Arghhh, Gnats in my eyes!

[+markp99]

Lately, the gnats flying around and eventually into my eyes has been driving me crazy. These things are impossible to swat and are RELENTLESS.

 

Yesterday I actually applied bugspray directly onto my face and eyes; it only burned for a few seconds But the gnats were still at me.

 

I find that wearing sunglasses seems to help keep them out of my eyes, but they still buzz around infront of the lens. In the deep woods around sunset, my dark glasses make it just too dark to be comfortable.

 

What's your secret to rid yourself of these things? What is it about my eyes?

[+cache_test_dummies]

What is it about my eyes?

They are targeting your eye secretions. For eating purposes.

 

I haven't figured out a good way to avoid them either. Wearing sunglasses does help a bit, until they get in behind and you have to remove the glasses to clear them out.

[+KoosKoos]

[+Metaphor]

Gnats (punkies, no-see-ums, etc.) are attracted to body heat. Raising your arm above your head seems attract to attract them to a higher position. Being that that position is usually uncomfortable (and somewhat silly looking), bring someone along with a higher basal temperature as a bait/decoy. Hiking with my wife or one of my two sons is almost always guaranteed to be a bug-free adventure, for me at least.

[+MountainMudbug]

After picking countless gnats from our eyes while hiking, I finally invested a couple dollars in some cheap "gnat hats" (think I got them at WalMart or Target, check your local sporting goods store).

Here is a link to some similar ones online.

Ours don't have the 'hat' part attached, they are just the nets.

They do look pretty stooopid in use, but eyeball comfort is way more important than making a fashion statement, and they really do keep the wee beasties out.

 

PS: if you do get one, don't make the mistake my hubby always makes while wearing his...... remember to lift your net up BEFORE you spit Can't tell you how many times I've had a good laugh watching the loogie slid down the inside of his netting, ick!

[+Iowa Tom]

Might wanna try one a these.

 

 

Actually, a change of seasons is probably the only remedy. I have never seen so few mosquitoes here in NE Iowa as we have had (or should I say, haven’t had) this year. In the late spring I did blow through one area where the gnats were so dense it was like riding my bike through a sand storm. Needless to say I kept my mouth closed, breathed little, squinted and rode fast.

[+cache_test_dummies]

They do look pretty stooopid in use, but eyeball comfort is way more important than making a fashion statement, and they really do keep the wee beasties out.

I actually do own a Bug Baffler. But it looks so ridiculous, and makes everything so dark that I only put it on in a real emergency. While the eye-gnats are annoying, they have yet to drive me to the Baffler. Mosquitos and black flies have caused me to Baffle-up, however.

[+MountainMudbug]

I actually do own a Bug Baffler. But it looks so ridiculous, and makes everything so dark that I only put it on in a real emergency. While the eye-gnats are annoying, they have yet to drive me to the Baffler. Mosquitos and black flies have caused me to Baffle-up, however.

 

Yeah, my gnat hat sometimes makes things too dark to see in the woods, so I just push it up onto my forehead and wear it like a giant, hideous hairnet. I have to do that because for some reason the flies and bees always try to go in my ears, so I have to leave the net covering them up. I always knew I was sugary-sweet (ok, maybe just they smell a scented hair product or something)

[+miss_butterfly]

Gnats (punkies, no-see-ums, etc.) are attracted to body heat. Raising your arm above your head seems attract to attract them to a higher position. Being that that position is usually uncomfortable (and somewhat silly looking), bring someone along with a higher basal temperature as a bait/decoy.

 

ohhh so that's why my partner is ALWAYS bothered by them and I'm not!! (there's a foot in height difference between us) and i always thought i was just lucky/patient/no-so-edible-looking

[+Munin]

I find that wearing sunglasses seems to help keep them out of my eyes, but they still buzz around infront of the lens. In the deep woods around sunset, my dark glasses make it just too dark to be comfortable.

Getting sunglasses with interchangeable lenses can be helpful, since you can swap in progressively more transmissive lenses as the light levels decrease. I've been using Smith Slider 01 glasses for the last few years - dark brown lenses for most of the day, yellow for low light or deep shade, and clear lenses at night. Interchangeables can also be handy for mountain biking and bushwacking - protecting your eyes from dust and small branches while still letting you see the terrain ahead. Definitely test out different companies/frames to get a comfortable fit though - my Sliders would slide right off my g.f.'s head, and her Julbo glasses clamp down so tight on my head that I'd have a migraine if I wore them for a day.

[k_statealan]

Go to a hardware store and get a pair of clear safety glasses. They have sides that do a pretty good job of keeping stuff from getting in the sides and some models can fit over regular glasses. Will not restrict breathing and won't be too ridiculous looking.

[+sbell111]

... Yesterday I actually applied bugspray directly onto my face and eyes; it only burned for a few seconds ...

Flag on the play!

 

You put bug spray in your eyes on purpose?

[+markp99]

... Yesterday I actually applied bugspray directly onto my face and eyes; it only burned for a few seconds ...

Flag on the play!

 

You put bug spray in your eyes on purpose?

 

/throws red flag onto the field for an officials review

 

Result; The instant replay clearly shows my eyes were closed when bugspray was applied. No flag!

 

[+briansnat]

Gnats (punkies, no-see-ums, etc.) are attracted to body heat. Raising your arm above your head seems attract to attract them to a higher position. Being that that position is usually uncomfortable (and somewhat silly looking), bring someone along with a higher basal temperature as a bait/decoy. Hiking with my wife or one of my two sons is almost always guaranteed to be a bug-free adventure, for me at least.

 

Raising your arm above your head does work. The gnats will circle the highest part of your body. You might however be mistaken for a neo Nazi, so be careful where you do this. I've also put my hat on tip of my hiking pole and held it over my head. That works, but it can get tiring holding the pole up. I'll do a little of both for a little temporary relief, but sometimes a head net is the only thing that works for extended periods of time.

[+Renegade Knight]

Gnats like water. They don't have many in the middle of the desert. The joys of high mountain desert. Of course water is so scarce that I don't mind the gnats if it means water and shade.

[+NorthWes]

Here in the home of the world's largest population of mosquitos (yes - we even outdo Minnesota, with all respect to the folks from the land of 10,000 lakes and innumerable puddles), the headnet coupled with deet bug repellent rules. I use safety glasses riding my bike to work (I ride alongside a preservation wetland for half the journey - protein intake can be somewhat choking if I'm not careful). Best bug dope is the type that's on a stick applicator (like underarm deodorant). Keeps it out of the tender mucous membranes during application & sweating etc., and fits handily into the caching bag. A headnet is necessary (even in the city) if venturing anywhere off the pavement during spring & early summer; late summer brings out the gnats & whitesox (no - not baseball - nasty little chewing flies... evil spawn!). Some years a headnet's hardly necessary - other years your car even begs for one! I buy 'em on sale at Wally's and leave them in caches as swag for hapless newbies.