[Paddlewise] Bug protection

     Columbia Sportswear made a windpant in the early 90's that was extremely 
lightweight (say .75 oz.) rip-stop nylon in a bright fluorescent color that 
quickly faded to pastel. It was so light it was like wearing nothing at all, 
yet mosquitos would not bite through it. Soft, breathable fabric-- a lot like 
silk. 
     Didn't sell. The public wants cotton. Or heavier, more durable nylon for 
wind pants. I should have bought a case of them while I had the chance...
      Anyway, I think a suit made of lightweight ripstop would stop the bugs 
without being uncomfortably warm in hot weather or during exertion. But I 
can't find the fabric on the internet or anywhere. It must be uncoated. 
Anybody know a source?
      As for bug netting, it's cool enough over shorts on a hot Arctic day, 
but you have to use deet anyway to keep the mosquitos from biting through the 
netting. If they would just make the netting from cotton, it could be soaked 
in deet, avoiding constant application of carcinogenic deet to the skin.  
Nylon soaked in deet loses its repellant power quickly, as there is no 
reservoir in the fabric.
      There are some people whom bugs simply will not bite. Perhaps if 
science could figure out what chemical they've got in their skin, we could 
solve this problem once and for all.
Doug Montgomery
San Francisco  

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