How I Deal With Bugs When I'm Camping With A Tarp 

Thanks ntfd60! Those flies can be brutal in Canada and I've also experienced similar in Vermont and Maine. Happy to hear you're still getting out there with the tarp!

Yep, I luve in VT and work in Maine for a month each summer and my head nets and full upper body bug suit get a lot of use. Hoody is nice when cool enough to allow their use. Time of day matters...

Same in Scotland. Always amusing seeing them follow your CO2 'trail'. In spring to autumn, those pesky things can't be ignored if you stop for any length of time, and net time (rated for Scotland midges) over a wide brim hat is a great and quick way to deal with them!

@@ipedros7 Are you meaning the midges or the "Birch Flies" (these are actually of the family of the "Canadian Black Fly" the OP refers to)?? The worst place in the UK for them is where I live- Loch Insh/Kincraig (It's mentioned in the "bugs" section of the Mountaineering Scotland website!) and now the birch leaves are out the flies will be here for a week or two(but when? Who knows.... A stiff breeze always keeps them down and evenings can be bad when wind dies off) I swim in Loch Insh most days spring to autumn and the last time I got caught I legged it the 400m home in my boots with no socks and laces undone....they make the midges look like a mild irritant and I've seen kids at the watersports centre there with blood running down their necks, and our collie gets mauled by them...utter ba&%ards!!!

@@ipedros7 The worst I've ever experienced was outside of Fairbanks, Alaska during the summer. The mosquitoes were like dark clouds. I've been to Scotland, but didn't do any backpacking then, just some day hikes, and thankfully didn't experience bugs too badly, though I'm sure they can be intense there as well. Any cool and wet places seem to be the worst.

I always make sure there is nothing for critters to climb into. I keep my sleeping bag packed until I get into it and my pack is always zipped. I’ve never had any problems with mice or snakes as of yet.

You can make tarp-tent setups with 10x10s and up, you should look into them.

Basecamp: I forgot to zip up my tent all the way at the bottom once. Was gone 9 hrs came back at dusk, banana slugs all in my fkn sleeping bag 😂 I laugh now, but was super pissed trying to hunt them all down😂

There are bug net 'tents', you could use a tarp with one of those :) If you'd want to ofcourse

Tent inners are a fine workaround. Benefits and versatility of a tarp with the reliability of a tent. I use a hammock so I just use my hammock bugnet but yeah

Get an old, long, somewhat worn sock. Fill it with diatomaceous earth, dust around your sleeping area and on your lower legs. Any bugs get in that stuff, and they are toast (especially with the non food grade, microscopically sharp stuff--kills them even faster). Very safe for humans, unless you breath in a lot of the dust (especially the non food grade stuff). Granted, this only works for weekend/short trips, and not longer trips/thru hikes.

@officialnomad7268 Thanks! I’ll have to try your tip. Thanks for sharing. Glad you were able to escape the boat of fire ants. That sounds like quite an experience!

@@matjobin That was but a part of my most terrifying and epic adventure to date. I didn't get much video footage of the crazy stuff, but I did upload some of the peaceful parts of that 2 week adventure of mostly paddling, a 19ft sailboat down the Congaree River.

@@0fficialnomad Sounds like an epic adventure and a great way to spend a couple of weeks!

@@matjobin Yes indeed! Thanks again for sharing your content bro!

@@0fficialnomad I want to hear all about it. Have you told the story somewhere??

Uurrrmmmmmm

Dried cow dung? Really?

They used dried cow dung in the prairies in wood stoves etc. This the new 'cow pies'. When dry they don't stink as it's dried processed grass!

You mean due to Bill Gates' bioweapon experiments, don't you?

Those oils are helpful and are actually some of the plant oils used in the bug lotion I show in this video. Cedarwood oil is great for ticks too.

Also quality lavender oil or any mint. Mint took over my herb garden so I’ll just pick a top off and rub the leaves over my exposed skin. It works well for mosquitoes in south east Texas

Thanks @sundaymorninghikes6275! Sanity can be a game changer out there, especially when the bug pressure is extremely high. Sorry to hear of your run in with the brown recluse. Completely understand your decision with the tent. Tents have their benefits too. Glad you are still able to get out there and enjoy the trails. I haven't heard of those wipes, but will have to check them out at some point. Thanks for sharing!

If you set up your tarp in a breezeway, the spiders can blow away

those wipes sound very interesting. tea tree is such a power house. going to strongly consider getting those because a tea tree wipe on the feet every night would absolutely keep the socks and shoes way fresher on a longer hike/camp too. will look into making my own

Feel free to be enclosed but if a spider wants in it will find a way, went camping all summer last year despite being very carful spiders periodically got in and I only opened the door to get in.

@@88WhiteRhino Yup, I agree, but I'm not going to make it easy for them by going without a net.

@vikingskuld Thanks for watching! I haven't tried that method so I can't speak of it, but I'm glad you found something that works for you.

I sleep with my mora inside my sleeping bag, and pepper spray always visible and close by. Tarp, tent or hammock - either way we’re really vulnerable out there. Sleeping bags are constricting of movement do having a quick way out is something I don’t hear about often, but could be the difference between being mauled to death and having a fighting chance

Thanks Wolfe! Katabatic makes some great gear. I've done the same on occasion with my Borah Gear bivy. Love the versatility of the system.

