Lao Voices

Summer is usually the best time to do some travelling, hiking, or just spend more time being outdoors. And along with outdoor fun, comes outdoor insects such as mosquitoes and ticks. But not to worry, as you can now wear insect repellant clothing that will make the mosquito want to stay away from you.

A company called Insect Shield, which is based out of Greensboro, N. Carolina has created a line of insect repellent clothes. Their clothing can protect you from mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers and midges. And Insect Shield is also available for your favorite clothing too, the treatment is odorless and invisible, and lasts for 70 washes.

The clothes are woven with fibers treated with Permetherin, which is a man-made version of a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants. The clothing itself will last through 70 washes. And the EPA approved it as being safe for almost everyone, from pregnant women to children.

Well, this does sound very cool and innovative, and I do hope the EPA doesn’t come out with a study 10 years from now saying “we were wrong & this material is deadly”. It’s either wait for that news or risk getting bitten by the summer insects. I think I would consider getting one of the cute hat first, it could be both sun protection as well as an insect repellant.

You can find them at LLBean and REI, amongst other retailers. Even your dog would look cute in one of their bandannas. I think this would be great for those planning to travel to Laos or Hawaii, where there may be lots of mosquitoes. It could be a good prevention against malaria, West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever, and Lyme disease.

Here’s a little more info from their company pages:

Which insects does Insect Shield repel?

Insect Shield® Repellent Apparel has been proven and registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums). Insect Shield® Repellent Gear has been proven and registered to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and flies. The EPA requires extensive effectiveness data to prove a product’s ability to repel insects. Many species and varieties of these insects have been tested, including those that can carry dangerous diseases.

• Baseball, football, and other sports teams
• Scouts, camps, and environmental groups
• Running, biking, and other recreational groups

• 1 Article of Clothing - $9.95 ($9.00 shipping/handling)
• 3 Piece Bundle - $24.95 ($12.00 s/h)
• 20 or More Piece Bundle - $7.95/per piece ($20.00 s/h)