View Full Version : Bug Bivy - Should I take?
Hi,
I'm thru-hiking the AT, starting in March 2013. I own a lightweight bug bivy. Should I take it with me in the beginning or just wait until the bug's get bad in New England and then get it sent to me?
Thanks!
Llama Legs
06-21-2012, 19:23
I'd say go without. Lightweight head net maybe, which can also be used to filter sea monkeys out of the water.
Wise Old Owl
06-21-2012, 20:06
Head nets are for hiking - they are useless for sleeping -"been there done that". Have it dropped shipped to a post office before you get to New England.
WIAPilot
06-21-2012, 20:18
I have one and I'm going to have mine sent to me. Why carry excess wt until I have to??
WingedMonkey
06-21-2012, 20:38
You don't say what you are sleeping in (tarp, tent, hammock).
You will certainly find mosquitoes in swarms well before New England. One of only two times on the AT that I ever set up a tent in a shelter was in that dismal shelter in Pennsylvania. (my other time was in a heavy snow a few yeas later).
Wise Old Owl
06-21-2012, 20:39
Hey Stop pickin on my dismal moody Pa shelter!:rolleyes:
WingedMonkey
06-21-2012, 21:12
Hey Stop pickin on my dismal moody Pa shelter!:rolleyes:
If I said dismal and damp, would Rausch Gap shelter come to mind?
:eek:
Sacchoromyces
06-23-2012, 15:09
You will need bug pro well before New England. If you have no other you should take it with you, or get one by VA.
My shelter is just an 8 x 10 tarp, with a ground sheet and a sleep pad. So I don't really have much bug protection, but I think I'll just have it sent to me around NJ possibly.
Berserker
06-26-2012, 12:55
The only advice I can give is based on what I ran into on a long section last year. I did most of NY and part of CT in July. The bugs were atrocious, and I was happy I had my DuoMid with innernet along. I talked with several thrus that were having issues sleeping in the shelters due to the bugs. What was happening is it was quite warm at night so they could not hole up inside their sleeping bag comfortably, and the noseeums (sand fleas, sand gnats or whatever else they are called) were relentless after dark. So based on that alone I think your idea of getting it sent to you at some point is a good one.
Take it wth you the bugs will start comming out in april, this year i was surprised how early they started. i was in mosquitoes and no-seums from tennesse on, so take it. RED-DOG ( Flip-Flop 96 & GA-ME 06 & GA-ME 2012 ):dance