On last summer’s AT hike, I used a Sil-Shelter with a bug bivy. I spent a lot of time thinking about the potential advantages of a Sil-Shelter-like tarp with a strip of no-see-um netting all the way around the bottom, sewn to a waterproof floor far enough in so water off the fly doesn’t drain onto it. I think this would provide a lot more bug-free room at less weight than the tarp/bivy combo. Does such a thing exist? Do you think it would work?
Colter
Hey Colt. Haven’t heard from you in a while.
The Go-Lite Nest is such a critter. Either with or without the tarp. A full no see-um with a dry floor, about 38x8’ I think. I’m looking.
B+B '01
Have you heard of the tarp-tent by Shires? tarptent.com Saw one of these bad boys in action on the CT and looked quite good. But if you own a sil-shelter already, why not modify it yourself as you see fit. I think a strip of bug netting around the side would not be too difficult to do at all. Would suggest just using a silnylon ground cloth instead of sewinf a floor to tarp. Thant way you have more freedom, can go floorless on trips when floor not totally necessary, save weight, carry lighter material (silnylon works very well as ground cloth… But will wear out eventually, however I’m still on my first one)
Sweeper
I have already tried the netting. I sewed a strip of no-seeum netting around the bottom–it was about 12’’ long–and have used it for two years that way. I keep it firmly grounded with stones, tevas, sticks, whatever. A few weeks ago while I was on the AT in New Jersey I had to camp by a spring and was attacked all night long by mosquitos. I couldn’t see how they were getting in. In May this arrangement kept out all bugs and small critters. I’m thinking about sewing more Silnylon to the netting, to make that floor you were talking about. Katydid
Katydid