Effective Ways to Mosquito-Proof Your Summer Camping Trip

During the summer season, camping is the ultimate escape for city dwellers taking a break from traffic and crowded tourist spots. In addition, there are few things more gratifying than going off the grid for an uncomplicated life in the woods. However, it seems that the fresh air we seek cannot be easily attained because of pesky mosquitoes. You could search the local sporting goods store for bug zappers or even the internet for wacky natural repellents (like burning sage), but we’ve turned to the experts to find out what really works. Marco Johnson, field staffing director at the National Outdoor Leadership School, and Daniel Grillo, Program Coordinator at REI Outdoor School, shared to Men’s Fitness on how you can keep mosquitos at bay during your next camping trip.

1. Choose the Right Campsite

Johnson suggests choosing for an area that received good wind as the breeze will help blow bugs away. It’s a good idea to steer clear of areas near lakes, rivers, and creeks. However, sometimes, like when it rains, you just can’t avoid water. So, Grillo recommends detecting how much sun versus shade your camp site gets, which is a good sign of how damp your site will remain after a storm since a sunny spot will obviously dry out more quickly.

2. Choose the Right Tent

Grillo says that the best choice is a double wall tent, which is also the most common outdoor shelter available. It includes an inner mesh body for insect protection and a separate nylon rain fly for privacy and keeping out water, two layer tents are also extremely well ventilated for warmer climates. “Although there are dedicated mosquito shelters, simply setting up a tent without a rain fly provides similar protection without the need to invest in additional equipment,” he adds, emphasizing that many don’t realize the fly isn’t necessary for ventilation and protection. Always make sure to always zip it closed immediately when you enter and exit.

Moreover, Grillo advises treating your tent with a repellent like Sawyer Permethrin Spray, which can be used on clothing, tents, and mosquito nets. “These are best sprayed on tent bodies rather than rain flys or tarps, which get more exposure to sun and rain,” Grillo adds.

Read the full article here.