Bug Shirt Review

Working Outside with Black Flies During a Recent Flood

For starters, this is the BEST solution to the biting insect problem I’ve come across. It outperforms any repellant I’ve ever used. With long pants and something to protect your ankles you can be almost bug free! Here is my review of the The Original Bug Shirt®: Elite Edition after trips to the BWCA, Everglades & Upper Mississippi River.

The Bug Shirt is a hybrid between a light, hooded jacket and a netting shirt. The one I used had panels of tight weave polyester connecting the actual netting (also comes in cotton). There are drawstrings on all the openings, and the hood netting is zippered for easy access. It has a small chest pocket and a larger pocket across the abdomen that also serves as a stuff sack.

It works as advertised. (I’m fairly certain I could sleep outdoors with it on a buggy night.) You can partially open the hood to allow your eyes, eyes and nose, or full face to be exposed as needed. As an added benefit, it turns out to be an excellent bushwhacking garment. You can put your head down and push through branches, etc. without getting all scratched up. Nice!

I have two suggestions for future versions: First the chest pocket is not deep enough to close over a standard set of glasses (mine kept falling out). It would be nice if it were deeper.

Second I was constantly wanting there to be anorak-style “handwarmer” openings into the larger front pocket.

This would solve the problem of where to put your hands when not using them. For me it would eliminate the need to constantly take gloves on and off while I’m working. I may get brave and try to cut hand slits myself.