Going floorless for the first time - should I bring a bug bivy?

[atenjones]

Will be going floorless for the first time this Fall, and I'm pretty excited, but trying to get everything dialed in. I'll be using a Seek Outside DST Tarp, and I have an REI Bug Bivy on the way as well. I'll be hunting the opening week of archery in Colorado at about 8500-9500 feet. I was in the same area last year, but I can't remember how the bug situation was. I have a feeling I'll be high enough that it won't be a problem, so I'm considering not bringing the bivy, but at the same time, for only 14oz, it might go a long way in making me feel more comfortable. Also - I'm not really that worried about bugs - I'm WAY more concerned with snakes. I don't mind snakes - but I don't really feel like waking up with one crawling across my face. I know that's a super unlikely occurrence, but it's in the back of my mind. Think they'll be slowed down enough at night by that point in the year?

Thanks!!

 

[Dusty2426]

I never have had a bug problem in a floor less

 

[Tick]

Only the occasional bug for me in Sep-Oct above 9,000ft. Never a snake problem.

Mosquitoes or ticks would change my mind about packing a bivy.

 

[rhusby28]

I don’t worry about bugs. I pack a bivy for rodents. I have a Bora Gear Side Zip Bivy. I think it weighs around 7 oz. the solid material bottom adds a little more warmth when the temps drop.

 

[Salmon River Solutions]

For me when I sleep out in the open, its normally mice. Only happens occasionally, but they will crawl all over your sleeping bag, and face.

 

[Mosby]

You can find rattlesnakes at high altitude. A 31 year old triathlete died in the Rocky Mountain National Park outside Denver a couple of years ago. He was 1.5 miles above the trailhead. Is it likely? Probably not. I normally hunt at over 10,000 ft when I am in Colorado and I have never seen a snake there but who knows. Probably also depends on the area, water etc., I would probably use the bivy more for bugs and rodents than snakes.

 

[j3butch]

Been testing out my Kifaru tipi and like a tarp under my bedding but the rest open. So nice to wear boots in there

 

[GunsAreFun]

I’d try going floorless on a non hunting backpacking trip first and see how you like it.

It sounds appealing to me for a lot of reasons, but I tried it once, and for me personally, it seems like one of those things where the idea is way cooler than the reality.

I have a tent that can be used either way. The first time I set it up and laid down on my tyvek ground sheet, there were two big ass spiders right next to me. I don’t care about spiders I can see. I do care about them on me when I sleep. Luckily, I had packed the inner with me as a backup, but I’d hate to be 7 miles and a couple thousand feet in elevation from the truck on a 7 day hunt only to find out it’s not for you.

That said, maybe that is the key. Just force yourself to get used to it.

 

[techmanil]

Around the same time last year, I tarp camped @ 9500 & 10500 and had no problems. I was amazed that I had a condensation problem with all sides of my trap off the ground.

 

[sodaksooner]

No issues here. Occasional fly or two. Mice were the bigger issue, but still not much of a problem. Kind of depends on where you set up too. We had skeeters one year at base camp but were in an extremely wet area full of beaver dams.

 

[idahohikker]

Floorless sounds cool and all but the creepy crawlers around is a no go for me. The snake idea is a nightmare especially. I’ll happily pack a tent with a little more weight.

Now maybe in November on a late season hunt it could be good. Still could run into mice and other rodents though.

 

[jmcd22]

The snake idea is a nightmare especially. I’ll happily pack a tent with a little more weight.

I've wanted to either go hammock or floorless but won't go hammock because I cannot get over that something might bump me walking through at night. Not sure how a tent is any different though...purely mental. And I could never go floorless because of snakes. I HATE snakes...no thank you haha

 

[Ratbeetle]

I don’t worry about bugs. I pack a bivy for rodents. I have a Bora Gear Side Zip Bivy. I think it weighs around 7 oz. the solid material bottom adds a little more warmth when the temps drop.

Can you use a standard rectangular sleeping pad in those?

 

[gdog]

I use a Bora lightweight bivy to keep pests off me, but mostly to keep my pad, quilt and such together.

 

[MuleyFever]

Just received my first floor less tent yesterday. I’ll be using a innernet because I hate the idea of things crawling on me, especially in the desert SW.

 

[idahohikker]

I've wanted to either go hammock or floorless but won't go hammock because I cannot get over that something might bump me walking through at night. Not sure how a tent is any different though...purely mental. And I could never go floorless because of snakes. I HATE snakes...no thank you haha

Same on the hammock. You could get chomped without warning. In a tent it rustles at least. I’d prefer not to be a bear taco.

How much weight do you really save with a floorless when you’re also using a bivy or floor cloth?

 

[atenjones]

How much weight do you really save with a floorless when you’re also using a bivy or floor cloth?

My situation is a little unique, because I don't already own a light backpacking tent - my current setup is about 5.5lbs. I got the bivy on sale for $40, and the DST will be $80 (after factoring in my $50 credit on GoHunt). Total weight should be right around 2lbs. So, I'm dropping 3.5 lbs for $120 - which seems to be the best weight/$ savings I've come up with so far.

That said, maybe that is the key. Just force yourself to get used to it.

This is kind of my plan. To be perfectly honest, I'm a little nervous about it - but I kind of like the idea of just doing it, and getting out of my comfort zone a little bit.

 

[Dos Perros]

Even when I pack a tarp 80% of the time I'm just cowboy camping, don't even set it up because the weather is clear. I love sleeping like that, something liberating about it.

 

[bitbckt]

I use a Bora lightweight bivy to keep pests off me, but mostly to keep my pad, quilt and such together.

Same here. It's a bedroll as much as bug protection.

 

[StopMakingSense]

For you guys that go Tyvek for a floor, are you doing the whole tent or just parts of the tent? Messing around my new SO Cimarron