comments:
Bugs aren't an issue at forest typically because they pesticide the shit out of the place. However if you are concerned about ticks, you can use 0.5% permethrin to keep bugs off your gear. Permethrin/Picaridin is the combo most thru hikers use and works very well. You can buy a big bottle of concentrated permethrin cheap, and dilute it with water. You can soak your gear if you make a big batch in a rubbermaid tub (best option for full coverage), or you can also just mix it up in a spray bottle and spray it on your stuff. After your gear has been soaked in the 0.5% solution, you just let it air dry and you're good to go. For example, this 10% permethrin can be diluted to 0.5% by mixing it with water 1:20: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Durvet-Permethrin-10-Insecticide-Livestock-8-oz/26961563 Permethrin is deadly to cats until it has fully dried, so be careful if you have feline friends. You only use permethrin on clothes/gear not your skin, use picaridin for skin protection.