The Complete Guide to Insect Protection for Glampers

There's a moment on every glamping trip when you realize you've forgotten something. Sometimes it's a corkscrew. Sometimes it's bug spray. The corkscrew you can live without. The bug spray — especially in tick country — you really can't.

This guide covers everything you need to stay comfortable and protected: how to choose between DEET and DEET-free repellents, why permethrin is a game-changer, what to wear, and how to check for ticks properly at the end of the day.

Know Your Enemy

Not all insects are created equal. The protection strategy that works for mosquitoes at a lakeside campsite isn't necessarily the same one you need for ticks in tall grass.

• Mosquitoes — most active at dawn and dusk, breed near standing water, repelled well by DEET and picaridin
• Ticks — lurk in leaf litter and tall grass, latch on during the day, best deterred by permethrin-treated clothing combined with a skin repellent
• Biting flies (black flies, deer flies, no-see-ums) — notoriously hard to repel; DEET helps but physical barriers like head nets are often more effective

Most glamping trips call for protection against all three. A layered approach — treated clothing plus a skin-applied repellent — gives you the best coverage.

DEET vs. Picaridin vs. Natural Repellents

Walk into any outdoor retailer and you'll find repellents making all kinds of claims. Here's what actually matters.

DEET

DEET is the gold standard and has been since the 1940s. It's effective against mosquitoes, ticks, and most biting flies. Concentrations of 20–30% provide solid all-day protection; anything higher gives you more duration, not more effectiveness. The downsides: it has a strong smell, can feel oily, and will melt certain plastics and synthetic fabrics if it gets on them. Apply it to skin, not directly on gear.

Picaridin

Picaridin is the best DEET alternative for most people. It's odorless, doesn't damage gear or fabrics, and is effective against mosquitoes and ticks at 20% concentration. The CDC recommends it alongside DEET as a proven repellent. If you've avoided bug spray because of the smell or feel, try picaridin first — most people prefer it.

Natural Repellents

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) is the only plant-based repellent the CDC recommends — but note that OLE is not the same as lemon eucalyptus essential oil. At 30% concentration it offers reasonable mosquito protection, though it requires more frequent reapplication than DEET or picaridin. Other natural options (citronella, lavender, etc.) provide minimal protection and aren't worth relying on in areas with ticks or heavy mosquito pressure.

Permethrin: Treat Your Clothes, Not Just Your Skin

If ticks are a concern — and in most of the US, they should be — permethrin is non-negotiable. It's an insecticide you apply to clothing, gear, and tent walls (never directly to skin). When a tick or mosquito contacts permethrin-treated fabric, it's repelled or killed on contact before it can bite.

A single treatment lasts through 6–8 washes. You can buy pre-treated clothing or treat your own with a spray like Sawyer Permethrin. Focus on:

• Pants, especially the lower legs and waistband
• Socks and boots
• Shirt cuffs and collar
• Hat

Used together, permethrin-treated clothing plus a picaridin or DEET skin repellent is the most effective insect protection system available outside of a full hazmat suit.

What to Wear

Clothing is your first line of defense. A few principles:

• Light colors make ticks easier to spot and are slightly less attractive to mosquitoes than dark fabrics
• Long sleeves and long pants — tucking pants into socks is unglamorous but effective in tick-heavy areas
• Tight weaves — ticks can't bite through most woven fabrics, though they can find gaps at seams and openings
• Head net — if you're in no-see-um or black fly territory, a mesh head net over a hat is the only thing that actually works

Setting Up Camp Strategically

A little campsite awareness goes a long way:

• Avoid pitching your tent directly adjacent to tall grass or dense brush — these are tick habitat
• Keep the area around your seating clear of leaf litter if you can
• Use a fan inside screen tents or open-air shelters — mosquitoes are weak fliers and even a light breeze keeps them away
• Citronella candles and coils add some protection in still air, though they're not a substitute for repellent

The Tick Check: Do It Every Day

Ticks need to be attached for 36–48 hours to transmit Lyme disease — which means a daily check genuinely matters, not just as paranoia. After a day outdoors, do a full-body check before getting into your sleeping area. Pay particular attention to:

• Behind the knees
• Groin area
• Belly button
• Underarms
• Behind the ears and along the hairline

If you find a tick that's attached, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers by grasping it as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward with steady pressure. Don't twist, don't use heat, don't use petroleum jelly. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and note the date so you can monitor for symptoms.

A Note on Kids and Pets

For children over 2 months old, DEET at 30% or less and picaridin are both considered safe. Avoid applying repellent to children's hands, eyes, or mouths, and don't apply it under clothing. For infants under 2 months, use a mosquito net over carriers and strollers instead.

For dogs, permethrin-treated clothing on you offers some protection, and your vet can recommend tick prevention products for the dog itself. Never use DEET on pets — it's toxic to them.

The Bottom Line

If you take nothing else from this guide:

1. Use a 20% picaridin spray on exposed skin
2. Treat your pants, socks, and shirt with permethrin before the trip
3. Do a tick check every evening

That combination handles 95% of what you'll encounter at most glamping destinations in North America. Pack accordingly, and enjoy the outdoors without spending the whole time swatting.