FAQ

The Deer Tick aka Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) has company in our area. The Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum) and Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis) are also active in our region.

Unfortunately, the list of tick-borne diseases is more than just Lyme. The black legged tick, aka the deer tick, is the primary carrier of Lyme disease, it can carry a variety of diseases.

The dog tick and the Lone Star tick are also known to be potential disease carriers. Ticks can carry disease (not all do), though not every tick bite will result in disease. Notable tick-borne diseases: Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Powassan Virus, Tularemia, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), and Alpha-gal allergy. 

There are resources online. The University of Rhode Island TickEncounter https://web.uri.edu/tickencounter/fieldguide/  website has information about ticks in your area. There is a guide on checking yourself for ticks and other tips, and even a resource on other bugs - not every crawly thing is a tick.

Permethrin treatment of fabric repels ticks and often kills them. Permethrin is the leading tick repellent recommended by tick experts to keep ticks away. Other insect repellents, such as DEET and Picaridin, also discourage ticks and should be used on exposed skin and gear alongside Ticktogs.

Permethrin, the active ingredient in Insect Shield technology, has been used in the United States as an EPA-registered product since 1979, with an excellent safety record. Permethrin is in the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic copies of natural extracts found in plants such as the chrysanthemum flower.

Ticktogs are treated by Insect Shield. The Insect Shield treatment bonds permethrin to the fabric of the Ticktogs. Unlike topical repellents, the Insect Shield treatment will not come off when you sweat and does not absorb into your skin. Permethrin should not be sprayed onto bare skin; it is used on clothing and gear.

Yes, you can wear Ticktogs without socks. After you pull on the gaiters and secure the straps, you put on your shoes. You must wear shoes with Ticktogs.

Nope! You want a roomy fit. The ripstop nylon does not stretch. You want to be sure there is space for the flex and movement of your foot and toes while walking or hiking. Also you want to allow space for the varying thicknesses of socks you may wear inside the Ticktogs.

The fabric of Ticktogs is very, very thin. Current users have found Ticktogs comfortable in shoes. It should not make your shoes feel tighter. When putting on your Ticktogs we advise you to pull the gaiter up to smooth the fabric underfoot in your shoe. You should not feel uncomfortable wrinkles in your shoes.

Ticktogs special fabric breathes far more than standard ripstop and dries in an instant. We have found them comfortable during years of testing, and current Ticktogs users find them comfortable.

Ticktogs must be worn with a shoe. Ticktogs are not designed to be in direct contact with the ground. Flip flops and other sandals with a strap between the toes (toe thong) may not work with Ticktogs depending on whether the fit of the gaiter is loose enough to accommodate the toe strap.

Ticks crawl up. Ticks can’t jump or fly. Ticks generally are on vegetation at or below waist height, rarely in trees. The most dangerous tick, the deer tick, is usually located in damp leaf litter and low grass. Once a tick is on you it turns upwards and climbs. If you find a tick above your knees, it likely climbed up from your feet.  The hairline and belt line are often the places ticks attach. To protect yourself, in addition to wearing Ticktogs, it is best to treat shirts and pants with permethrin and to use a durable insect repellent on bare skin.

Ticks often will hop off of Ticktogs as soon as they alight, they are repelled by the permethrin treatment. But sometimes you will find one, most often dead, on the gaiter or strap. A dead tick may simply be brushed off and disposed of, there is no risk of disease transmission from a dead tick. Brush off any live tick or wrap it tightly in tape or put it in a sealed bag or drop it in rubbing alcohol. Do not crush a tick with your fingers.

Yes, the tightly woven fabric excludes other bugs. The Insect Shield permethrin treatment repels ticks, mosquitoes, flies, ants, chiggers, and midges.

The separate straps allow each user to adjust the fit of the Ticktogs to their size and height so that a good custom fit is achieved. The zip pouch is provided to keep everything together when not in use. Also, while the gaiters can be washed frequently and will dry almost instantly, there is less need to wash the straps because they are protected when in use. They dry much more slowly, and the elastic will lose its stretch and shape if put through a hot dryer again and again.  

Yes. The gaiter ripstop fabric is lightweight, fast drying, breathable and reasonably sturdy, but it can tear. If there is a hole in the gaiter, ticks and other insects can get through the hole. Also, Ticktogs should always be worn with some sort of footwear to protect the bottom surface of the foot. Finally, sand, dirt or rocks in your shoes can abrade the fabric and cause holes.

Do not dry clean Ticktogs. The dry cleaning process can damage or remove the Insect Shield permethrin treatment. 

Hand or machine wash Ticktogs gaiters and hang them to dry - they dry quickly. Hand wash and air dry gaiter straps when necessary. 

Also, while the gaiters can be washed frequently and will dry quickly, there is less need to wash the straps because they are protected when in use. They dry much more slowly, and the elastic will lose its stretch and shape if put through a hot dryer again and again.

Store your Ticktogs gaiters and straps in the pouch provided. To preserve permethrin effectiveness, Ticktogs gaiters should not be stored in direct sunlight.