Bug-Free Camping

Camping is not for everyone. But when you get down to the nitty-gritty of why people do not appreciate it, a couple themes emerge. The top two seem to be: It is dirty and getting eaten alive by bugs is not pleasant. This last point is an understandable one. Although you may be invading the natural habit of those mosquitos, spiders and everything else, itching for the entirety of your trip is simply a bad experience and not one to take lightly. Is there any way to escape this fate when trying to commune with the great outdoors? Yes, steps can be taken to ensure you suffer as little as possible for the chance to see the beauty of the outdoors.

What to Wear
Wear light-colored clothes since they are less attractive to mosquitos. Light colors also make ticks easier to spot.

Properly Outfit Your Tent
There are many ways to prevent bugs from entering your campsite and your tent. Burn citronella candles and place mosquito coils around your camp. Inside of your tent, place mosquito netting around the entrance and try to keep the tent closed at all times to prevent mosquitos from entering.

Sprays
You can use some essential oils, like lavender and geranium oil, to repel bugs, but, if things are bad, using a repellent like OFF or one containing DEET will be necessary.

If the worst happens and you do get bitten, have some remedies on hand. Blue Emu cream, cortisone creams and also Vicks Vapor Rub have been shown to reduce itching and swelling when it comes to bad bites.