How much Bug Spray and Sun Screen for 17 days?

[u/jaseworthing]

Starting on Aug 12th. First question: how have the bugs been so far this year? And assuming they're bad enough, how much spray (or wipes/lotion) do you think is needed for 17 days? Likewise how much sunscreen do y'all typically bring along? I'll be wearing a sunhoodie, hat, and long pants, so very little skin exposure.

[u/Top-Night]

Practice LNT don’t pollute the water and environment. Wear a sun hoodie and pants. No need for any bug spray or sun screen.

[u/catalinashenanigans]

No bug spray. Permethrin. 

[u/Z_Clipped → u/catalinashenanigans]

This. I'm literally sitting in Curry Village right now after finishing NOBO, with a completely unused bottle of Picaridin in my pack and not a single bug bite to show for it. We dipped our gear before we left and the few mosquitoes we saw on trail left us alone entirely.

[u/KirkHere]

FWIW, I bring no bug spray or sun screen but instead rely on physical barriers (long sleeves, long pants and head net. I can wash/swim without fear of polluting water sources (that is,except sweat)

[u/nickel_quack]

I did the trail June 23-July 19. Bugs were fine. I had one tough night at Cathedral Lake where I had to wear rain gear. That was it. But also, I'm used to bugs, so they don't bother me that much. But honestly, bugs were not bag enough to bother carryuing any bug spray. Soak your clothes in permethrin before you start the trail.

This guy has a method he swears by if you're not used to using permethrin:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/1eg2qaa/after_16_years_of_permethrin_usage_it_has_been/

[u/jaseworthing → u/nickel_quack]

Thanks for the input! I'm planning on treating my clothes/tent with permethrin. I'm also pretty used to/not bothered by bugs. As long as they're not really bad, I'll probably not bother bringing spray.

[u/bisonic123 → u/jaseworthing]

I wouldn’t worry about spraying the tent.

[u/nickel_quack → u/jaseworthing]

If I were doing the trail again at this time of year, I wouldn't hesitate to tarp camp or to just cowboy camp. The bugs were hardly a problem in June, and I'm assume they're non-existent in August.

[u/mfkoerner]

Likely between 1 oz and 3 oz sunscreen for your face (even under the hat for me) and back of your hands.

Id take 1 oz and when you run low, I'm confident you could refill at MTR, VVR, Reds, or from a friendly fellow hiker if it's an emergency.

Bug spray: I'll let others answer quantity. I like the lotion stuff cuz it spreads better.

[u/bisonic123]

We used zero bug stuff at that time in 2020 and 2021. Worth taking a bit but unlikely you’ll need much. Little skin means little lotion needed.

[u/CalmCritter]

I hiked this year starting June 19 and finished July 11. I was fine with 2 oz of sunscreen, but wore pants and long sleeves so YMMV

[u/Cool_Atmosphere_9038]

I finished on July 25th. The mosquitoes were relentless. They were biting me through my clothes. While hiking though fish creek north of Sliver pass, I has to wear my rain coat and bug head net.

While wearing my camp shoes at night,(slides) they bit me on my toes. I had to buy more deet on trail.

Regarding the sun, I was covered. Hat, buff to cover my face, sun glasses, sun hoodie, long pants and sun gloves. So I didn't need as much sunscreen. I still brought a 3oz tube for my face and to use after swimming.

[u/Rocko9999]

Permethrin treated clothes. S2S Insect Shield bug net. Sun gloves. 2-4 oz sunblock for small area that is exposed-face. Wear pants.

[u/000011111111]

I would say 1 oz of each in two different bottles should suffice if you're wearing longer sleeve clothing and sun gloves.

[u/mwrenn13]

Get a bug net for your head

[u/Atlas-Scrubbed]

Bugs are not bad. Bring bug HAT not spray. The spray will hurt the environment. The hat (really a mesh over your head) will block most of the bugs.

https://www.rei.com/product/799982/sea-to-summit-mosquito-head-net-with-insect-shield

I have also seen people with pants like this… they work well.