I made a ghost hammock. Nice and light, but the skeeters are out. Is there a way to sleep in a hammock without using a bugnet and not get eaten alive?
I made a ghost hammock. Nice and light, but the skeeters are out. Is there a way to sleep in a hammock without using a bugnet and not get eaten alive?
I have no idea, but im curious to know as well.
NONE of the AT shelters have bug netting.
They are sometimes located next to skeeter producing bogs, ponds & puddles.
Hikers survive in them*, & I do not recall ever seeing a hiker set up a personal bug netting.
I would get a reliable bug repellant though.
*I will not sleep in one EVER AGAIN!
When you have a backpack on, no matter where you are, you’re home.
PAIN is INEVITABLE. MISERY is OPTIONAL.
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.
Check out the "HUG" bug net. If you Google it you will find Dereck Hansen's website. I think they are $10. If you add hammock forums to the search you will find where he posted instructions for a DIY version. It does work well and mine is only 2.4oz with noseum nano netting.
Or just wear long sleeves and head net to bed.
Jason
"It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people THINK your stupid than to open it and PROVE it" - SFC Kagawa, United States Army (my old platoon SGT)
*Originally -Abraham Lincoln 16th president of US (1809 -1865)
Skeeter activities usually die down a little about an hour or two after sunset anyways. The pick back up at dawn. Depending on your travel/sleep times or habits you may not need anything. MHO
Jason
"It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people THINK your stupid than to open it and PROVE it" - SFC Kagawa, United States Army (my old platoon SGT)
*Originally -Abraham Lincoln 16th president of US (1809 -1865)
Permithrin!!!! That is all...
Live, Laugh, Love, if that doesn't work. Load, Aim and Fire, repeat as necessary...
Buy, Try, Learn, Repeat
I use just a head net and that works for me. As long as your wearing clothing, the head net will keep the bugs off your only exposed part.
Surviving and enjoying yourself are not one and the same. Camping without a net on the hammock in bug season, which is usually warm to hot, is probably not going to add much the enjoyment factor. YMMV.
I'm not a huge fan of bug nets and prefer not to use them.
I treat my hammock and clothing (including a bandanna) with permethrin about once a month during bug season. I hang the bandanna above my face on the hammock ridge line and also give myself a dose of picardin. No bug net and no bug bites.
I've heard of some sections of the PCT and CDT where the mosquitoes are particularly voracious so I'm not sure how well this technique will work, but it is worth a shot.
*Heaven best have trees, because I plan to lounge for eternity.
Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement. - Mark Twain
Trail name: Radar
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