LOCALadk Magazine

64 Spring 2018 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Gaiters by Outdoor Research Gaiters are a great piece of gear for springtime adventures. They are designed, with variations in emphasis, to keep our legs dr y and the mud, dirt, and rocks out of our shoes. An- other benefit to using gaiters when hiking is as a defense against insects. There are ticks in the Adirondacks, and they love to catch a ride on pant legs. Outdoor Research offers many different gaiter styles, so we have picked out a few that are great options for this time of year. The Flex-Tex ll is our favorite, as they are lightweight, wa- terproof, breathable, and ver y durable. Price $60. The Bug Out, as you can guess, are designed to keep the pesky insects at bay. Ticks, mosquitoes, and of course the mighty black fly, have a hard time getting past the Insect Shield. The one drawback to these gaiters is that they are not waterproof. Price $50. The third pair we recommend is the Overdrive Wrap. These keep out rocks, snow, and dirt and are made of a tough Cor- dura blend that creates a rugged yet lightweight gaiter. Price $35 Gear Review Bug Repellents Spring in the Adirondacks inevitably brings with it bugs – lots of bugs. With that fact in mind, we thought it would be helpful to tell you about some great local companies and the great bug repellents they make. The Adirondack Fragrance Farm, located in Parishville, has two great products to help fend off the pesky biting insects that love the park as much as we do: Herbal Bug Repellent Rub- On Balm and Adirondack Bug Spray. The balm is de- signed to repel mosquitos, black flies and other biting in- sects. It contains rosemar y, citronella, geranium, and lemon- grass essential oils. The base is a Shea Butter, organic castor and olive oils, and beeswax and vitamin E. The spray product was inspired by owner Sandy Maine who decided she was tired of smelling like an "old woodsman" during bug season. She created an effective and fresh-smelling spray of witch hazel and essential oil blends. If you happen to forget your bug repellent and the bugs get the best of you, no worries. The Fragrance Farm has you covered with their ADK Natural Bug Bite Soother. A combina- tion of witch hazel, camphor, tea tree, and peppermint will calm the itch. All natural and locally-sourced ingredients cre- ate a product we can easily recommend. A second local company we recommend is Carpe Insectae of Saranac Lake. Their mission is to help us protect ourselves from harmful insects so that we can get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Carpe Insectae has been producing chemi- cal-free repellents for nearly 20 years. The first product of theirs that we recommend is Wildwood, a spray that fends off mosquitos, biting flies, gnats, and no-see-ums as well as other pesky insects. Another great product, perfect for those who have pets that love the outdoors, is NoBugz for dogs and cats. The all-natural repellent comes as both a shampoo and a spray. It will help keep ticks and other insects from biting your pets. One last company we recommend for products that keep the bugs off is Bye Bye Blackfly. Locally-made in Vermont- ville and distributed through Carpe Insectae, the repellent made by this company is also all-natural and Deet-free. Check out these and other great repellent products at www.adkfragrancefarm.com and www.allnaturalrepellent. com

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