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I live in Northern Canada and here is my advice for what it is worth.
DEET 100 works but is not healthy for long term exposure. Lesser DEET formulations at 30 or 50 percent do not work very well.
Nets and clothing work but are HOT and claustrophobic.
Permethrin works well to keep ticks and crawling insects away when used only on outer clothing and gear not on ones body.
Extracted Birch bark tar works well but is dirty and stinky.
I tend to spray my boots and lower pant/gaiters with Permethrin, as well as my sleeping pad if I am only using a tarp.
I use DEET for my clothing and the lightest amount that I can apply to my bare skin when necessary. If I intend on being out for longer than a week I use birch tar on my skin instead of DEET.
I know that the chemicals are not very healthy but then again neither is being bitten by insects till your face and arms are swollen and bloody.
