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Tarp Camping Questions and Concerns


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  • #1292970
    Andrew Brinkman
    Member

    @amuroray

    Locale: Southern California

    For those of you who tarp camp I need some real experience with what it is like to tarp camp. My chief concern is obviously insects. I understand that one can use a net but what do you do about crawling insects like ants, ticks, centipedes, scorpions, spiders etc.? My answer would be using permethrin but how effective is it in repelling these type of insects. The benefits are amazing I am sure once you overcome this minor issue. Weight, views, openness with nature etc. So what do you all do? Any enlightenment would be awesome.

    #1902648
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "I understand that one can use a net but what do you do about crawling insects like ants, ticks, centipedes, scorpions, spiders etc.?"

    They don't eat much.

    Permethrin seems to work pretty good on clothing.

    If there are too many bugs, go to a different place. Last week I was out for a five-day trip, and I never once detected anything crawling around me.

    –B.G.–

    #1902651
    Devon Cloud
    Member

    @devoncloud

    Locale: Southwest

    Permetherin will stop insects from crawling on your body anywhere where you have clothes on and solved most of the issue right there but will not do anything to help you with exposed skin. I guess it all depends on where you are camping and at what temperature. I would imagine you could get away with just a net over your head as long as you were covered elsewhere, maybe some deet on your hands and any other exposed areas. I have found as long as you can cover your head with netting and are covered with permetherin and deet, dealing with the bugs is very easy after you get to sleep… it is dealing with the buzzing in your ears or them landing on your face that causes a sleepless night. Myself, I moved away from tarps and have gone with hammock camping. A bit heavier but the sleep is so much better.

    #1902656
    Randy Martin
    BPL Member

    @randalmartin

    Locale: Colorado

    If crawling bugs are your concern then I would suggest a Bug Bivy to accompany your Tarp. Something like one of the following

    MLD Bug Bivy http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=55

    Bear Paw Minimalist 1 http://www.bearpawwd.com/shelters_floors/minimalist1_bivy.html

    The beauty of that setup is when the weather is nice you can just setup the bug bivy with no tarp and enjoy the stars and extra ventilation without worry of bugs.

    Just so that all biases are clear, my current setup is a GG SpinnTwinn with the MLD Bug Bivy.

    Cheers.

    #1902660
    James Marco
    BPL Member

    @jamesdmarco

    Locale: Finger Lakes

    "Last week I was out for a five-day trip, and I never once detected anything crawling around me."

    ;) Tell you anything, Bob? (chuckle…)

    Yeah permethrin works pretty good. Mostly, this is your face, since sleeping, you will be in your bag. A permethrin coated head net works. I personnaly don't bother…just slather on a bit of DEET and call it good. Scorpions (in the southern states or in desert areas, can be aoying, though.

    #1902668
    Scott Bentz
    BPL Member

    @scottbentz

    Locale: Southern California

    Andrew,

    I think you would also find that most of us just cowboy camp when we can. No tarp at all. Try it. It is quite liberating. I really don't think much about bugs when I hike in the Sierra. I always carry a headnet just in case there are bugs but rarely have to use it.

    If I am hiking early in the season I will use my Gossamer Gear The One since it has full bug protection but haven't used it in a few years always preferring a tarp.

    I also hear there are bears out there too.

    Scott

    #1902674
    Randy Martin
    BPL Member

    @randalmartin

    Locale: Colorado

    Of course cowboy camping in a sleeping bag does provide quite a bit of protection with a headnet. A quilt doesn't offer that same protection. So either your ok with the risk of crawling bugs, mice etc..getting on you or you are not in which case a light Bug Bivy will do the trick.

    #1902675
    drowning in spam
    Member

    @leaftye

    Locale: SoCal

    This is why I bring a bivy. I read before going to sleep, usually on my stomach. My headlight seems to act like a magnet, and eventually a few of them fly under my body or quilt if I don't use a bivy.

    #1902685
    Here There
    BPL Member

    @cowexnihilo

    Crawlies tend to wake me up when I ground sleep, so I use a bivy most of the time (either full mesh or dwr with mesh head area). I've mostly switched to hammocks though so the crawlies don't usually get to me anymore.

    -David

    #1902696
    Theron Rohr
    BPL Member

    @theronr

    Locale: Los Angeles, California

    Up in the SoCal mountains there are very few bugs. Next time you're there setup your tent but try sleeping out. Normally there's nothing to "bug" you.

    In lower elevation grassy places there will inevitably be some big juicy spider lurking outside you bag in the morning though. But I've never been bitten by anything. Keeping your imagination under control is the main problem :)

    #1902700
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    "there will inevitably be some big juicy spider lurking outside"

    Just think of that as extra protein.

    –B.G.–

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