Topic

Mesh tent for the tropics

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Chris Friesen BPL Member
PostedMar 18, 2014 at 6:50 pm

Here's the deal – I'm traveling with my family of four for one year. To keep expenses down we'll be spending a lot of time enjoying southeast Asia. From what I can see most places that we can afford come equipped with mosquito nets. Is it worth it to bring along a separate mesh inner for the occasional camping trip? I'm a big fan of both traveling light and backpacking light, and I'm struggling not to overpack for every contingency. That being said, I have a MLD Supermid innernet that will hold the four of us in a pinch.

For those of you who have traveled there recently, or for those of you who might live there now – should I bring it along or should I rely on purchasing something separately if needed?

Ian BPL Member
PostedMar 18, 2014 at 10:46 pm

Chris,

By no means am I an expert on the topic but I've spent some time in SE and SW Asia. I enjoy traveling through that part of the world but I'd use an extra measure of caution with the mosquitos and bring the innernet.

In Cambodia for instance, malaria isn't a big threat between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap but you don't have to travel too far from those cities to get into malaria country (dengue still a problem though). Can't speak for the rest of SE Asia but I know the malaria pills I was taking in Pakistan weren't effective against all of the strains of Malaria in that region.

The doctors were unable to diagnose but it looks like my boss caught dengue fever in Cambodia. She's fine now but was a hurting unit for a while.

Also, find a quality travel clinic before you go. Some disease carrying mosquitos are diurnal and others are nocturnal. Try to be careful all day but it's helpful to know this stuff when you're in country. A good travel clinic should be able to give you this information.

My point in all this is prevention is key. Bug juice, appropriate tight weave clothing, permetherin, etc are key to having a nice time in that part of the world. I'm sure you can find mosquito netting over there no problem but for camping purposes, your inner net sounds like a winner.

Edit: Also, landmines and unexploded ordinance are still a problem in that part of the world so be careful where you choose to go off trail.

Chris Friesen BPL Member
PostedMar 20, 2014 at 7:33 am

Thanks Ian. I'll be sure to spend some time at my local travel clinic. I'm pretty sure I'll end up taking the innernet and maybe a gallon or two of pure DEET.

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