As people start looking forward to the spring and summer seasons, many will start planning outdoor adventures like hiking and backpacking. And while the warmer weather can make being outside more enjoyable in some ways, it can also make it less comfortable in other ways, particularly when it comes to bugs.
In general, bugs tend to come out more as the weather heats up, while there are some pests that love cold weather. So if you’re planning on spending more time outdoors in the spring and summer, here are three tips for keeping the bugs off of you while hiking or backpacking.
Choose Your Clothing Wisely
The clothing that you wear when you’re outside and around bugs can have a big impact on how much of a bother the bugs are to you. Generally, the more skin you have exposed, the greater likelihood it is that bugs will get to your skin and cause you problems.
Knowing this, it’s a good idea to choose your clothes wisely, meaning wearing clothes that cover up the maximum amount of skin. Even if it’s going to be hot out when you’re hiking or backpacking, covering up your skin in light layers will help to keep the bugs off of you. Additionally, when it comes to your pants, try tucking the bottom of your pants into your socks to keep bugs from crawling up your legs.
Use Some Netting
Netting can also work well for keeping bugs out of certain areas, including around you.
While you can set up a bug net around your eating area or where you’ll be sleeping while backpacking, you can also put a net around your hat to keep bugs away from your face. This can make things so much easier for you while you’re hiking, as you won’t have to be swatting at bugs the whole time.
Bring Bug Repellant With You
Whether you’re planning on only going on a short hike or you’ll be backpacking for a couple of days, it’s always a good idea to bring bug repellant with you while you’re outside.
Ideally, you should be reapplying bug repellant to your body and your clothes every few hours, just as you would sunscreen. This way, you’ll always have fresh bug spray on your to keep the bugs away, since the sweat that comes off of you while you’re hiking or backpacking can wash some of the spray off and make you more susceptible to bug bites.
If you’re worried about being eaten alive by bugs when you taking a hiking or backpacking trip this year, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how you can keep the bugs at bay.
Leave a Reply