies have shown that the repellent is as effective when used on clothing as DEET, the leading mosquito repellent on the market.
Treating your clothes lasts longer than spraying yourself with bug spray. When you use typical bug spray, you need to reapply it to your clothing after just a few hours, and it comes out in the wash. Meanwhile, the Permethrin repellent can last a maximum of six weeks and persist through six clothes washings.
You don’t need to be concerned about potential damage to your clothing, either. It doesn’t damage or stain clothing, and it’s been tested on a variety of fabrics to double-check the efficacy. In addition, you can treat finished surfaces, plastics, backpacks, camping gear, and any other outdoor gear for up to six weeks.
The repellent does give off an odor at first, but once it dries, it’s odorless. The lack of odor makes it ideal for hunters, since it will provide protection without alerting animals to your presence.
The two-pack of 24-ounce bottles is able to treat a maximum of four total outfits.
#4. ExOfficio BugsAway Tarka Long-Sleeve Shirt
This is one of multiple shirts and articles of clothing available from ExOfficio. It has been pre-treated with insect repellent to keep mosquitoes and other bugs away. Unlike clothing treated with at-home Permethrin treatments, this shirt will continue providing effective protection for longer than six washes. It’s available in black, blue, and sage, with the fabric knitted from one hundred percent machine-washable polyester.
The design is lightweight but has a thick enough knit to keep mosquitoes out. The long sleeves help to cover your skin as effectively as possible. Also included in the design is Silvadur technology, which helps resist odors so you don’t need to wash it as often.
The fabric has been rated at UPF 50, meaning that it helps protect you from the sun. It wicks away your sweat and dries fast.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of mosquito-proof clothing options on the market. When picking the best one for you, you’ll need to decide what kind of protection you want. If you don’t get clothing that’s been treated with chemicals, you will need to make sure it covers your skin and that the fabric is thick enough to keep mosquitoes out.
The most common chemical that treats clothing is Permethrin. This repellent has been EPA-registered and approved by the CDC as a mosquito repellent. You can purchase clothing that’s already been treated, or you can get the spray to treat your clothes yourself.
The Coghlan’s jacket is a good option if you’re looking for non-chemical protection for your upper body. If you’ll be in dangerous areas, you can combine it with the Camo Coll hat. For treated options, the shirt from ExOfficio is ideal.