Black flies, et al, in Maine in June

[Steve Jennette]

Is a head net necessary/worth the bother/mandatory (or anywhere in between) in Maine in mid-late June? Thanks.

[Cookerhiker]

Personally I wouldn't. Black flies are mostly active during the day when you're presumably hiking. They're at their worst when just sitting so don't take long lunch breaks!

[JAK]

I had quite the experience with Black Files on a June hike of the Dobson Trail in New Brunswick, similar to what you can get in Maine. They were very bad. Could not stop even to tie my shoes, they were that nuts. Not so bad at sunrise or sunset. Basically you CANNOT stop for lunch when they are that bad. Be prepared to hike all day. I did not bring a tent and still did not have much trouble at night as it was quite cold. A tent would be nice if you really wanted to be able to stop for lunch. It would be good for safety also, like if you got injured or really had to stop for some reason, or if you got lost and had to stop and figure things out without going crazy and getting into more trouble.

[JAK]

They can drive you crazy while you are hiking also, so some head gear might be helpful, and a full layer of loose fitting clothing. They mostly follow you until you stop. When in large enough numbers they seem to swarm your eyes so that other can bite your arms and legs. You can kill alot in a very short time but there always seems to be more. Killing them once inside a tent shouldn't be a problem I don't think. Perhaps the BEST argument for a tent year round is for black flies when they really are that bad. I would imaging they can be even worse than what I experienced. They can be very dangerous when hiking because they can make you trip or bump your head, although when I managed to do that on my hike there were no bugs at that time. I did have some close calls when hiking in the woods with the blackflies on my tail for 2-3 days, then managed to hit the only rock and tree in the middle of an open field with no bugs anywhere. Go figure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZiN8brc1bg

[BirdBrain]

Is a head net necessary/worth the bother/mandatory (or anywhere in between) in Maine in mid-late June? Thanks.

Bring the head net. I live in Maine and have much 1st hand experience with this. It can be done without the net. They are worst at dusk. They can be minimized by dunking whole body in stream as often as it takes to stay completely soaked (this is what I would do while brook trout fishing). When they are at their thickest, you cannot comfortably out-walk them. You might survive, but how much weight are we talking? Until you experience black flies at their thickest, you cannot imagine what you are facing. It causes moose to run to their death in a variety of ways. Bring the head net.

[BirdBrain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAd_JIFzceo

'nuff said.

[Steve Jennette]

Thanks! Head net will be in pack!

[jeffmeh]

Thanks! Head net will be in pack!

Good choice. I would even treat the head net with Permethrin. If one has ever experienced black flies at their worst, there would be no argument.

[Hosaphone]

Until you experience black flies at their thickest, you cannot imagine what you are facing. It causes moose to run to their death in a variety of ways. Bring the head net.

+1000000000

I'm a gram weenie and I cut my toothbrushes in half. But I have a head net in my pack year round even though you don't need it 99% of the time. It's not worth the chance that I forget it that 1% of the time when I need it. That's how much black flies suck. 1oz and ~3 cubic inches of pack space well spent.

[Snowleopard]

Bring the head net. ... You might survive, but how much weight are we talking? Until you experience black flies at their thickest, you cannot imagine what you are facing.
+++++++ BB that video is horrifying.
Also, long sleeve shirt and long pants treated with permethrin and an ample supply of DEET. The head net is more bearable when worn with a hat. I hate headnets, but find this one more comfortable: http://www.petersheadnets.com/petersheadnets.com.html

I've often thought that I could make a decent living hanging out on popular trails during bug season and selling head nets and DEET at inflated prices.

[Hosaphone]

The head net is more bearable when worn with a hat. I hate headnets, but find this one more comfortable: http://www.petersheadnets.com/petersheadnets.com.html

I've only ever heard rave reviews of peter's headnets, and I think that's saying something considering the conditions in which you would need to use it. Been meaning to pick one (or a few) up for a while.

[neighbor dave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjLBXb1kgMo

[Hosaphone]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjLBXb1kgMo

Brilliant!