UL bugnet for 8×10 flat tarp?

A Sea to Summit net

I used a bug headnet with a baseball cap on the PCT. Works great, and you can wear it during the day.

That Nano net looks awesome Ed, thanks, and for that weight and cost I may get a double too for when my gf comes along. I have a head net that I use when hiking and for breaks, but when in camp and under the tarp I’d prefer an actual net around me. Looks like the Nano might work in a number of tarp configurations, if I play around with it a bit.

I found the Nano didn’t have enough space sitting up for me, and the netting picked up every stick and leaf when tucked underneath. So I sewed a zipper along at the base, along a short side and down a long side. Then added a floor.  Heaps more room now.   I’m using it under a 3×3 flat tarp.

Megan, that sounds interesting – what did you use for your floor? I usually use polycro as a groundsheet and was thinking of just tucking the net under that, but what you’ve done sounds a bit more refined!

Pete, I had a piece of 1.43 oz/sqyd Cuben Fiber so used that. Next time I’d go for a thinner floor as I always use a ground sheet underneath anyway.

I’m changing from a two person MSR Hubba Hubba tent, to 3x3m flat tarp from Terra Rosa Gear, so needed a bug net asap. Wasn’t sure what bug net to get but friend had the Nano, so I borrowed it. I’d not used a sewing machine before, but suddenly got access to one, so it was a rush job with what I had handy that day. Else I was going to be hand sewing or buying. The cuben was lighter than a piece of old tent floor, so it won the toss. There are lighter zippers than the one I used. Even ones with double sided zipper heads – something I found after I’d sewn it in. I’m such a newbie for sewing stuff; I wound the reel under the needle by hand as couldn’t get the machine to do it. Also had to unpick a lot as material bunched or crept under the needle and got sewn together when it shouldn’t. Still, I’m feeling very pleased with myself that it all worked out. Was going to post here, but got shy.

I didn’t do anything fancy with the stitching. Just overlapped the material flat and sewed a straight stitch over them both in an almost straight line. I was worried the mesh would tear with use, specially about the zipper, but it hasn’t. Used it daily for a couple of months now.

I made the floor to be a bathtub shape with folded up the sides and squared corners. I thought I’d add supports to the corners and then tie outs so that it would tension the bathtub and hold the edges up – like in the tent. Haven’t bothered doing this. Using it, either I have the mount high to pull the sides up, or I fold the top of the mesh over the center line and tension it down – so again it pulls the sides up. Stuff inside holds the floor down, and the edges curl upwards. I like it that I can pull it up from inside. Figure this might be useful one day in wind and rain.

I left the elastic thread in the base of the net to give me a sewing guide. But I run over it a couple of times, so now I can’t tighten it, or take it out easily. I’d take it out next time and save the weight.

The placement of the zipper was chosen to be minimal sewing, but the around the corner placement works well for me to climb in. It clamp shell opens. I used one zipper as that is all I had. I’d put two next time – in diagonal corners. There have been times I wanted access from the other end.

Here’s a pic setup inside. It’s not tensioned.

Pete, Another couple of thoughts.

I hang out in a net a lot at camp – why I had the 2 person tent.  The Nano single, tucked under, was cramped for me to sit up in without touching the sides. Tucking under didn’t keep out crawling bugs either.  Adding the base gave a lot more space inside the net. Sewing at the bottom, the approx 220mm that would tuck under adds to the height. It really makes a big difference to the usable area inside.

Looking at mine, maybe with a bit wider floor, you’d get two in there?

Hi Megan – that is really helpful, thanks so much! This is just the kind of thing I had in mind, though yours is far superior, so you have inspired me. So rather than cuben, you think a different fabric for the floor – silnylon perhaps? It’s really helpful too that, having made yours you can see how to improve it next time – I’ll learn from your experience. Good to hear that the Nano solo actually works out more roomy this way too.

The difficulty for me would be getting to grips with a sewing machine – there’d be a very real danger of sewing the net to my face. May need to phone a friend for this one, or spend the next year sewing it by hand.

Thanks for taking the time to explain what you did, photo and all.

Hmmm, looks an interesting modification.

Pete, Your welcome. I spend heaps of time trying to work out if it would work. Tried pegging it together and playing with sketchup to figure out how much space I’d have and if to spend the time to sew it up or buy a commercial bug net. If you hadn’t asked, I’d have stayed silent. Answering is a way for me to give back to all the helpful hints from the group here.

I want to try silnylon next time. Can’t think of any negatives besides slippery to sew. It would also pack down smaller than the cuben.  Probably last longer too; cuben isn’t very abrasion resistant.  Don’t know any other options for fabrics that I could use.  Maybe someone else has ideas?

btw. The Nano mesh is soft compared to all other mesh in tents I’ve owned. Not found it matters yet, except for every leaf and twig sticking to it.

This is a first go with the Nano and sewing. I’ll use it until it fails and then improve on the next version.  Maybe by then I’ll get some tips from you :)