I just came back from a nine-day trip deep into the Peruvian jungle -- into the reserve part of Manu National Park. It was an incredible journey! Fantastic nature, and incredibly isolated and pristine (an area never disturbed, and still inhabited by non-contacted peoples). But ahead of time I was extremely nervous about mosquito bites, because twice in the last ten years or so I have been to the emergency clinic with dozens of bug bites and a very strong allergic reaction to them. I practically obsessed over what to do to prevent mosquito bites as much as possible, because I have had such a strong reaction to bug bites, and the jungle is certainly full of mosquitos and other biting insects!.
I am very happy to say that everything that I did worked -- I got very few bites, and I didn't even notice them until I searched for them. Everyone else in our group got plenty of bites, and they were itching like crazy, but not me!!!
Here is what I did and what I brought:
1. I have a Peruvian friend who is a doctor. He told me to take Vitamin B complex every day for a week before the trip and every day in the jungle. I used these:
Nature Made Super B Complex Tablets, Value Size, 360 Count
2. I bought two bottles of this Permethrin spray and very carefully sprayed ALL of my clothing, carefully following the directions on the bottle. I sprayed all of my clothing at home in my garage, and then packed it all in these giant ziploc bags:
Ziploc Big Bag Double Zipper, Large, 5-Count
(by the way, those bags were great for packing everything and really helped to keep things from getting too damp in the 100% humidity jungle!). I sprayed the three pairs of hiking pants I brought, three long-sleeved shirts, all of my thick hiking socks, and my sunhat (both sides). I put extra spray at all openings - pant cuffs, shirt cuffs, and shirt button seams.While there I always tucked my pants legs into my socks. The tour company had suggested wearing a cotton t-short under long-sleeved shirts because the mosquitoes bite through clothing, but I never did that; I didn't need to as I just didn't get bites through the Permethrin-sprayed clothing. This stuff really worked, as I did not get bites through my Permethrin-treated clothing!
3. I took the antihistamine Loratidine (generic for Claritin, this one:
GoodSense Allergy Relief Loratadine Tablets, 10 mg, 30 Count Bottle
) as a prophylactic every morning, to prevent my strong reaction to bites. This worked GREAT -- I did get a few bites, as I could see the tiny red dots, but I didn't feel anything at all from them! I took only enough for the days that I was in the jungle. In the two days in Cusco before returning to the US I started itching a little on a couple of bites. In hindsight I should have taken a few extra tablets to take in the next few days after the trip. (Another hint - some people get drowsy on this stuff; I tested it first at home before going on my trip. There are other OTC non-drowsy antihistamines you can try if this doesn't work, like the generic for Zyrtec.)
4. I bought DEET. In my paranoia about insect bites and my prior reaction to them, I bought several different versions of DEET -- spray, wipes, and lotion, but I used only this spray, and only three times:
Repel 94101 6-Ounce Sportsmen Max Insect Repellent 40-Percent DEET Pump Spray, Case Pack of 1
. That bottle is plenty for lots of people; to minimize weight and volume in your pack you might even want to put it into a smaller travel-sized spray bottle. I sprayed the backs of my hands, and then wiped from the backs of my hands onto my neck, cheeks, and forehead.
5. I had a mosquito head net that I purchased many years ago. Amazon has others but not the one that I have, so I can't give a link. I used this only two or three times when the mosquitos were especially thick. I had sprayed this also with Permethrin before leaving home.
6. I also brought with me an over the counter anti-itch creme (hydrocortisone), and a prescription-strength anti-itch creme (Clobetisol). I never used either one!!!!! But my travelling partners sure were happy that I had it so they could use it! I also had Sting Eze (
StingEze Max2 Insect Bite Itch Relief Dauber, 0.5-Ounce
), but this too I never needed, and my travelling friends were very happy to use.
I worried a LOT before the trip about getting mosquito bites and my reaction to them. Really worried. I questioned my sanity for going! But with this Permethrin spray and everything else I did to prep, I had NO problems with mosquitos and I was able to totally enjoy the trip!!!!
Sawyer Products SP657 Premium Permethrin Insect Repellent for Clothing, Gear & Tents, Trigger Spray, 24-Ounce
4.6 | 25,499 ratings
Price: 14.98
Last update: 09-10-2024
About this item
Permethrin spray bonds to fabric fibers for up to 6 weeks or through 6 washings (whichever comes first) won't stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or outdoor gear; fragrance free
Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study - 2017); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Picaridin topical repellent for the skin
Add a layer of protection to your clothing and gear with Permethrin insect and tick repellent spray — perfect for use on shirts, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, tents, netting, when outdoors, camping, hunting, or on travel
Ideal for backpacking, backyard BBQs, hunting, and other outdoor activities, it's effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — from disease-spreading ticks (Lyme) and mosquitoes (West Nile & Zika) to chiggers, spiders, mites, and more
Sawyer Permethrin stays effective despite sweat or water, degrades via UV exposure or washing machine agitation; each 24-ounce trigger spray bottle treats 5 outfits (EPA now reconmends 4.5 ounces per outfit consisting of shirt, pants, and socks)
Reduce likelihood of a tick bite by 73.6 times by treating shoes and socks with Permethrin (University of Rhode Island study - 2017); maximize protection by pairing with Sawyer Picaridin topical repellent for the skin
Add a layer of protection to your clothing and gear with Permethrin insect and tick repellent spray — perfect for use on shirts, jackets, pants, socks, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, tents, netting, when outdoors, camping, hunting, or on travel
Ideal for backpacking, backyard BBQs, hunting, and other outdoor activities, it's effective against more than 55 kinds of insects — from disease-spreading ticks (Lyme) and mosquitoes (West Nile & Zika) to chiggers, spiders, mites, and more
Sawyer Permethrin stays effective despite sweat or water, degrades via UV exposure or washing machine agitation; each 24-ounce trigger spray bottle treats 5 outfits (EPA now reconmends 4.5 ounces per outfit consisting of shirt, pants, and socks)
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 4 x 6 x 8 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 1.1 pounds |
| Department | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Sawyer Products |
| ASIN | B001ANQVYU |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Item model number | SP657 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars
25,161 ratings
4.6 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #471 in Health & Household (See Top 100 in Health & Household) #3 in Insect & Pest Repellent Body Sprays |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Top reviews from the United States
AliPaliCdH
Worked fantastically with other prevention steps -- ALMOST NO MOSQUITO BITES AFTER NINE DAYS IN THE JUNGLE!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2016Ferfnstuff
Ticks be gone!
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024Aklutzyninja
Great line of defense against ticks.
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024Del
Keeps Wood Ticks Away
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024Joshua Zeitz
This Stuff works awesome.
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2024Jillymc
Keeps bugs away without putting bug repellent on your skin
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
Paula
WORKS
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2024Amazon Customer
BUGS WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2024