A hand spraying Off! on an arm in the woods.
A hand spraying Off! on an arm in the woods.

I Had Malaria, and These Are the Bug Repellents I No Longer Travel Without

Bug spray can easily be forgotten when you’re camping, hiking, or even lounging in the backyard, but it’s really one of those items you should be sure to stick in your bag before every outdoor adventure.

While serving in the Peace Corps in Indonesia, I took anti-malarial medication every night for two years. When I left Indonesia, I continued to travel around the pacific and take medications. I thought since I was taking anti-malarials, I didn’t need to also apply bug spray. That was until I returned home to Chicago and started feeling tired, achy, and feverish with headaches that required me to lie down in the dark for hours. Every other day, the symptoms would disappear and I would feel fine. It took two weeks of this on-and-off pattern before I was rushed to urgent care and was quickly informed that this pattern is malaria’s calling card.

Continue reading to learn more, written by Taylor Fox.

Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Cnoc’s ThruBottle also features a 28mm thread, allowing you to use it with filters such as the Sawyer Squeeze.

Mac
Mwandishi wa Kuchangia

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L 28mm is widely considered to be the most reliable filter-bladder combo in existence, and we agree 100% with that sentiment.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

I carry the Sawyer Squeeze in my day pack in case of emergencies and as a backup to my larger water filter on backpacking trips where I know I’ll be relying on streams.

Mikaela Ruland
Editor in Chief