Is it possible to sleep without a bugnet and survive?

[spectactical]

I have tried Avon Skin-so-Soft as an alternative to DEET and found that it works, but doesnt last long. It seems like once it dries, it is done. I cant find a perfect balance until winter. I'm either covered in chemicals, overheating from reduced ventilation with a bugnet, or being eaten alive by bugs. And even with DEET, there is still that irritating whine of swarming mosquitos...
I am hesitant to use permethrin after reading the warning labels. It claims to be safe once dried, but does sweat re-activate the badness?

[sledjockey]

I toughed it for a few outings since I starting hanging and finally gave in for last weekend's outing. I had to get a net, so I used a gift card for "Richard"'s Sporting goods and got the heavy as heck ENO. Glad I did, too. The outside of the net was just covered in bugs. Don't think I will be camping in even comfortable weather without it from now on. Also, this is Western Washington.... Really squishy year round.

[lesspayne]

I am hesitant to use permethrin after reading the warning labels. It claims to be safe once dried, but does sweat re-activate the badness?

I am also curious about this. Does getting your clothing wet either by sweating or jumping in the lake "re-activate the badnesses?"

[Sky kid]

The Permethrin is treated and withstands several washings. If this is the case, i doubt that getting it wet would cause any problems. Like in the video on the last page, it's on your shirt, similar to how the color is on there, it aint' coming off.
I've had some mosquitos bite me at a few of those AT shelters, no fun. i even had permethrin on the pants, and they flew up the leg.. I'm sure they died, but the damage was done..

[pizza]

i even had permethrin on the pants, and they flew up the leg.. I'm sure they died, but the damage was done..

Yeah, that's why I tuck my pant legs in gaiters. I'm amazed at how many don't do this. I guess it ain't "cool". It's very effective though for ticks. I've never gotten a tick since using permethrin AND tucking in my pant legs. The first year I used permethrin I didn't tuck in my pant legs. A tick crawled up my leg and dug in. He was dead when I found em'. Lucky I didn't get Lymes. I can only imagine the permethrin killed him since my pants had been soaked and not just sprayed on the outside.

[GrayDog]

I am hesitant to use permethrin after reading the warning labels. It claims to be safe once dried, but does sweat re-activate the badness?

I keep my hammock treated with permethrin 'cuz the skeeters in Florida are about as bad as they come. During hot summer nights, the only way to stay cool is bare skin in contact with the treated hammock. Haven't had any problems.


Trivia:
Believe it or not the original name for Orange County, FL (where Orlando is located) was Mosquito County.

[thanantos]

I have heard they try to avoid flying over moving water. Not sure if that is true or not, but if it is you could hang right over a small creek or something.

Anyone who's ever fly fished can attest that this is definitely not true. The bugs might "try to avoid it" but they are definitely successful at accomplishing it.

[Steve D]

Anyone who's ever fly fished can attest that this is definitely not true. The bugs might "try to avoid it" but they are definitely successful at accomplishing it.

Got that right! A while back I was fishing a pond out of my kayak and got MUNCHED...

[Tylerpienta]

Avon skin-so-soft works because it has witch hazel in it which bugs don't like... I bought some bug spray from REI that was 100% deet and it works well.