Anyone play around with making a Bug Hut?

[slowhike]

I mentioned it. I have one, but it is heavy, and the tarp doesn't cover enough IMO. I'm thinking of something that could be set up without the tarp if the user so desired because, as I hear, PCT thru0-hikers can generally count all the times they needed protection from rain on their fingers and still have a few fingers left over. But the skeeters on the other hand....

A couple questions just to get a better idea what you want it to do, and to spark new thoughts from HF members.
Do you want it to envelope the whole hammock, from suspension to suspension? If so, it could hang from a "Single Line Tarp support", even when you didn't use a tarp.
Not only could it be used with out the tarp but it could also be used with out the hammock too (lunch break, etc).

When it's around the hammock, do you want it to go to ground so all gear is enclosed?

[SGT Rock]

I was thinking that the continuous ridge line would probably be a part of how this system worked, but it is hard to say until I make a mock up.

Yes, I would like the part where you sit up to be able to go all the way to the ground. That said, I normally hang low anyway, so we are not talking about anything as tall as most of the examples presented so far. My origami mock up should only be about 40" tall from ground to ridge-line. I'll have to make some sketches and scan them in.

[Cannibal]

My origami mock up...

Pics or it didn't happen!
Sounds like a cool idea. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[SGT Rock]

Pics or it didn't happen!
Sounds like a cool idea. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Well it isn't very good looking and I haven't decided if that is what I plan for it too actually look like yet. I've still got some thinking to do on this.

[SGT Rock]

Origami concept models.


This is the idea for a Bug Hut. The "front" is taller so the user can prop up the tarp like a front porch where room is needed, but the back is sloped down, where there isn't a need for all that room. Normally I set my tarp up in this sort of way when the weather is good, or the rain isn't too bad.


Another look at it from a slightly different view.


This is the Bug Hut idea with the tarp over it.


Side view with the tarp over it.

When you want the tarp down, like when the weather isn't so good, then you can fold down the front.


It basically becomes an A-Frame like the ID Bug Tent.


Bug Tent with the tarp over it.

What I haven't exactly figured out is where to put the zipper opening.

[GrayDog]

I like the idea.

Rough calculations show the weight of just the netting (no tarp, no floor, no zipper) at around 1.5 lbs. From a purely weight perspective, would you not do better with a bug sock for sleeping and a bug hat?

[Redoleary]

I think it looks pretty cool. And if you were getting carried away by the skeeters I'll bet 1.5 # wouldn't seem so bad.
My tarp is of similar shape already, It would be nice it there were an easy way to just attach a bugnet to the open areas.
This is what my tarp is like. (sorry for the giant pic)

[SGT Rock]

I like the idea.

Rough calculations show the weight of just the netting (no tarp, no floor, no zipper) at around 1.5 lbs. From a purely weight perspective, would you not do better with a bug sock for sleeping and a bug hat?

Those numbers are way different then what I have. With the few modifications I've made in the latest origami prototype I came up with 8.748 ounces including tie outs, two way zipper, and draw cords for sealing the suspension holes. The entire thing (including floor) is made from Nanoseeum.

I need to scan the drawings of the parts to show the dimensions of the things but using 0.7oz per square year Nanoseeum and keeping the design just big enough, the entire area of all the panels before sewing is 10.381 square yards. Even before cutting the parts, I'm going to be using 15.665 suare yards of Nanoseeum which will only weigh slightly under 11 ounces before I start cutting it up. a 4.5' #3 zipper weighs .6 ounces with the pull, 12' of 1/8" shock cord is .8 ounces, and the two drawstrings are going to weigh 0.04 ounces each.

The tarp will be my 7'x9' Cuben fiber tarp which only weighs 5.23 ounces with all the tie outs installed. I may have to modify how I use it and go back to trying the continuous ridge-line again. This will lower the weight on the tarp but add some more weight for a ridge-line that won't slip like the z-line I tried earlier in that application.

I admit that net is not the optimal floor. But I haven't found a good replacement for it yet. IMO Tyvek is probably best, but it is three times the weight of the Nanoseeum. If I were to use it, that would add 2.47 ounces to the design. Another possible bottom would be heavier cuben fiber, but that doesn't seem like a cost effective idea.

[slowhike]

I don't know that I would want the floor made of a waterproof material.
It would be likely to gather water at some point.

I had wondered about a section of a more durable net/mesh material. It wouldn't need to be very big, just large enough for your foot traffic.
Maybe even a smaller, replaceable, shake off-able piece of some waterproof material (Tyvek maybe), being smaller, it wouldn't be as much of a water trap.

[Pipsissewa]

This guy: Bearpaw has some interesting ideas for ground dwellers. He says his 1-2 person net tent with 30D Silnylon bathtub floor net tent.jpg can weigh as little as 11 oz. Just looking at his pictures may inspire some designs for Sgt. Rock's idea.