I decided to do some research on permethin. The take away I got was that for most people an occasional exposure to it is probably no worse than deet. That being said I still cannot bring myself to douse my clothes and wear the stuff for a couple weeks at a time.

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On the other hand one also has to consider Lyme and West Nile. I suppose if I was in an area where these occurrences were common I would be inclined to reevaluate.

And on the other "other" hand  it would probably only take one trip of no bugs to help push me over the edge and start becoming a big fan 

MT,

I found the same thing with my bug suit.
I don't know if you can have a mesh fine enough to keep them from reaching bare skin underneath and still be cool/light.

I found that soaking bug suit in Permethrin before each trip made a huge difference.
I don't use much of any chemicals on my person so I'll risk a little exposure on a trip to avoid the skeeter/bug bites.
I know how bad they can be. With the weather coming hotter sooner, you have to wonder if/how long it will be before we have a case of that West Nile Virus in the north country?

I had purchased the "bug suit" (tops and bottoms) because of an admonishment concerning Grizzly bears in Glacier National park which suggested not to use scented soaps or bug sprays. My first night while enroute to the Belly River valley I stopped at fishless Poi lake. In the morning the skeets were incredible. Luckily I had a bug suit......or so I thought. The puffy bottoms did wonderful but the tops failed miserably as anywhere the mesh laid next to my skin they were able to bite through. I was battered.

The following year the bottoms made their way around Mt Rainier on the Wonderland trail. I despise long pants and the mesh bottoms kept the flies at bay in the alpine meadows. I'll never forget one very attractive young lady I met and after conversing she asked in a halting manner......"are those bug pants"?.......... "Why yes they are" I responded. She smiled wistfully envisioning herself in a pair (I'm sure the soundtrack from the "Sound of Music" played in the background of her mind  ).

On my most recent trip to Basswood I had brought an equalizer for the ankle biters which I knew would be present on any hot day. I brought a fly swat (which I nicknamed "Big Bertha") and took great delight in exacting revenge. Only one problem. For every one I killed, 2 would take their place. And it seemed the reincarnate versions were tougher to swat. Finally I had had enough. Out came my bug pants. Immediately after I forgot that ankle biters were even around. They ceased their activity like someone flipped a switch.

Even though they are mesh they can be warmer than not having anything. That is solved by getting them wet. As they evaporate they provide a cooling effect for quite some time. Nice!

All mesh bug pants are not created equal. It has little to do with price (mine were very inexpensive) but rather material. You want the kind where the material is not stiff and uncomfortable but rather very slinky. Mine are green and puff out, have elastic cuffs and remind me of something "I dream of Jeanie" would wear.

Anyway.......If you despise ankle biters/flies/skeets but dislike pants then these might be for you.