The Best Mosquito Protection Combines a Bite Proof Sun Hoodie with Permethrin Treatment
When the buzzing swarm surrounds you, nothing less the best mosquito shirt will suffice. Maximum mosquito protection combines full-coverage, mechanically bite proof fabric with a permethrin aura of repellence that immobilizes mozzies on contact. This redundant shield will keep you safe and sane, while others suffer non-stop itching and swatting. Because mosquitos thrive in warm, humid weather, your challenge is finding the thinnest, lightest shirt that’s still bite-proof.
For when mosquito shirts aren’t necessary, we also recommend sun hoodies, and merino wool sun hoodies.
You make Adventure Alan & Co possible. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.
Cover Photo: Royal Robbins Salathe and Sea to Summit Headnet
Mosquito Shirt Image Gallery
Tap/click to shop
Mosquito Shirt Recommendations
See gallery above
- Editor’s Choice, Best: Royal Robbins Salathe Hoodie + Insect Shield
- Button-up: Insect Shield Elements Lite Shirt
- Button-up: Columbia Skien Valley Shirt
- Sun Hoodie: Simms Bugstopper
- Sun Hoodie: Columbia Shoaltech / Skien Valley
- No-See-Um Mesh: Coghlan’s Mesh Bug Jacket
- Wear Over Any Shirt: Insect Shield HaloNet
- Your Favorite Shirt: With At-Home Permethrin Spray
- Your Favorite Shirt: With Mail-in Factory Permethrin
My Entire Mosquito Proof Outfit
See gallery below. All clothing treated with permethrin
- Top: Royal Robbins Salathe Sun Hoodie
- Bottom: Rail Riders Eco Mesh
- Head Net: Sea to Summit Mesh
- Cap: Path Projects Sagauro*
- Sun Gloves: Glacier Gloves Ascension Bay*
- Socks: Paka Trail Crew*
- Gaiters: Altra Trail Gaiters
- Shoes: Altra Experience Wild*
- Permethrin: Insect Shield Spray or Mail-in
- Exposed Skin: Sawyer Picaridin Lotion
*My default kit, not part of a bug specific outfit.
My Mosquito Proof Outfit, Image Gallery
Tap/click to shop
What To Look For And Why
- Non-stretch woven fabric is bite proof
- Permethrin treated for repellant halo
- Factory treatment > at-home spray
- White or light fabric is coolest in sun
- Lightweight fabric and vents help cool
What To Avoid And Why
- Stretchy, knit fabrics aren’t bite-proof
- Tight fitting is easier to bite through
- Blacks, reds, cyans attract mosquitos
- Dark colors are hotter in direct sun
- Thick, heavy fabrics hold heat
Mosquito Shirt Comparison table
Mobile users rotate device for full-width table view
| Model | Price ($) | Bite Proof | Factory Permethrin Treated | Hood | Breathability |
| Royal Robbins Salathe | 120 | yes | no | yes | medium-low |
| Insect Shield Elements Lite | 82 | yes | yes | no | low |
| Columbia Skien Valley | 110 | yes | yes | no | low |
| Simms Bugstopper | 90 | no | yes | yes | medium |
| Columbia Shoaltech / Skiens | 80 | no | yes | yes | medium |
| Coghlan’s Mesh Jacket | 25 | yes | no | yes | high |
| Insect Shield HaloNet | 59 | no | yes | yes | high |
Mosquito Shirt Reviews
Royal Robbins Salathe
Editor’s Choice Best Mosquito Shirt
Royal Robbins Salathe is functionally unique as the only sun hoodie on the market boasting mosquito bite-proof fabric. Until now, if you wanted a bite-proof shirt, you had to settle for a classic, dad-core style, woven nylon button-up. In addition to being an aesthetic compliment magnet, Salathe is better in two keys ways: (1) it has a hood; (2) it was control tested in a lab by a 3rd party organization and proven to create a “robust barrier to mosquitoes” without chemicals. While we recommend adding chemicals anyway to create a redundant halo of protection, anyone feeling squeamish about permethrin can skip it altogether.
Royal Robbins calls their thin, cool, ripstop, lightweight, slightly stretchy, 100% woven polyester fabric MPT (Mosquito Protection Technology). But as far as we can tell, there isn’t any new fabric technology going on. The MPT label simply indicates that it’s been tested and rated by a third party as bite proof. But hey, we love ratings! Did we mention that it’s also UPF40? The biggest drawback, at least compared to other mosquito shirt options, is that Salathe is not factory-permethrin treated. If you want redundant mosquito protection, you’ll have to treat it with Insect Shield yourself. Lastly, you will get tons of compliments.
