Sleeping and Insects

TheBadHabit

TheBadHabit

New member
Been using a traditional lightweight backpacking sleep system but think I could do without the tent. Only problem I see is insects, particularly mosquitos keeping me up at night. Any good solutions to this beyond bug spray and a layer of grime? Maybe one of those silly bug net hats?
 
For the longest time, for some reason, I thought I had to carry a tent around with me wherever I went. but it's completely an unnecessary weight and can be a total pain in the ass trying to navigate through your pack around this big bulky sack of fabric and metal poles on your search for the long lost last nugs or getting that clean pair of socks. So yeah, fuck tents. But there's still rain, snow, rodents, and shitty little mosquitos, cockroaches, and once even camel spiders. So I stopped at thrift stores and garage sales and found this.

Backpacking hammock.jpg

Not this exact one, but the one I got was only 2 1/2 pounds, could be compressed down to about six inches in length and was only like $15. Now I say "only" because after looking online they can sell for like $75 - $100. It was totally worth it (as long there were two trees standing around) and your sleep is definitely worth investing in if you can. It kept the hot desert sun off me, the freezing snow, got me through torrential downpours, and of course fucking bugs. Otherwise, I'd say get some netting that you can either wrap around yourself or acts like a big gunny sack you can crawl into. Happy trails
 
Karg said:
For the longest time, for some reason, I thought I had to carry a tent around with me wherever I went. but it's completely an unnecessary weight and can be a total pain in the ass trying to navigate through your pack around this big bulky sack of fabric and metal poles on your search for the long lost last nugs or getting that clean pair of socks. So yeah, fuck tents. But there's still rain, snow, rodents, and shitty little mosquitos, cockroaches, and once even camel spiders. So I stopped at thrift stores and garage sales and found this.
Click to expand...
Just to post a dissenting opinion, I have a hard time sleeping in hammocks, so I'm a tent guy. I wish I could sleep in a hammock, sounds like a great setup.

TheBadHabit said:
Any good solutions to this beyond bug spray and a layer of grime?
Click to expand...
You might also consider a bug net like this one:


compacts up to pocket-size and is really cheap.
 
I've used the net Matt linked when I was in Alaska to combat the giant monster mosquitos up there. It worked alright and was fairly lightweight. You need trees for it to work though.

Currently, I have a sleeping bag with a built-in bug net. I like it for the creepy crawlies like spiders as well, but I feel it inhibits my ability to react quickly to danger, so I rarely use it. My hammock with a bug net is a better option imo, but that depends on your personal needs.
 
I was recently in Arkansas with no tent or anything like that just a sleeping bag first night was hell still recovering from 100s of masquito bites... But after that first night I went to Walmart and got bugoff which works. if you have bugoff on they won't mess with you...I'm not sure but I suspect it will keep other insects away as well, they even make ones that are like for campsites that will spray a wide area haven't tried though
 
reeed said:
I was recently in Arkansas with no tent or anything like that just a sleeping bag first night was hell still recovering from 100s of masquito bites... But after that first night I went to Walmart and got bugoff which works. if you have bugoff on they won't mess with you...I'm not sure but I suspect it will keep other insects away as well, they even make ones that are like for campsites that will spray a wide area haven't tried though
Click to expand...
How is Arkansas? Friendly to travelers? The people, not the bugs.
 
Just start a small campfire, then throw wet wood on it for smoke.
Fan drectly down onto the campfire to spread the smoke in a radius.

If the skeeters are being stubborn, throw a chip of railroad tie in for creosote smoke.
Don't use more than a little bit, or you can get sick.
 
my favorite system is just a tarp and a bug net, i use an eno tarp from REI, very packable and dry, and a bugnet from there as well, cost 19 bucks, essential to have if camping in the woods, especially near wetlands, which is usually the stealthiest place in the forest and most bug ridden, and most wild edibles. occasionally you may wake up in a puddle if you don't make a layer to get up off the ground a little. survived a 5" rain storm with 5 mil contractor bags though, one should always have at least one contractor bag, used for construction clean up must be 3-5mil.
 
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