Bug net skirt or bivy for a deschutes tarp clone?

[Sean P]

hi,

a question best answered by deschutes plus owners, I suspect:

I am tossing up whether to modify my shelter (custom but modeled closely on a smd deschutes) with a bug net skirt or to just buy a bivy with bug headnet.

The skirt would run around the perimeter of the base and, as the shelter is essentially a mid with a zippered beak, extend from the beak to the ground.

i like the idea of the skirt for summer but the bivy would be more flexible – I just don’t like the idea of cowering in a bivy when the bugs are bad.

For reference, I hike in Australia, so hot days and nights are common as are cold alpine conditions below freezing- so I will buy a bivy at some stage anyway.

i guess my question really relates to how useful, practical and fiddly would a bug skirt be?

[Lester Moore]

Each method has pros and cons, but plenty of people do just fine either way, so you probably can’t make a bad decision here. A bug skirt is a one-piece solution that’s always there with no installation, so it’s easy. A standalone tarp is more versatile as you could pair your tarp with different “inners” depending on conditions. For bugs and heat (but no ants), a STS Nano Mosquito Pyramid net would likely work fine for 3 ounces, or a full net tent for several ounces (myog) or 11 ounces (SMD Serenity net tent) for bad bugs. For alpine conditions, a full inner with partial solid walls (MYOG) or a bivy could be added.

[Matthew / BPL]

I like bivies because of the simplicity of site selection/setup/breakdown on dry nights. I don’t like hanging out in a tent. I rely on clothing for bug protection which frees me up to experience the outdoors.

That said, I agree with what Lester said about modularity. I do have inners for my Deschutes and Duomid. I don’t use them often but I have those options on hand for the right trip.

[Paul S.]

If I could change one thing on my D+ it would be to have a way to leave the door open but still ha e bug protection when it’s hot. An inner would accomplish this or a mesh door.

A bonus of not using an inner is you can use the full space of the tarp.

[Sean P]

Hi Paul,

yes I am considering getting the maker of the original shelter to put a long section of mesh (essentially a mesh door) in the beak for that very reason, as well as a shorter skirt around the mid section.

[Sean P]

Thanks all . I might try a pyramid net (a friend has one) to see how that goes in it first.

cheers

[Cameron M]

I use a net tent in my CF deschutes when required, and I have a dedicated sewn modified perimeter version in a silnylon deschutes. You can see that in my dedicated version I have addressed the door problem and have a huge area to enjoy for cooking, etc.

 

[Paul S.]

How did you snag that? I want it… and in DCF

[Matthew / BPL]

A bugnet behind the door seems nice with all of that interior space but then I wonder why not just sew a floor into it like a ZPacks Plex tent?

[Sean P]

That looks perfect. How did you address the entrance? Zip?velcro?

[Cameron M]

I use both these my Deschutes with a zpacks poncho. More versatility.

I sewed the bug net along the interior seam. Easy, 30 mins.

I use the nano-net for the CF because most of the time I don’t use it. The single is too small; not enough height, and be-warned, both the single and double do not have the peak in the center. It takes a double nano-net to get enough height  and enough length to yank it over to something closer to approximate center.

To enter, you lift it up.

BTW I don’t use bug spray, and I am long past the days when I can tolerate hearing the mosquitos too close to my face.

[Greg F]

I use my deschutes with a bivy, wear long sleeves and pants to protect from bugs and gloves if they get real bad.  I also have a head net.

im not a hangout in the tent person and I like opening up the doors.

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