How to keep insects and bugs out of your tent
When you’re camping, insects and bugs are usually more of a nuisance than anything more serious. When they get into your tent, bites or buzzing at night can be particularly bothersome. However, you don’t need to let any creepy crawlies ruin your camping trip.
In this guide, our expert Pitchup campers have highlighted the most dependable insect repellents, and suggested the best ways to keep any bugs and insects out of your tent in the first place, whether it’s mosquitoes, flies, ants or the dreaded Scottish midges in summer. Hopefully this will improve your camping experience – whether you’re heading for an official campsite in the UK, Europe or across the world, or wild camping – and your holiday under canvas will be happily bug free.
The best insect repellents for camping
How do I keep bugs out of a tent?
The best insect repellents for camping
Insects are part and parcel of outdoor life, so although you can do a certain amount to keep them out of your tent, when you're out in the open you'll probably find insect repellent to be your most useful weapon.
When it comes to warding off irritating bugs, a liberal spritz of DEET still appears to be the best deterrent. Yes, the smell is – at best – strong, but it is certainly effective at doing its job of protecting against painful bites (should you be bitten, hydrocortisone creams and ointments provide fast antidotes to soreness and itching).
Some newer repellents now on the market may last longer than DEET, are odour free and do not damage textiles. However, their all-round effectiveness is still in question.
Below, we run through some of the options for insect repellents, highlighting their effectiveness and particular uses.
1. DEET 🦟🦟🦟🦟
Arming yourself with a waterproof insect repellent that contains DEET is the best way to repel insects. DEET works by stopping the insect’s sensors from functioning properly and has been proven as the most effective insect repellent, especially against mosquitoes. To maintain protection, it has to be reapplied frequently. For best results, always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
You should pick a DEET spray with a concentration of between 10% and 35% and apply it evenly to your skin at least every morning and before bed. DEET shouldn’t be applied to any surfaces containing plastic, rayon, spandex, leather or synthetic fibres, as it can cause damage to your belongings and may be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Never spray DEET-based insect repellents on your tent either, because this can affect its waterproof rating.
Popular brands include Jungle Formula and Boots Repel Maximum.
2. Picaridin 🦟🦟🦟
It’s now thought that picaridin is about as efficient as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, and almost as effective at dealing with ticks. It can be used safely on textiles as well as directly on the skin. Try Sawyer or Moskito Guard.
3. IR3535® repellents 🦟🦟
These are effective and can be applied directly to the skin. IR3535®-based repellents work in the same way as DEET, by blocking the insect’s sensors, act well against ticks and mosquitoes, but are not effective for as long. However, they can be safely used by the whole family. Have a look at the Gurkha Protec range available on Amazon.
4. Permethrin 🦟🦟
This repellent is useful as an added layer of protection, because it is designed to be applied to clothes, tents and mosquito nets as well as skin. Permethrin lasts longer than traditional repellents, remaining potent on tents for approximately two weeks. Sawyer has a range suitable for clothing and all your camping gear.
Natural insect repellents
If you don’t want to use a chemical bug repellent, you have the choice of several natural, eco-friendly alternatives. They do not contain toxins, and while they may not be as effective as some of the chemical repellents listed above, research shows that they are still fairly useful.
1. Essential oil repellents
These natural alternatives don’t emit chemicals and can be applied directly to the skin or clothes, although we wouldn’t recommend applying high concentrations to the skin as they can cause irritation. They are less effective than DEET and other chemical repellents.
2. Lemon eucalyptus oil
This repellent is a good natural guard against ticks and mosquitoes; it is believed to offer protection comparable to DEET concentrations of 15% to 20%. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend using this insect repellent on children under the age of three years old.
3. Onions and garlic
The natural aroma of these foods will repel bugs if you rub them on your skin or belongings, although the downside is that they may also repel other people. Including these ingredients in your food while cooking can help to ward off insects from your immediate environs.
