The Best Type Of Solar-Powered String Lights To Keep Bugs Away From Your Campsite

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Lighting is one of those things you don't fully appreciate until you're deep in the pitch-black woods. Lighting helps you to see in the dark and provides a sense of safety. However, when you're outdoors, using the wrong kind of light can be an invitation to a swarm of insects, turning what should be a relaxing evening into a frustrating night of discomfort. 

This comes down to something known as phototaxis, which is how insects react to light. While some bugs stay away from light (negative phototaxis), others are instinctively drawn to it (positive phototaxis). Research confirms that positively phototactic insects are specifically attracted to ultraviolet and cool-toned lights, which makes traditional light sources like incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen bulbs particularly prone to attracting bugs.

So, if you want to have a camping experience devoid of frustration from swarming insects, the solution is to choose the right kind of lighting. This is where solar-powered string lights with warm LED bulbs come in. Solar-powered lights draw energy from the sun, eliminating the need for an electrical power source. And with the use of warm-toned lighting, you can successfully keep bugs away from your campsite. This is because warm-colored lights, like yellow, amber, orange, and red, emit a very minimal amount of UV light and heat — making them harder for insects to perceive and thus less appealing to them.

It could be tempting to opt for the brightest lights when picking solar string lights for your campsite. But brighter simply means more insects. This emphasizes why lights with a warm color temperature — measuring about 2700K to 3000K — is the camping essential you shouldn't forget if you want to repel insects from your campsite. Moreover, its golden glow is soft on the eyes and creates a relaxing atmosphere for you. Warmer color temperature lights are also safer for the environment and help reduce light pollution. 

That said, understand that while warm-toned lights are least attractive to insects, they may still catch the attention of a few bugs, especially if the lights spill outward or upward. Therefore, the design and direction of the light also matter. Use shielded designs to direct the light downward, or consider an opal diffuser for an evenly spread and subtle illumination. With these, you can further reduce the chances of attracting insects.

Needless to say, it's important to go for reliable brands that have decent battery life and are weatherproof. The longer they last, the more useful they can be to you — and they may even double as backyard decor when you return home, giving you extra value for your money. Waterproof options like these solar camping lights from TuoPuLife are only around $22 on Amazon.

Once you've picked the right string lights, how you hang them is also essential to keeping bugs away from your campsite. Among the helpful camping tips to note, it's advisable to hang your lights a little closer to the ground, so they're out of the flight paths of bugs. String lights near seating areas or pathways are also less attractive to bugs than a single lamp. If your string lights have dimming features or timers, that's even better: Simply adjust the brightness to a less intense level, so you can see clearly without inviting every bug to your campsite. The timing feature conveniently ensures your lights are on when you need them and off when you don't, saving energy as well as attracting fewer bugs.

To step up your entire defense, consider pairing your warm-toned, bug-repelling string lights with the use of citronella candles or camping lanterns that have heat-based repellents. Fans can also work wonders, because the flow of air disturbs the insects' flight. Combining all these tricks provides an additional layer of protection.