Mosquitoes love me! I found this out on a fishing trip near Anchorage, Alaska. The mosquitoes were as big as the wild king salmon on the end of my fishing pole. Okay, that might be a stretch, but stretching the truth a little is expected when sharing fish tales. You get the idea; the bugs in Alaska were really huge. Next time I head outside, I’m going to protect myself, but it doesn’t necessarily involve spraying on mass amounts of mosquito repellent.
As an active adventure nature lover, be it while fishing, walking my dog on the beach, hiking in a rain forest, or horseback riding, I now wear insect repellent clothing when I’m outdoors. With the sports that I do, I often travel in tall grass and heavily wooded areas where ticks live. I also travel to places like El Salvador and will be volunteering in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic during a Fathom Cruise, so the Zika virus is a concern. With the current threat of the Zika virus carried by mosquitoes and potential exposure to Lyme Disease through ticks, I need to stay protected. While no vaccine exists to prevent Zika or Lyme Disease (to date), you can help prevent Zika by avoiding mosquito bites and lessen your chance of exposure to Lyme Disease by wearing protective clothing treated with Insect Shield.
I need protection from bugs, as well as the sun. The folks at White Sierra Sportswear sent me some travel apparel to try. I like their travel clothes because they are fashionable, functional and affordable. Made for both men and women, I’m wearing the Bug Free Jersey Tee, ($45.) the Sierra Point Convertible Pants – with zip off capabilities – and the option of a short inseam ($55.) the Bug Free Sun Hat with UPF 30 sun protection ($33.) and the Bug Free Gauze Scarf in periblue ($28.) My only complaint with the sportswear is that the pants are a little too baggy in the legs and I could actually use a shorter inseam than 29 inches.
The 35 year old, family-owned company is based in Sunnyvale, California. Their outdoor apparel offers moisture wicking capabilities for quick evaporation, protection from the sun’s UVA/UVB radiation and some items repel water with Teflon Shield or have Insect Shield repellent woven into the clothes. Insect Shield technology utilizes an odorless insect repellent using permethrin, approved in the United States as a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) product. I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv. If you have specific questions about Zika virus or Lyme Disease, please consult your primary care physician.
Insider tips: To lessen your chances of tick encounters, avoid tall grass and wooded areas; be aware of your surroundings & don’t sit on logs! For more information about Lyme Disease, visit Project Lyme. Project Lyme is a global awareness organization dedicated to the prevention of Lyme Disease, as well as early diagnosis. For additional insider tips follow luxury travel writer @Nancydbrown on Twitter or Instagram @Nancydbrown
Where to Buy:
White Sierra Outlet Store (408) 980-6688 or shop online here
305 Soquel Way
Sunnyvale, California 94085
Travel apparel review written by and photos courtesy of Travel Writer Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip, Travels from Northern California. White Sierra supplied me with this sportswear for review purposes; all opinions are my own. This review first appeared on www.nancydbrown.com
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