4. Plant-based repellents
A range of plant-based repellents containing plant oils are available. Citronella, lavender, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, thyme and tea tree are all popular eco-friendly options, but it’s not known how truly effective they are.
5. Vinegar
White vinegar or apple cider vinegar are natural insect repellents that can be applied to your skin or rubbed onto your tent and other belongings. They’re not as effective as DEET and chemical repellents.
How do I keep bugs out of a tent?
Although the repellents listed above are great at preventing bugs and mosquito bites, there are many ways to limit the number of insects entering your tent in the first place. Below is a list of 14 helpful things you can do to enjoy a bug-free camping break.
1. Examine your tent for holes and tears
Do your ground work before you even set off on your camping trip. Examine your tent for any holes or tears and repair them so that no bugs or insects can enter through the openings.
2. Wear appropriate clothing
It may sound obvious, but one of the most effective means of preventing insects from biting you is to wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, and treat your clothes with insect repellent, especially hats, socks and around your neck, ankles and wrists (but don’t spray your underwear). Permethrin-based creams or other repellents that you can use on your skin work well; there are several on the market. Outdoor clothing manufacturer Craghoppers also sells a range of NosiLife protective clothing sprayed with anti-insect treatment.
3. Avoid camping where it’s damp
Getting rid of bugs shouldn’t be an afterthought; you can start to prevent the problem as soon as you arrive at your campsite. This means picking a pitch away from any stagnant water – such as ponds, lakes, puddles or drains – and passing on pitches surrounded by damp long grass, where flies and insects gather.
4. Avoid trees and other thick vegetation
You’ll also want to stay away from trees and areas of thick vegetation. These areas collect moisture, block the wind (which helps to clear areas of insects) and create pollen that can attract bees and wasps.
5. Pitch up in a breezy spot
If you’re still struggling to keep out insects, move your tent to a pitch where the air can flow freely. Flies struggle to keep afloat in windy conditions, so there will be fewer of them around on pitches that are on high ground or that aren’t protected from the breeze by vegetation, trees or buildings.
Just make sure that the door of your tent isn’t facing the wind, as any bugs caught in a big gust of wind will be directed right into your tent if you don’t have a mesh layer or mosquito net as protection.
6. Keep the inner door of your tent closed at all times
The inner compartment of a tent acts as a physical barrier, so keeping it zipped tightly shut is the simplest way to prevent insects from entering. Even if it’s a quick toilet trip or you’re grabbing your torch, zip the door closed as soon as you enter or exit the tent.
7. Set up a mosquito net
Not all tents are made the same. If your tent doesn't have an inner compartment made from mesh, an option is to drape a mosquito net over the doorway. A net that is treated with a chemical insect repellent will be even more effective against mosquitoes and insects; to find one, look for a tent that is marked as an insecticide-treated net containing permethrin.
8. Use a bug zapper
Invest in a good-quality zapper to keep bugs away from you and your tent. Look for one that can stand on the ground on its own, or comes with a chain so you can hang it up, and buy one with its own power source (battery or USB charger, for example). Also consider where you will use the bug zapper – do you want one inside the tent or will it be more effective outside? If the former, a small one will suffice, and if the latter, it will need to be weatherproof.
9. Dispose of rubbish
Bugs and insects are always on the search for something to feed on, so don’t leave any food or rubbish lying around your tent. Check that any containers or picnic bags are sealed tightly and dispose of rubbish in the designated bins on your campsite.
Wiping down surfaces used for food prep, washing up your dishes immediately after eating and catching crumbs using plastic plates will all help to keep your tent clean and bug-free.
On that note, you’ll also want to check that your chosen pitch isn’t too close to the bins on your campsite, as insects are likely to gather in this area.
10. Avoid shining bright lights inside your tent at night
If you need to read or look around, you’re best off using a small torch rather than a lantern, because bugs will be attracted to bright lights inside your tent. Consider using a red-light torch instead, as these are less likely to attract the attention of mosquitoes. Similarly, avoid tying fairy lights to your tent, as these are magnets for insects.
