It used to be that waking up after having been bitten to death by mosquitos when you travel was par for the course. I’ve been using We Drifters anti-mosquito pyjamas for years and they’ve completely transformed my travels. Here’s why.
If you were to ask me my favourite things about travel, the list would be long (and effusive). Bottom of the list? Well, after a lot of thought, I can honestly say that it would be mosquitoes.
Instead of an all-out battle, mosquitoes have waged a consistent campaign of terror that has in turns forced me to take lurid nightmare-inducing anti-malarial tablets for long stretches (I’ve since refused to touch Larium again), endure many nights of broken sleep, itching swollen bites and the great indignity of walking around with giant mounds protruding from my forehead (the latter is pure vanity but indulge me).
All sitting in the shadow of the much more serious threat of diseases like malaria, zika and dengue.
It’s not difficult to see why the idea of anti-insect sleepwear is so seductive.
Why Anti-Mosquito Pyjamas?
A couple of years ago, I took a good hard look at my travel packing list. When I started backpacking aged 17, I was all about buying the cheapest and lowest-quality products possible and over time, while there were pieces of gear that had been added there and there, there were a few obvious things missing.
One of those omissions was anti-insect sleepwear. Being able to chuck on a pair of cosy pyjamas sounded far superior to the idea of dousing myself in DEET before going to bed.
That’s how I came across We Drifters’ anti-insect sleepwear.
What if you could go to bed and just sleep, safe in the knowledge that you wouldn’t wake up in the morning having been treated like an insect’s version of the five loaves and two fish – i.e. spread out as a feast for the mosquital masses?
That’s exactly the intention behind these cosy sleepwear sets. Every element of this set has been designed with two main goals in mind: comfort and protection. Comfort in sleepwear should be pretty mch a given, protection however? That’s worthy of some discussion.
We Drifters Travel Sleepwear Review
Design
More than just a pair of pajamas, We Drifters’ sleepwear set is actually made up of several parts: a long-sleeved top and bottoms, some socks and a carry bag that doubles up as a pillowcase.
Made from super-soft eco-friendly bamboo, the sleepwear is breathable, sweat wicking and, most alluringly, provides a layer of impregnable protection against mosquitoes and other insects to help protect adventurers as they sleep. The treatment is invisible and odourless, but promises to keep bugs away at bay.
It’s the first time I’ve used anti-insect clothing as in the past I’ve been put off by the complicated treatment needed to maintain the protection, not to mention the fact that most anti-insect clothing I’d previously encountered could be placed firmly in the unattractive camp.
Not so with this set. The understated charcoal grey colour and discreet branding makes it just as suitable for lounging around at home on those days when you don’t want to get dressed but also don’t want to look like a slob as it is for tropical nights away.
Rather than relying solely on its attractive aesthetic, the super-soft bamboo is styled into a practical design – the top has studded buttons you can open to allow more ventilation, the trousers have pockets and elasticated stirrups at the bottom to keep them in place, which is a particularly nice touch.
The top of the sleep socks are also elasticated to ensure they stay in place and leave no room for insects to worm their way through and sneak in a bite or two.
My only slight quibble is that as a relatively restless sleeper, I’ve found that the top can sometimes ride up at night, exposing an uncovered zone that the mosquitos take full advantage of. It would have been nice to see thicker elastic at the waist to help prevent this, but it’s a relatively minor point.
| What I Like | Could Be Improved |
| Super-soft bamboo material | Only available in one colour |
| Minimal and stylish design | Original design lasts 29+ washes before it needs retreating |
| Wide range of sizing and stretchy material for different bodies | Top sometimes rides up at night, elastication could be firmer at the waist |
| Socks stop you getting bitten on your feet | The thicker material can make you a bit hot on hot nights, even with the sweat-wicking element. |
Usability
I’ve been using my own We Drifters travel sleepwear set for the last few years (since mid-2020 – and I’m now writing this in February 2024) and can attest to how comfortable and stylish they are.
More than that though, I’ve worn them on endless trips – including most recently to Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica where the mosquitos were fierce and the pyjamas still did their work.
I was slightly disappointed to find out that the treatment on them only lasts 29+ washes before they need to be re-treated, but the reality is that if you’re using them when you’re on holiday, that is tantamount to a lot of trips, even if you do wash them while you’re away.
Top Tip
If you travel frequently, you could look at getting the more expensive version of the pyjamas on which the treatment is supposed to last for more than sixty washes.
Final Thoughts
We Drifters’ anti-insect sleepwear sets are a practical solution to a problem that almost all travellers have encountered frequently – how to protect yourself from being bitten when travelling in tropical countries. Even better, their comfortable sleepwear sets resolve this issue without compromising on style or quality.
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