At the start of the summer I was sent a range of Craghoppers Nosilife insect repellent clothing to test. It’s designed for travelling and for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and fishing. In this review of Craghoppers Nosilife I will talk about the different products I tested and how well the Nosilife worked repelling pesky insects.
Introducing Nosilife insect repellent clothing
NosiLife is a breakthrough in textile innovation by Craghoppers. It utilises a new insect repellent technology that is woven into the fabric, it’s both unique and permanent. You can’t see it, smell it or feel it, Nosilife just does its job while you wear the insect repellent clothing.
Laboratory testing has been carried out independently of Craghopper. And Nosilife has been proven to provide 90% protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects for the lifetime of the garment. This not just reduces the irritation factor but could also stop you catching a life threatening disease such as Malaria.
Review of Craghoppers Nosilife products
With plenty of outdoor activities planned for the summer, and an unfortunate knack of finding the one biting insect wherever I go, I was looking forward to trying the Nosilife range. Below are the products I tested during my review of Craghoppers Nosilife and what I thought of them.
Nosilife Cargo Trousers
I like to wear combats (aka cargo trousers) when doing outdoor activities on a cooler day and to take camping for the evenings. So the Nosilife Cargo Trousers got a lot of wear over the summer. They are lightweight, quick drying and hard wearing, perfect for outdoors and travelling.
They come with an impressive nine pockets, of which two have zips and one includes a waterproof case for your phone and valuables. The main hand pockets down the side are split in two – with one zipped – which is a great idea for protecting valuables but created a small amount of pocket confusion. The added strength material at the base of these pockets is a smart idea and will extend their life.
I had a few nice long hikes, often walking through fields with long grass and insects, and never got bitten. I also sat around a campsite at night, and around a campfire and again not a nibble. They also provide factor 40+ sun protection, and as they are lightweight you’ll not overheat even on a hot day.
The only downside was the double fastening buttons at the waist. The one that fastens on the inside meant there was a big button pressed into my waist, this was uncomfortable and pinched my tummy (I mean ripped six pack). This was easily fixed by removing the button, and one button kept my trousers in place just fine.
The Craghoppers Nosilife Cargo Trousers comes in five colours and costs £55. Find out more or buy a pair: www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-cargo-trousers
Nosilife Short-Sleeved Base T-Shirt
This is a quick drying, moisture controlling t-shirt is designed for hot climates. I found even after running around playing football and cricket I was kept dry and comfortable as it is very lightweight.
It’s not a exactly a cool looking t-shirt, but it will keep you cool and looks more casual and a lot less technical than many tech-Ts on the market. This insect repellent clothing certainly keeps insects at bay and doesn’t hold odours so is perfect for travelling. It comes in lime green or dark grey and costs £25: www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-short-sleeved
Nosilife Long-Sleeved Shirt
The Craghoppers Nosilife long-sleeved shirt comes with a cooling collar, vented back and tabs to help keep rolled sleeves up. It provides sun and insect protection, plus the practicality of five pockets two of which have zips, and one is a hidden security pocket.
It is built for travel and the trail but still looks fairly smart. Unfortunately it didn’t really fit me with the shoulders being slightly too tight, and the belly slightly too loose to sit right on me. Fortunately it was a great fit for my dad and he has worn it extensively for fishing, festivals, walking and trips to the pub.
He is a big fan of the shirt, in particular that you do not sweat in it and that it does not hold odours – so he hardly ever washes it. This would make it perfect as a travel shirt. I have also been told he has not been bitten by any insects while wearing it, and that includes fishing around lakes at dusk when the insects are out in force.
The Nosilife long-sleeved shirt comes in five colours and costs £55: www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-long-sleeved-shirt
Nosilife Travel Socks
These are Craghoppers most popular travel sock, with the addition of insect repellent treatment to permanently repel bugs and an antibacterial treatment to keep fungi and smells at bay. They are lightweight and cooling with cushioned heel and toes intended for all day comfort. They claim to be easy care and suitable to wear day after day.
I found the socks to be comfy and that they kept my feet cool and dry. I also never got bitten by any insects while wearing them. However although the material wicks sweat away I found after wearing them for a day my footwear smells pretty bad. This does not happen to me with natural fibre socks but is a problem i have with man made fibre socks – so it might be my feet and not the socks.
You can pick up a pair of Nosilife Travel Socks for £14: www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-travel-socks
Nosilife Sleeping Bag Liner
Not exactly insect repellent clothing but part of the Nosilife range. For camping I got a Nosilife Sleeping Bag Liner to keep the insects away while I sleep. It did a very good job as after five nights camping I never had a single bite.
The material is cool to touch and moisture controlling so ideal for warm climates. I used it in the UK so at night it was cold and the liner was a welcome extra layer. It packs up nice and small and only weighs 280g. In tropical climates I often only sleep with a sheet or a liner so this would be perfect.
Although £30 is quite expensive it adds a season to your sleeping bag in cold conditions and gives you a hot weather option. It also means you won’t have to wash your sleeping bag as often which is expensive and time consuming when travelling. Find out more: www.craghoppers.com/nosilife-sleep-liner
Review of Craghoppers Nosilife: Conclusion
Craghoppers offer a wide range of clothing with the Nosilife treatment. It is designed with function in mind, for outdoor activities and travelling and in this their clothing does a very good job. Most of the Nosilife range is pretty outdoorsy in style, however I understand they have some more lifestyle options on the way.
I am not scared of heights, snakes, spiders or looking overly outdoorsy, however I am very scared of wasps. To conclude this review of Craghoppers Nosilife I will give it the biggest seal of approval – wasps left me alone while I was wearing the Nosilife gear and for that I thank Craghoppers innovative insect repellent clothing.
To find out more about the Nosilife range visit: www.craghoppers.com