Conversely, as bugs are attracted by light, you can entice them out of your tent by shining a bright light outside.
11. Use a citronella candle to ward off insects
Nowadays, it’s easy to get your hands on special citronella candles that emit a pungent oil. This oil helps to ward off insects, so can be a good solution as long as it's not too windy outside. Ensure the flame is kept well away from your tent and in a glass jar to prevent any accidental fires.
12. Start a campfire to ward off insects
Smoke from firepits and carefully guarded campfires will repel insects. Set one up at a safe distance from your tent in the evening to help clear the area around your pitch of unwanted bugs.
13. Avoid spraying fragrances in your tent
Bugs are fans of sweet fragrances such as perfumes and air fresheners, especially those with a flowery scent, so avoid using or spraying these on yourself and in the vicinity of your tent.
14. How to get keep specific insects out of your tent
Different locations and camping conditions attract different insects, so here’s how to battle some common culprits:
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Ants
Choose a dry site for your tent, and spray peppermint oil or a mixture of water and vinegar around its interior and exterior – ants do not like these smells.
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Midges
Avoid damp ground, thick vegetation, boggy areas and bodies of water. Pitch in a breezy spot, check the midge forecast and use insect repellent. Citronella candles can also help deter midges.
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Mosquitoes
Keep tents tightly sealed at dusk and dawn, avoid areas with stagnant water and use mosquito nets and insect repellents containing DEET. Lemon eucalyptus oil is also useful for keeping mosquitoes at bay.
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Ticks
Use a DEET repellent or lemon eucalyptus oil, and avoid pitching your tent in long grass, where ticks usually live. Check your tent’s surfaces regularly for ticks, parasites that resemble tiny spiders and are normally dark red, brown or black in colour. If you’re camping with dogs, it’s important to check their fur regularly for ticks.
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Wasps
Avoid preparing or eating food indoors, dispose of rubbish and always clean up and wash up properly. Wasps also hate the smell of mint and citrus, so consider using a spray around your tent. Citronella candles can also help to keep them away.
FAQ
How can I repel mosquitoes?
Wear long-sleeved tops and long trousers to protect yourself against bites. Pitch up in a spot away from vegetation where air can move freely, spray your tent with mosquito repellent and keep the inner door tightly closed at all times. A spray of lemon eucalyptus oil can help repel mosquitoes for up to six hours.
Can you get bed bugs from camping?
You can’t get bed bugs from camping outside, as they are an indoor pest and do not travel through outdoor spaces. However, they can be introduced from other people sharing your tent, and they can infest your camping gear, especially if it is packed away for a long time between uses.
Sleeping bags and mattresses are particularly susceptible to infestations, so before packing your gear away, launder anything washable – including your rucksack and your clothes – with a mixture of hot water and soap, which is lethal to bed bugs. A natural prevention is tea tree oil; spray your tent with this before packing it away in a sealed container to keep bed bugs at bay.
Can you use insect repellent on dogs?
Never use human insect repellent on dogs; ingredients like DEET and picaridin are toxic to canines. Essential oils and citronella can also harm your pets. For safe protection against bugs, always use vet-recommended spot-on treatments, tablets or tick-repellent collars, which are cleared for animal use. A safe natural remedy is a spray of apple cider vinegar diluted with water – be sure to soak collars and leads too.
Do torches with red lights repel bugs and insects?
Torches with red lights are less likely to attract bugs and insects. However, they should always be used alongside other precautions, such as wearing insect repellent, because insects are very adept at detecting humans.
Can you spray insect repellent on or in a tent?
You shouldn’t spray chemical insect repellents like DEET on a tent because it can affect its waterproof rating and be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Instead, use permethrin; it’s safe and designed for application on tents and clothes.
How can I get bugs out of my tent?
Guide insects outside by shining a bright light outside your tent. Otherwise, wear insect repellent, remove food and lights, and keep the inner compartment of your tent closed to stop more bugs getting inside.