Protection is two products and one habit: repellent on skin, permethrin on clothing, and a body check before bed. Mosquitoes are an annoyance; ticks are a health risk. The habit that matters is the check, because a tick removed within 24 hours rarely transmits disease.
Repellent types
| Product | Strength | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEET 20–30% | High | 4–6 h | Best all-round, plastic-safe |
| Picaridin 20% | High | 6–8 h | Less smell, safe on gear |
| IR3535 | Medium | 4 h | Gentle, for children |
| Oil of lemon eucalyptus | Medium | 4–6 h | Not for under-3s |
| Permethrin | Very high (ticks) | 6 washes | Clothing only, never skin |
DEET above 30% adds duration, not protection. For ticks, permethrin on clothing outperforms any skin repellent.
Clothing treatment
| Method | Lasts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Permethrin spray, DIY | 6 washes | Treat outdoors, dry 2 h |
| Factory-treated clothing | 70 washes | More expensive, consistent |
| Long sleeves and trousers | — | Physical barrier |
| Trousers tucked into socks | — | Blocks the ankle route |
| Light colours | — | Easier to spot ticks |
Treat trousers, socks, and gaiters the day before the trip. Do not treat underwear or anything worn against the skin.
Exposure window
| Season | Tick activity |
|---|---|
| March–May | Nymphs emerge, high risk |
| June–August | Adults and nymphs, peak |
| September–November | Adults, still active |
| December–February | Low, but not zero in mild climates |
Time of day matters less for ticks than for mosquitoes: ticks quest whenever the ground is warm and damp. Mosquitoes peak at dawn and dusk.
Habitat avoidance
| Area | Risk |
|---|---|
| Tall grass and meadow edges | High |
| Leaf litter | High |
| Trail edges | High |
| Dry pine duff | Low |
| Open, mown ground | Low |
Walk in the centre of the trail, and avoid brushing through waist-high grass even for a shortcut.
What to wear
Long trousers tucked into socks look foolish and work better than any spray. Add a light-coloured long-sleeve shirt, and you can see a tick before it finds skin. The colour matters: a dark tick on dark fabric is invisible until it is attached.
Treat the clothing, not the person. Permethrin on trousers and gaiters kills ticks on contact, and it keeps working through several washes. Keep a treated set of clothes just for camping, and change out of them before you get in the car.
Sandals and shorts are fine in dry, mown campgrounds. They are a bad choice on any trail with grass on both sides.
Dogs and children
Check both more often than yourself. A dog picks up ticks in tall grass and brings them into the tent; a child cannot see the back of their own head. A five-minute check at the end of the day covers both.
After the trip
Shower within two hours of getting home, and put the day’s clothes straight into a hot dryer for ten minutes. Heat kills ticks that came back with you, including the ones you did not find.
The body check
| Area | Why |
|---|---|
| Scalp and hairline | Easy to miss |
| Ears and behind ears | Warm, thin skin |
| Armpits | Warm, hidden |
| Waist and belt line | Clothing edge |
| Groin | Warm, hidden |
| Behind knees | Clothing edge |
| Between toes | Easy to miss |
Do the check within two hours of leaving the trail, then again before bed, then in the morning. Children need an adult to do it.
Symptom watch
| Symptom | Timing | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Expanding rash | 3–30 days | Lyme — see a doctor |
| Bullseye rash | 3–30 days | Lyme, classic but not universal |
| Fever and fatigue | 3–30 days | Tick-borne illness |
| Joint pain | Weeks | Lyme |
| Spotted rash on wrists | 2–4 days | Spotted fever — urgent |
Photograph any rash and note the date of the bite. Both help a doctor decide on treatment.
When to seek care
- Any expanding rash after a tick bite.
- Fever within 30 days of a bite in an endemic area.
- A tick attached more than 24 hours in a high-risk region.
- Signs of infection at the bite site.
- Any neurological symptom: facial droop, confusion, severe headache.
Mosquito-specific measures
| Measure | Effect |
|---|---|
| Repellent on exposed skin | High |
| Permethrin on clothing | High |
| Head net in peak season | High |
| Campfire smoke | Low, temporary |
| Citronella candles | Very low |
| Bug zappers | None for mosquitoes |
Citronella and zappers are marketing, not protection. Repellent and a head net are what work.
Where to go next
For removal technique, see the tick removal guide; for first aid, the common injuries guide; for campsite selection, the campsite check.
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