(Sexy) Mosquito Net Jacket & Bug Bite Treatment for the A.T.

***UPDATED REVIEW HERE – A more thorough review and testimony after hiking the A.T.***

http://www.appalachiantrials.com/gear-guide-mosquitoes-bugs/

 

When my parents adopted me from South Korea, one of the things they were told was that I might have abnormal allergic reactions to bee stings and mosquito bites. They were right on about mosquito bites. Mosquitos are my nemeses. A favorite story my dad likes to repeat is when I was in elementary school and I asked a church pastor if mosquitos were from the devil which inspired a sermon, but my question was never really answered…

Alex and I went on a hike in the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park aka The Porkies. We were camped right off a beach on Lake Superior. I figured because of the big water and breeze coming through our site, there wouldn’t be any mosquitos. Wrong. I started to get bit and quickly put on extra layers and sat closer to the fire to try to smoke them away from me, but the damage had already been done. Not long after, I noticed I couldn’t open my right eye all the way. Some mosquito assholes hit the exact right spot on my face to make my eye swell up. It made for awkward encounters with other hikers because I decided to wear my mosquito jacket at all hours with the face zipped up. People could still see that I had a swollen eye, though and Alex thought they thought he beat me. Turns out, they thought I got stung by a bee. Nope. Just a mosquito. *kicks the ground

A similar yet less noticeable incident happened when Alex and I worked in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters. I was wearing sandals while hanging out with co-workers outside. I noticed getting a few bites but nothing major. It was a cool night and the bugs weren’t bad or so I thought. The next day, I had trouble getting one foot into my shoe because it was swollen from the bites. I bought mosquito net socks to wear over my sandals. Luckily, I had already made friends; otherwise, I’d scare everyone away.

(Sexy) Mosquito Net Jacket

I love this jacket because it has a jacket form instead of just a parachute of netting sewn together. It folds into a pocket on the sleeve for easy storage but why would I tempt the mosquitoes? There is a bite-proof cloth on areas where the jacket rests directly on your skin. The sleeves have thumbholes if I choose to risk exposing my thumbs. Otherwise, elastic keeps the ends of the sleeves closed. The hood has a separate zippered face flap with darker netting to make it easier to see through with one eye since your other eye might be swollen. Unfortunately, I can’t find it anywhere for sale anymore. If you ever find one at a garage sale or thrift store, get it and I will buy it from you because I want another one to wear on top of the one I already have.

You must be thinking, “Nicole, although you look amazing in that jacket, why don’t you use insect repellent?” Well, first of all, thank you for the compliment. Secondly, I can’t find anything that works any better than the jacket. I’ve used products with DEET and natural DEET-Free repellents. I don’t like oil-based ones like Burt’s Bees Insect Repellent (although I like some of their other bite relief products, see below). The essential oils make me feel greasy and it is easier for things to stick to you, like pimples. I’ve tried All Terrain Herbal Armor and it seems to work. It is like a spray-on foam and makes your skin have a tingly minty feeling. Refreshing! However, I haven’t decided if it is worth bringing if I’ve got the jacket… and I buy some matching pants. Whatever I decide, just a repellent isn’t enough because my blood smells too good. It may be enough for you.

When I inevitably get bitten, I scramble for my Burt’s Bees Res Q Ointment or Burt’s Bees Bug Bite Relief. The Res Q ointment is a little messier (it comes in a small tin and you apply it with your finger), but it smells great and can also be used to soothe cuts and other minor abrasions. They actually reduce itching and are natural products! I will also take an anti-histamine if I get a lot of bites and I don’t have enough ointment to cover all my appendages.