what is the best thing to use to keep ticks off of me?

Answer 1

Right above with long sleeve shirt and pants, tucked into boots or socks. Light colors to make the ticks easier to see, NOT because they are attracted to it. The tick doesn't give a darn what color you are wearing.
They simply sit and wait for something furry to walk by. Fur = food (blood). Their little front arms can snag onto the fur/cloth and lead them to a mobile meal. Repellants can confuse them into thinking you really aren't a tasty, warm-blooded, sparsely-furred ape. So they may drop off and go find another suitable perch. Maybe the person behind you?
Keeping to the trails is the best thing, since they can't snag you if you aren't amongst the grass and brush that gives them good hitching position.
And like a good scout, always have a backup plan just in case you didn't catch that one that got by your deet and clothes. Have somebody you can trust to look in those spots that are hard for you to see when the hike is over.

Answer 2

I use army pants that have the little tie bows at the bottom of the leg. You can tie those things tight enough that water wont even flow past them, which means chiggers and even ticks cant get through them into your leg. If you want to be especially sure, I wear genes under the loose fitting pants to double the layering, so I can discard my army pants when the hike is over, because ticks are crawling all over them, but at least they are not on my legs. I have used this in the past when paintballing and even lately to keep the chiggers off. You can also use bug spray with DEET on it to make yourself a less tasty snack.

Answer 3

Ticks are attracted to light colors,specifically white...

Answer 4

long legged pants tucked into your socks, then spray 100% deet on your lower pant legs..........

avoid walking in areas where deer would have been bedded down...thats a hot spot for ticks

Answer 5

Long sleeved shirt and pants.