Kifaru tents and bugs

[rpm4463]

I'm a 4 season backpacker/hunter but one weekness I've always had is pesky bugs while I'm trying to sleep. I like the Kifaru shelters but thier shelters don't have any form of bug netting. Alot of my activities have been in the Northwest and Sierras. Even though bugs start to decrease in late summer (early hunting seasons) they can still be pesky buzzing around your ears at night. This is especially true when camps are set up near lakes, creeks, or meadows. When I'm backpacking/hunting in the desert I've never had a problem and rarely use a tent, but in higher mountains with creeks, lakes, and glaciers they drive me nuts.

Am I just a sissy, or do other people have the same concern? I'm amazed I've never seen Kifaru offer some sort of bug netting for their shelters.

 

[Yukondog]

I was talking with Patrick about his shelters and the mosquitoes, he said he burns a coiled bug repellant stick and all is good. CO has its fair share of bugs in the Mtns. Nothing like Alaska, but enough to drive me nuts.

I want to give the megatarp a try. Bugs and no floor is keeping my partner back from trying them.

 

[Kevin Root]

Bugs both flying and the crawling variety is what keeps me from going with a no floor shelter as well. These days I want critter-less sleep as much as possible when I rest and want to sleep. In years past, I did without a tent and just rolled out my sleeping bag and depending on time of year and location bugs can be a no issue. I'd just rather have shelters that eliminate the bug or critter factor no matter where I go and time of year.

 

[Nick Muche]

Let it all out boys...

 

[6t4nova]

I used my paratipi last weekend camped near a lake. bugs didn't bother me at all. Leave a little space between the sides and the ground and they don't build up inside. At least that worked for me. I have the netting for the entrance of it also, but didn't use it.

 

[Gman]

smoke coil works well. The sawtooth has an option for bug netting. I also have seen some, like Luke Moffat, use a nest inside the shelters. This is also one reason I carry a minimalist bivy, I can pull up the bug netting if it's real bad out. You can also hunt higher!

 

[stephen b]

Bugs too are a problem here in Oregon ( esp. the Mosquitoes in the Cascades- which were bad till Sept. last year)

If I want to make it real simple I use use a 3-4 oz. netting draped over my sleeping bag, or simple bivy that I have w/o bug net.

If I want something more substantial ( and I usually do) I use a bug shelter in my tipi structure when they are bad, or also use a another style of bug net in my more horizontal structure (that is designed like a super tarp, or a Mega tarp style). And with a floor attached they do not weigh much - mine weigh 8-14 oz. all set up depending on which one I take. And my 2 man that I use with my wife weighs about 14 oz. Then Problem is solved.

Here is a link to some companies ( but there are lots more) that make these net structures)

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=47&products_id=127

http://www.bearpawwd.com/

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/nettents.html

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/

__________________

And these are the ones I use:

Solo tipi use:

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/nettents/serenity-nettent.html

and this one for use under a flat tarp. or a horizontal structure ( like a super tarp style):

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=30

And this is what I use for the wife and I in my Golite SL 5 and also in the Integral designs George tarp:

http://www.bearpawwd.com/shelters_floors/pyraNet2.html

 

[Lawnboi]

4oz bug net for me when its needed, which is almost all the time in WI. Really not that much weight for security if theres a chance there could be bugs. Can have 2 uses also, if need be i can make a pretty good ground blind with a piece of bug netting and some foliage.

Im going to try the 'start the stove and let the pipe fry them' idea next week.

A nest wouldnt be a bad idea. It would give you a good place to sleep, and still allow you to use all the advantages of a floorless shelter. The benefits outweigh the problems in my opinion.

 

[Rizzy]

I have found that there are not nearly as many bugs up on the ridges and this is part of the reason Deer and Elk bed in theses locations. Last weekend I set my super tarp up on an Elk bed and had no problems with bugs. July is the worst for mosquitos in my area and I am not planning on scouting in July anymore, too hot, too many mosquitos, animals are mostly nocturnal due to the hot weather, etc. 3 weeks ago there where so many mosquitoos I couldn't glass, last weekend I saw about 5 the whole trip. It just depends on the time of year and the terrain you are in. Try not to camp near water or meadows

 

[trevore]

I know that one of those other guys listed in the links above will do custom work. You can have them sew a floor in to a Kifaru shelter or have them build one similar to it.

 

[Slim Jim]

Im with you rpm, the critters drive me nuts that's why I use the big Agnes seed house sl1 and it's just over 2lbs. I just got back from the rubies in NV today and the ants, mosquitoes, and flies are everywhere up high. Even when glassing I have ants all over me. That I can live with but when I'm sleeping no thank you

 

[BrukMan]

Bugs too are a problem here in Oregon ( esp. the Mosquitoes in the Cascades- which were bad till Sept. last year)

If I want to make it real simple I use use a 3-4 oz. netting draped over my sleeping bag, or simple bivy that I have w/o bug net.

If I want something more substantial ( and I usually do) I use a bug shelter in my tipi structure when they are bad, or also use a another style of bug net in my more horizontal structure (that is designed like a super tarp, or a Mega tarp style). And with a floor attached they do not weigh much - mine weigh 8-14 oz. all set up depending on which one I take. And my 2 man that I use with my wife weighs about 14 oz. Then Problem is solved.

Here is a link to some companies ( but there are lots more) that make these net structures)

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=47&products_id=127

http://www.bearpawwd.com/

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/nettents.html

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/

__________________

And these are the ones I use:

Solo tipi use:

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/nettents/serenity-nettent.html

and this one for use under a flat tarp. or a horizontal structure ( like a super tarp style):

http://www.yamamountaingear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=30

And this is what I use for the wife and I in my Golite SL 5 and also in the Integral designs George tarp:

http://www.bearpawwd.com/shelters_floors/pyraNet2.html

Thanks for the links