Ex-Officio Buzz Off Baja Shirt : Breathable and Bug-Free

Although the risk of contracting malaria in Belize is fairly low, the U. S. CDC web site and various guidebooks warn of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. They recommend bringing medicine just in case. My trip was so last-minute (have passport, will travel) that I wasn’t able to get an appointment with a travel clinic to get anti-malarial drugs before I left (I hope my mom doesn’t read this!). I did manage to get the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Baja long-sleeved shirt, though, as well as their cotton Classic Hat, to provide some insurance against bug bites.

“BUZZ OFF fabric is to bugs what Gore-TEX is to rain,” claims Ex Officio. The Baja shirt also has a quick-drying, moisture-wicking finish with UV protection. I wore mine as a jacket over my camisoles and T-shirts in the cooler mornings and evenings, and I wore it alone with the sleeves rolled up in the heat of the day. I was happy to have sun and bug protection during my travels in the subtropics. I’m happy to report that I did not get any bug bites on my upper body, nor did I get sunburned.

The Baja shirt is thoughtfully designed for active people and loaded with cool features. When I rolled up my sleeves, I used the little tab of fabric on the inside that loops up over the cuffed sleeve and buttons to the shirt to hold the sleeves in place. Mesh vents that button shut on the side below the sleeves, as well as on the side of the upper sleeve, provided welcome ventilation during the day. The Baja's protective fabric is also virtually wrinkle-free. On several days when heading out for canoeing or hiking, I stuffed the Baja shirt into my pack. Despite being rolled up and pulled in and out of my pack, my shirt still looked good.

Although I brought along a nylon shell for cooler weather, I often reached for my Baja shirt instead. I think the people at the jungle campground where I stayed probably thought I only had one shirt after seeing me wear it to dinner and breakfast for four days in a row. [Note: If you mail order this shirt, be forewarned that the sizes run pretty big. The large was VERY roomy for me, and I vary between a medium and large, depending on the brand. Available in men's and women's sizes.]

Bugs bite scalps, too, but not mine. I wore my bug-repellent Cotton Classic Cap pretty much every day in Belize for sun and bug protection--and to cover up my hair, which was stiff and frizzy from the hard water and high humidity levels. The cap has a pretty big “bill,” which I liked for protecting my face from the sun.

Bottom Line: Effective and attractive apparel combined with insect-repellent, breathable, protective fabrics. I’ll wear the Baja shirt and classic cotton cap this summer to protect from ticks and black flies while hiking in the mountains.--J.I. (May '05)

Price: $85 shirt, $14.95 cap

Manufacturer's Site: www.exofficio.com

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