Yup, I sound like a broken record........but studies have shown that folk need to hear something a whole bunch of times before they buy in (taste great, less filling.....not paying their fair share etc etc).

So with that in mind I will once again endeavor to make someones life a whole lot better. I contend that I would prefer to match wits with a veritable cloud of mosquitos than 3 or 4 ankle biters. What's that you say?.........You swat them with your handy fly swatter?.......yes I went that way a time or two. I admit to a certain satisfactory delight when I made contact but it was probably about a 50/50 success rate but even worse is unless you dispose of your victim the dead fly seems to draw even more.

And of course some folk are smugly asserting how their clothing is their shield......well fine, right up until they bite through your sock. "Ouch.......you no good little #$%^".

Me? I gotta wear shorts. If it's REAL hot I get rid of the shorts to! ......and just run in my base layer (they sort of look like shorts, but who is counting). So ankle biters can be a real pain> and since MT's philosophy on tripping is "no hassles" they must be dealt with.

Mesh bug suit bottoms (tops are useless) are the ticket. I know I have mentioned these before but they really are wonder workers. Way cooler than pants mine are on the instant ankle biters appear. They typically have elastic ankle fittings. They are EXTREMELY lightweight and very packable. They work against any fly problem and do OK against skeets unless the mesh contacts your skin and then of course the little demons just stick their probe into the openings........

There are 2 kinds. I like the very billowy, soft and flexible green mesh material. They remind me of something I would see on "I dream of Genie" (sigh). They sort of puff out. The other material I have seen them made of is a brownish sort and they are sort of stiff. Probably a little uncomfortable on bare skin.

I promise you total and instant relief from ankle biters. They give up to the point you even forget they were around. 100% effective, light, packable, cheap! What's not to like. Here is an image of what I suggest. It would be preferable to find them and try them on lest you end up with the stiff material.........but here is what I am talking about.

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mastertangler wrote on Apr 14^th, 2013 at 11:26am:


"Kill one and a thousand will show up for the funeral"
Edna, Heimo Korth's wife in "The Final Frontiersman"

Do zip off pants but leave the legs pushed down to your ankles, or the hard shell approach, rubber boots or neoprene/seal skins type armor.

Here's some yahoo's modeling the latest. 

Old Salt wrote on Apr 15^th, 2013 at 2:14am:


Sealskins? They don't really work do they? Waterproof breathable socks? "No way Jose' " is my initial reaction........but if you say so. Are they easy on and off? Your feet aren't all sweaty and then it is a fight to get them off?.............. "PULL HARDER SNOWDOG" 

For the morning coffee time I swear by fleece wading socks with sandals (camp shoes). They are thick enough to deter skeets and add a little toastiness to your footsies. Very nice. But I am off topic now......

Back to hot sweaty Sealskins  ........or not?

mastertangler wrote on Apr 16^th, 2013 at 11:50am:



Geez OS you of all people should appreciate a post done in some jest.......a little poking of fun, at some socks no less. You must really like them.......

But back to hot sweaty Sealskins.........Skeptical? Sure, why not? But I am an open minded skeptic, after all I have never tried them.

Old Salt wrote on Apr 18^th, 2013 at 1:49am:


No sweat OS. Your my favorite  .......... (Lucky you  )

I had purchased some neophrene socks from NRS in anticipation of wet booting it at Isle Royale. Bad move.......on my test wearing my feet were hot and sweaty within 5 minutes and yes I had a whale of a time getting the blasted things off.

But the Sealskins are different? Better? Maybe I will give them a look........at least try them on somewheres.

But what happens when you go in over the tops of the socks? Don't they get soaked and stay soaked pretty much all day? Sort of like Gore Tex lined hiking boots which are hard to get dry.........Yes I know I can be a pesky sort.

Do/did you wear a Coolmax type wicking liner sock with either the Sealskins or NR neoprene socks?
I have Gore-tex socks and wear them over a thin liner sock. I don't get the sweaty/hot feeling and they go on/off easily.

Personally, if I want want comfy feet all day long on a Spring trip, I go with cotton socks under Gore-Tex socks. It may be because my boots are cold from evaporation but my feet end up dryer and happier at the end of a day then they are right now wearing the same cotton socks under running shoes at my desk.

Could it be those 5 trips across each portage aids in ventilation?

For ankle biters I just drop my pants an inch or two to cover my ankles when paddling. Fly swatters work well for some sandal people I know. Whatever works.

I mentioned this elsewhere (I think) but we would pour a little gatorade on the floor of the canoe and every fly in/around the canoe would soon make it's way to to the puddle in search of a sugar high.  Once there were 50+ flies on the small puddle we could kill all of them with one good whack of a towel or our hat.  We just sponged out the carcasses and would repeat the process as needed throughout the day.

Heimo and Edna are featured on Animal Planet's 'The Last Alaskans'. FYI.