If you want permethrin-treated clothing without the mess of DIY Permethrin sprays, Insect Shield’s Easy Packs service is a convenient, cost-effective option. For $124.95, you get a prepaid 19 x 14 inch UPS envelope that you fill with your own washed garments, ship it off, and receive everything back neatly pressed, discreetly tagged, and professionally treated to repel mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and midges. For thru-hikers, backpackers, fisher-people, and guides, treating a dedicated bug-season kit once and moving on is worth the upfront cost.

Testimonial

I have been using the Easy Pack service for several years to treat my new hiking and fishing clothing because I live in a rural area where Lyme disease-carrying ticks are abundant (and there are more deer than people). I regularly hike and bushwhack off-trail, through farmers’ fields, and along brush-filled river banks, so covering up and taking tick precautions are foremost on my mind.

While I started applying Permethrin spray to my own clothing almost 20 years ago, in recent years I’ve sent it to Insect Shield for professional treatment because it’s a lot less hassle and easier to fit into my busy schedule. My favorite clothing manufacturers, including Railriders, Ex Officio, Eddie Bauer, LL Bean, and others, also stopped selling clothing pre-treated with Permethrin (presumably to cut costs), leaving it up to the consumer instead. While I still own and use their clothing, I now take matters into my own hands and have it treated myself.

While you can spray your own clothes with Pemethrin, it doesn’t last as long and its a major hassle.

In this latest batch (top photo), I’m sending in 6 items: three pairs of Railriders Bone Flat Pants (with side vents), two long-sleeve Columbia fishing shirts, and a long-sleeve Eddie Bauer shirt, which I plan to wear this year for Tenkara fly fishing. I prefer these lightweight clothes and rarely wear waterproof fishing waders, because they’re too heavy and hot to wear when hiking into remote mountain streams. I’m filling a second Easy Pack with the clothing I’m taking to hike the Pennine Way in England and Scotland later this spring as well.

Durability

What sets the Insect Shield Easy Pack service apart is durability. Insect Shield’s Permethrin treatment is rated to last up to 70 washings, the effective lifetime of most garments, far outlasting typical do-it-yourself Permethrin sprays that only last for 4-5 washings. For hikers, backpackers, anglers, and yard workers in tick-heavy regions, that “treat once, forget about it” longevity is a major value add.

The Process

The process is straightforward. Order one or more Easy Packs, wash your clothes first, complete the included form, and drop the filled envelope at UPS. They’ll treat all the clothes you can fit into the Easy Pack envelope. Bulkier items like shirts, hoodies, and pants take up more space, so you can fit fewer of them. But you can fit up to about 15 pairs of socks inside.

Processing time is typically 5 business days after receipt, and all shipping is included in the price. When your items return, they’re pressed and marked so you can easily identify which pieces are now insect-repellent. If you’ve ever tried to keep track of which shirts you sprayed last season, this is a welcome touch.

Ticks – It’s that time of year again

Limitations

There are important limitations. Only sewn garments are eligible, and items must be machine-washable and tumble-dryable. That means undergarments, water-resistant or waterproof pieces, items with welded waterproof zippers, and anything labeled Dry Clean Only, Do Not Tumble Dry, or Line Dry are forbidden. Shoes also can’t be processed; Insect Shield suggests monthly DIY spraying for footwear.

Turnaround is good but not immediate. With the five-business-day processing window (plus shipping each way), you’ll want to plan ahead of peak bug season or a big trip. Still, I consider that turnaround time perfectly acceptable.

Bottom line

Insect Shield Easy Packs deliver the longest-lasting permethrin treatment most people will ever need, with minimal effort. Who is it best for? Anyone in tick- or mosquito-country who wants set-and-forget protection: hikers, backpackers, trail crews, gardeners, anglers, travelers, and outdoor workers. The rules and restrictions are real, and you must plan a week or two ahead, but having bug-repellent clothing that stays effective for up to 70 washes makes this service an easy recommendation for anyone serious about reducing bites and tick exposure.

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