- One mosquito head net for each hiker
- One small bottle of liquid insect repellent
- One small anti-itch treatment
- Long sleeves and pants
- Small Thermacell-style mosquito repeller for camp meals
Mosquito Protection for Banff and Jasper Backpacking
During July and August, mosquitoes can be everywhere in Banff and Jasper. In some areas, there can be so many that they fly into your mouth while you're talking
Overall Recommendation
For Banff and Jasper in peak mosquito season, we would pack a mosquito head net for each hiker, a small bottle of liquid insect repellent, long sleeves and pants, and a small Thermacell-style mosquito repeller for breakfast and dinner at camp.
A head net was the most useful item for hiking. Liquid repellent was the easiest option to keep accessible in a backpack pocket. The small mosquito repeller helped around camp when we were eating and could not realistically keep a head net on.
Head Nets
A mosquito head net was absolutely invaluable during our trip to Banff two years ago. It was the one piece of mosquito protection we used the most. Once we got used to wearing it, after about 10 to 15 minutes, we barely noticed it was there. It kept mosquitoes away from our face without making hiking uncomfortable.
We also found it helpful to keep the head net in an outside pocket of the backpack so it could be put on within seconds whenever mosquitoes became worse.
Based on our experience, very cheap head nets are not always worth buying. The ones we bought from Dollarama were very narrow and uncomfortable. The mesh sat too close to the face, which made breathing feel more restricted.
The head net we bought from Sea to Summit worked fantastic. It had more room around the face, the mesh did not constantly touch the skin, and after getting used to it for the first 15 minutes, we barely noticed it.
For backpacking, we prefer liquid repellents over aerosol sprays. They are smaller, lighter, and do not waste space on propellant. A small pump bottle fits easily into a backpack pocket, while larger spray cans can be awkward to pack because the side pockets are usually reserved for water bottles.
This matters on trips where a Nalgene bottle or another large water bottle already takes up most of the side pocket space. A small liquid repellent bottle is easier to keep in a hip belt pocket, top pocket, or another small compartment where it can be reached quickly on the trail.
Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent:
We also used a small Thermacell mosquito repeller that runs on a small fuel cartridge. It was helpful around camp, especially during breakfast and dinner when wearing a mosquito head net while eating is not practical. It helped keep mosquitoes away from our cooking and eating area.
However, we found that it was not very effective on windy days because the wind quickly carried the repellent away.
Long sleeves and pants help because they reduce the amount of exposed skin.
We did not use insect-repellent clothing on our trips to Banff or Jasper. For us, a mosquito head net and a liquid insect repellent were enough to stay comfortable. We also found that applying insect repellent to our clothing when needed worked well, so we never felt the need to buy specially treated clothing.
Even with good mosquito protection, you will probably get a few bites. We recommend carrying a small anti-itch treatment because it takes almost no space and can quickly relieve itching. Roll-on applicators, creams, and small sticks that look similar to a lip balm are all easy to carry in a backpack.
Do not buy the cheapest head net if the mesh sits directly on the face. A head net needs enough room to keep the mesh away from the mouth, nose, and cheeks.
For repellents, small liquid pump bottles are usually easier to pack than aerosol sprays. They take less space and fit better into small backpack pockets.
A small mosquito repeller can be useful at camp during meals, but it should not be the only mosquito protection you carry.
Yes. A head net is light, compact, and works without batteries or liquid repellent. It is especially useful when mosquitoes concentrate around the face.
Based on our experience, no. The ones we bought were very narrow, touched the face, and were harder to breathe in.
Yes. The MEC head net we used was much more comfortable. After about 15 minutes, we barely noticed it.
For backpacking, we prefer small liquid repellents because they are easier to pack. They do not take as much space as larger aerosol cans and are easier to keep accessible in a backpack pocket.
We did not use treated clothing on our trips. A head net, liquid repellent, and normal hiking clothes were enough for us. If you use treated clothing, follow the manufacturer's washing and care instructions.
They can be useful around camp during breakfast and dinner, when wearing a mosquito head net while eating is not practical. They are not very helpful on windy days.
Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net
Liquid Repellents
Sawyer 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent 4-Ounce Twin Pack Lotion and 4-Ounce Premium Pump Spray on Amazon,
Small Mosquito Repellers for Camp
Clothing and Treated Clothing
Bite Treatment
After Bite Xtra Soothing Sting Treatment,
What We Would Pack for Banff or Jasper
Buying Advice
FAQ
Are mosquito nets worth carrying?
Are Dollarama mosquito nets good enough?
Did the MEC mosquito net work better?
Are liquid repellents better than aerosol sprays?
Should I use treated clothing?
Are Thermacell-style devices useful?
References