- Price: $120
- Bite-Proof: Yes
- Factory Permethrin Treated: No
- Breathability: Medium-low
- Pros: Lab-tested for mosquito bite-proofing. As cool/thin/stretchy as can be while still creating a proboscis barrier. Hood. Quarter zip vent. Cool boxy fit, fun prints, compliment magnet. Non-chemical barrier, if that’s what you want.
- Cons: Achieving redundant protection requires spray-on permethrin. Not as breathable as non-bite-proof sun hoodies.
Insect Shield Elements Lite Shirt
The permethrin experts at Insect Shield now offers their own range of mosquito repellent clothing, and Elements Lite is the crown jewel. This affordable mosquito shirt is made of a very lightweight, 100% woven polyester fabric derived from recycled bottles, and features back vents, roll-up sleeves, and dual front pockets. It’s similar to the aforementioned Columbia Skien Valley, but the fabric is a thinner and more breathable, hence the UPF 30 rating (vs UPF 50). That being said, button-ups still aren’t as functional, sporty, or stylish as sun hoodies, and we hope to see one in their lineup next year.
- Price: $82
- Bite-Proof: Yes
- Factory Permethrin Treated: Yes
- Breathability: Low
- Pros: Affordable. From the experts in mosquito protection. Cool, lightweight fabric.
- Cons: Not a sun hoodie. Pockets double fabric layers that reduce breathability.
Columbia Skien Valley Long Sleeve Button-Up
Columbia Skien Valley is a classic long sleeve, button-up mosquito shirt. It’s constructed with a reasonably thin, non-stretch, woven, 100% nylon fabric, includes multiple vents, and is factory-treated with InsectShield permethrin to add maximum repellency. You also get UPF 50 sun protection, and a bevy of bonus pockets. Drawbacks to this design are that the fabric isn’t particularly breathable, button-ups are inferior to sun hoodies, and all of the pockets create a patchwork of double layer fabric zones that reduce breathability.
- Price: $110
- Bite-Proof: Yes
- Factory Permethrin Treated: Yes
- Breathability: Low
- Pros: Redundant mosquito protection. Vents. Pockets.
- Cons: Not a sun hoodie. Low baseline breathability. Pockets create double fabric layers that reduce breathability.
Simms Bugstopper Hoodie
Among numerous factory-permethrin-treated options, Simms Bugstopper is among the most impressive in terms of its performance as sun hoodie. While it lacks the mechanical, 3rd-party-rated bite-proofing of Royal Robbins Salathe, it is otherwise more stretchy, comfier, and more breathable. The 100% polyester fabric has gridded channels to encourage airflow, and comes with a UPF 30 rating. If the outcome of your backcountry trip is reliant on mosquito protection clothing, we recommend a bite-proof layer. But for light-to-moderately buggy conditions, Simms Bugstopper is a step up in comfort and totally acceptable option.
- Price: $90
- Bite-Proof: No
- Factory Permethrin Treated: Yes
- Breathability: Medium
- Pros: Comfy. Stretchy. Sun hoodie.
- Cons: Not bite-proof.
Columbia M’s Shoaltech & W’s Skien Valley Hoodie
The Columbia M’s Shoaltech, W’s Skien Valley, and Kid’s Skien Valley are your quintessential sun hoodie, factory-treated with permethrin for added mosquito resistance. From fit to feel of the fabric, it’s exactly what you’d expect if you’ve worn any of the best-selling sun hoodies out there: REI Sahara Shade, Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake, etc. The 89% polyester, 11% elastane blend is soft, highly stretchy, and UPF 50-rated, but elastane decreases breathability, slows dry time, and increases odor. Its best use case, and biggest differentiator, is its availability in kids sizes. While a chemically mosquito resistant layer is good enough most of the time, for backcountry use when your entire experience depends on mosquito protection, we recommend bite-proof garments instead.
- Price: $80
- Bite-Proof: yes
- Factory Permethrin Treated: Yes
- Breathability: Medium
- Pros: Sun hoodie. Comfy. Very stretchy. Available in kids sizing.
- Cons: Not bite-proof. Many other sun hoodies are more breathable and faster drying.
Coghlan’s Mesh Bug Jacket (or similar)
Coghlan’s Mesh Bug Jacket, or many others like it, is a compelling option with major pros and major cons. On one hand, it’s incredibly inexpensive, highly packable, and offers the best possible protection with maximum breathability. On the other hand, it’s annoying to wear, and the mesh snags easily on branches and gear. For shorter trips without large backpacks (think shoulder/hip wear spots) and in open terrain, it might be the best option. But for longer hikes on brushy or overgrown trails, look elsewhere. Note, the mesh doesn’t hold permethrin super well, but if you do intend to treat, Insect Shield recommends spray-on instead of mail-in.
- Price: $25
- Bite-Proof: Yes
- Factory Permethrin Treated: No
- Breathability: High
- Pros: Complete protection. Highly breathable. Lightweight. Inexpensive.
