Mosquitos in a floorless/screenless shelter

[Kulshan]

I am wondering how guys that camp out of a floorless shelter handle mosquitos. If the shelter is staked down close to or on the ground do they still come in? Or do you use a repellant to keep them out?

I normally camp in a MRS Hubba Hubba and keep the mosquito net up in the tent until the temperature drops but this year I am looking a getting a sawtooth w/ stove and I would prefer not to run netting in it.

What do you guys do?

 

[duchntr]

Well they eat you its plain and simple and yes they always find a way in, running a stove will kill them though if its hot enough in there. I guess some people don't mind bugs as much me but they will drive me nuts while I'm sleeping so I use a 2 person nest in my tipi or a bivi under a tarp. When talking about bugs though it is really dependent on location because dealing with a certain level of mosquitos is livable, but up here in the summer you damn well better have something or I guess your just way tougher then me. Sea to summit sells some lightweight bug nest options that might suit you, as well as bear paw wd and seek outside.

 

[brewer427]

sawyer permethrin, I would bathe in this stuff if I could. Spray the inside and outside of my shelter. My pack, boots and most of my clothing, as well as my quilt. It helps immensely and I never have to many problems with bugs if I do this.

 

[ridgefire]

Lightweight bivy with the netting. Keeps bugs out and sleeping bag and pad clean. I use a ti goat raven omni.

 

[LaGriz]

Kulshan,
I have been bitten by the floorless "hot tent" bug. I do like the stove options and versatility of these shelters in the colder seasons should you encounter some bad weather. I picked up a nest for my shelter for the mosquitos and any crawling critters. I have trapped mice in a wall tent and a cabin on several hunts. Since then, I keep two mouse traps in my base camp kit. If you ever have mice crawling around your tent (or your face) during the night it will creep you out and ruin your sleep. I could see the nest+tarp combo being a real early season advantage. This site is the best source of information on how to make this floorless thing work. I think your purchase of the Sawtooth is a good one if you can justify the price. I would think you could loose the nest when the weather dictates a need for the stove. If a nest turns you off, how about some removable netting at the door way as an option. Look in the DIY forum on retro-fitting some netting to a floorless shelter. The resale price you will get for a used Sawtooth should be enough to get you back into a quality floored tent if you decide it's not for you. Send me a PM before you post it in the classifieds. LOL!
LaGriz

 

[Kulshan]

Thanks for the info guys. Ill be ordering the sawtooth next week.

I was up in the central cascades this weekend and the bugs weren't to bad but not being able to standup in the shelter was driving me nuts. Im looking forward to the change.

 

[bourbon]

Thanks for the info guys. Ill be ordering the sawtooth next week.

I was up in the central cascades this weekend and the bugs weren't to bad but not being able to standup in the shelter was driving me nuts. Im looking forward to the change.

You won't regret getting a sawtooth. They are awesome.

 

[jb79]

I use a borah Bivy in my sawtooth Keeps me and my quilt on my pad and the bugs away, super light and adds a few degrees to my quilt. Really been eyeing the jimmy tarp Bivy as well!

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Nuther Permethrin fan here...and I toss a Thermacell in the tent too.

 

[Shrek]

You will love the Sawtooth ! I've never had any bug problems but I only camp during the Montana rifle season so bugs aren't a big problem. Having a 85* tent within minutes of when you get back on a miserable cold and damp day is plain awesome ! I had it hit 90* in my sawtooth this past fall. I had to open the door and let some heat out . It was a great problem to have !

 

[Tim in Wa.]

Get a mosquito coil break it in about 5 pcs.and carry a small piece of foil.Put the piece of coil on the foil in the shelter and light it.Simple.Or get a therma cell

 

[philos]

Thermacell is something I always have when mosquitoes are in season-which is about 10 months in SC. I believe you can get about 6 hours from one propane canister and mat.

 

[rayporter]

in 2 trips to the boundary waters in august i have had very few skeeters get in. i did burn a small piece of bug coil a couple times to kill the few that did get in. basically bugs have not been a problem. they seem to go to the top of the tipi and stay there.

 

[ianpadron]

sawyer permethrin, I would bathe in this stuff if I could. Spray the inside and outside of my shelter. My pack, boots and most of my clothing, as well as my quilt. It helps immensely and I never have to many problems with bugs if I do this.

Can you spray that directly on Silnylon? I got eaten alive this past weekend and am willing to try anything!

 

[brewer427]

Can you spray that directly on Silnylon? I got eaten alive this past weekend and am willing to try anything!

I've never tried it on silnylon, all I have is kifaru shelters. You could spray a little bit on maybe your door and see if it affects the material. I've never had any color change or any issues of any kind when sprayed on the material Kifaru uses.

 

[2ski]

has anyone tried any of those mosquito bracelets? I got quite a few samples at a tradeshow this spring, but haven't had a chance to try them out. I don't know if tossing one of those next to your head on the floor before you go to sleep would do anything. A girl I know says she does it when she goes camping but I don't know if that's just her not being in a place with lots of mosquito in the first place. You just don't want to let your hunting buddies see one. The ones I have all have minnie mouse on them.

 

[reaper]

There is A LOT of fly and mosquitos where i am from and the best solutions is a net or a fire\smoke...i dont get bite but my wife and my little they are crazy about their blood so a net in my 4 man is the solution.

I think ill maybe try the Thermacell thing,heard good thing about it...i scare about getting an headache with this but ill give it a try.

Envoyé de mon E6560C en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[slim9300]

I guess I have been lucky. The mosquitos seem to get confused in my Sawtooth and fly around in the peak. I backpack all summer in the mountains with zero issues, but the Olympics don't have a ton of mosquitos. In September it's a non-issue for me in Montana and WA.


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[bourbon]

Can you spray that directly on Silnylon? I got eaten alive this past weekend and am willing to try anything!

I've never tried it on silnylon, all I have is kifaru shelters. You could spray a little bit on maybe your door and see if it affects the material. I've never had any color change or any issues of any kind when sprayed on the material Kifaru uses.

Kifaru says to spray away as they have never had anyone report any issues with Sawyer's permetherine and their shelters.

 

[brewer427]

Kifaru says to spray away as they have never had anyone report any issues with Sawyer's permetherine and their shelters.

Ya but Kifaru's material is not a silnylon material, so I would hate for him to spray a ton on his silnylon shelter and have issues. I wouldn't imagine there would be, but you never know how chemicals might react with different materials.