- Cons: Low durability, snagging potential. Hassle to take on/off. Annoying wrist cinches. Hood isn’t modular. Doesn’t hold permethrin well.
Insect Shield HaloNet Hoodie
For easy on/off mosquito resistance, check out the Insect Shield HaloNet. This highly breathable, highly mosquito-resistant mesh hoodie weighs just four ounces, packs down small, and can be easily thrown on over just about anything. While it is not bite-proof and not an ironclad mechanical protection guarantee like no-see-um mesh, it holds permethrin better, thus granting superior repellency. It is one of very few factory-Insect-Shield treated mesh shirts available, which makes it relatively unique on the market, and superior to at-home spraying your own mesh. HaloNet would be a great choice for casual outings because it looks far less ridiculous than Coghlan’s Bug Jacket, but we recommend the full combination of a woven bite proof mosquito shirt treated with permethrin for serious backcountry use.
- Price: $59
- Bite-Proof: No
- Factory Permethrin Treated: No
- Breathability: High
- Pros: Highly breathable and highly mosquito resistant. Lightweight. Less clunky, less weird looking than no-see-um mesh.
- Cons: Low durability, snagging potential. Mesh not bite-proof. Runs a bit small. Size up if in between.
Spray-on Permethrin Treatment
Turn any shirt you own into a mosquito repellent layer! We highly recommend at-home, spray on permethrin treatments like those from Insect Shield or Sawyer. Reapply once or twice per year, or before embarking into heavy mosquito pressure. Note that spray on treatments are less effective and less long lasting than factory treatment, and won’t work on water-resistant gear with a DWR coating. The offerings from Sawyer and InsectShield both contain the same active ingredients, but each uses a proprietary fabric bonding technology.
- Price: $10-25
- Pros: Adds mosquito resistance to any garment. Easy and affordable. Highly recommend to keep on hand.
- Cons: Does not guarantee absolute protection. Not as effective, nor as long lasting as factory-treatment.
Spray-on Permethrin Treatment
If you’re expecting extreme mosquito pressure, such as hiking in Alaska in late June, we highly recommend shipping your entire outfit into Insect Shield for a fresh factory permethrin coating. This service is now publicly available for $10 per garment, and will outperform and outlast spray-on, at-home products.
- Price: ~$10 per garment + shipping
- Pros: Adds major mosquito resistance to any garment. Outlasts and outperforms at-home spray-on treatments.
- Cons: Two-way shipping turn-around time. Does not guarantee absolute protection.
Knowledge for buying and using a mosquito shirt
How does permethrin work? Permethrin is a chemical that can bond to fabric, repelling and immobilizes insects and arachnids by overstimulating their nervous system upon contact. Learn more from the US EPA, and this Insect Shield blog post.
Why permethrin alone is not good enough: One summer I spent a couple of weeks hiking the JMT in early July. Prior to the start of the trip, I sprayed down my entire outfit with permethrin, including my primary thin/breathable/stretchy base layer. But midway through the trip, having exposed my one set of clothing to sweat, oil, and dirt for two weeks straight, the mosquitos were landing on me and biting through the shirt as if there was no permethrin at all. With age and soiling, permethrin loses efficacy. Chemical resistance is not a long term, iron-clad guarantee against mosquitoes in the backcountry. A fresh factory treatment is pretty darn effective at repelling mosquitos, but when the trip depends on it, what you need is bite-proof fabric.
Why bite-proof fabric alone is not good enough: On a number of occasions, I’ve hiked in a non-permethrin-treated, woven nylon button up and pants kit. As promised, the mosquitos couldn’t bite through the fabric which covered 90% of my body. However, that didn’t stop them from landing on me and trying anyway. Without the chemical protection of permethrin, you will be covered in dozens of curious mosquitos attempting to find a way through your armor. This usually leads to more bites around your wrists, cuffs, neck, and head. It leads to more mosquitoes coming into the tent with you. It leads to more smears of dead/bloody mosquitoes on your shirt. Not only do you want to block them with bite proof fabrics, it remains important to repel and immobilize them with chemical protection too.
The benefits of permethrin-treated bite-proof fabric: The goal is to create a system of redundant protection that physically prevents mosquitos from biting, while also repelling them and immobilizing them on contact.
Your rain jacket is bite-proof, also hot and sweaty
Best Mosquito Shirt: Conclusion
Bug pressure can make or break a backpacking trip, and choosing the best mosquito shirt for the job will keep you reliably protected. To reiterate, the best mosquito protection combines bite-proof fabric (woven, non-stretch) with permethrin treatment to create an aura of repellency above a physical shield. Top it off with a head net, pants, and picaridin and you’ll have a redundant, impenetrable fortress. Happy camping!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!