@JohnMury Nice! Thanks for watching. Like with everything, results may vary with everyone. In my experience, heavy rain had reduced the effectiveness of permethrin. Sunlight will certainly aid in that. Hiking for hours in heavy rain, pack strap and back panel friction with hiking, shoving the jacket in the front outer pocket and removing it, infrequent brushing against vegetation, and body oils/dirt/debris could have contributed to what I had found too. InsectShield is a great alternative if there is enough turn around time before a trip or long hike. The product wash-in will last a lot longer than spraying it on. Thanks for sharing!

Heavy rain will take off much of current DWR's pretty fast--I'd be surprised if they didn't take off some other chemical treatments like permethrin. With heavy rain, comes friction and a surprising amount of force from velocity.

Thanks Mario! I appreciate you taking the time to watch my video and I'm happy you found it helpful.

@jhonyerm0 Thanks for visiting my channel and subscribing. I’m happy you’ve been enjoying the content I have on here so far. There’s a lot more to come.

@mesmogruvinski Thanks for stopping by my channel. I’m happy you found the video helpful.

Yes, love the simplicity and versatility of tarps. Thanks for subscribing!

@Smokdeel It’s a great option to have out there. Thanks for watching!

Thanks for watching my video @gud2go50!

Thanks so much Ervinslens!

@fabiogarcia1431 Thanks so much! See you out there!

@mikedevere Thanks for visiting my channel and watching!

You might want to just spray that mixture on the outside of your clothes. You'll avoid it absorbing into your skin.

Also cats shouldn't get near the stuff, it'll kill them.

@@dananorth895 That's when it's still wet. After it's cured, it's not an issue for cats. Definitely don't let cats around it before it dries.

@sigmalife0570 You’re welcome. Thanks for watching!

Permethrin is not being phased out anytime soon in the USA. And when I travel to canada I spray my clothes beforehand. Permethrin is your friend. Talk to someone who has Lyme disease and you will spray your clothes.

Worst bugs I ever experienced were in Alaska, a bit outside of Fairbanks. Just dark clouds of mosquitoes. It's like something out of a B horror movie. Every once in awhile, I think, "sure would be nice to move to Alaska", but then I remember the bugs and I second guess that urge. I can deal with the cold (unfortunately my spouse can't, and we'd would have to split for me to move there).

@@justinw1765 I totally concur. The bugs can be maddening. Worse I have seen were on the shores of Medicine Lake which is NorthWest of Central, AK. The other which was just as bad was on the McKinley River just across from Turtle Hill next to Denali(Mt. McKinley). Could not eat without getting a mouthful of mosquitoes along with the food. Other places(many) were nearly as bad. Bug nets save lives!

Andrew Smith, That is a good option too. I've used it a few times in the past with my square tarp.

Thank you @KingLuey. I appreciate it. 👍

@socrateos Happy you found my video helpful. Thanks for watching.

Source for what colours mosquitoes are most attracted to? Thanks!

Im pretty sure 'blue' downunder attracts sandflies and mosquitos.

Thanks @shaynejohnsonmedia! Nice! They’re great to have on the trail and offer a lot of versatility.

Thanks Berzerker71!

Thanks @davebloggs! I find the cross breeze to help quite a bit too. In some cases, a tent could be better than a tarp. Not only for the protection from those prehistoric skeeters, but also for a little sanity. Thanks for watching!

Screw the chems. Take a net. The flying critters in La. fly in formation, have numbers on their wings and grow fur in the limited winter we have.

@roberttennor1143 Nice! Sounds like a fun MYOG project ahead.

@CraigDroneAdventures Thanks! Those midges can be brutal. Make sure the Headnet is a made of a noseeum mesh and not the larger mesh for mosquitoes, or it could be a rough experience. I’d pack a bivy too like the one in my video depending on the time of year if going with a tarp.

That is some great tips. Thanks for your advice@@matjobin Looking forward to watching more of your content

@@CraigDroneAdventures You’re welcome. Thanks for following along 🙂. A lot more to come!

@terryqueen3233 Some hikers have more luck on their side than bugs. I'd pick up a lotto ticket if I were one of them haha. The tips in my video have helped me greatly over the years though, and I prefer the tarp/bivy combo to other shelter options too. Keep enjoying the hikes!

@koleale Thank you. I haven’t had any trouble with the peppermint Bronners. I’ve actually used peppermint as a bug deterrent in my vegetable/herb garden and found it to be effective there so I thought I would give it a try with backpacking too. Granted some of the other options will be more effective, it’s still a nice alternative. I’ve been very happy with the Herbal Armour bug lotion I showed in the video. It’s been effective against ticks, mosquitoes, gnats and more 🙂.

@@matjobin Fair enough. Thanks for your clear reply. However, if we turn our attention from bugs to bears, the latter’s famed sense of smell is another matter - and a flyswatter might not make the list of defensive options!!!

@AS-os3lj It's a Borah Gear bivy with a dyneema floor and a couple of customizations I asked for when I ordered it. I've been really happy with it and it pairs really well with my tarp when needed.

MF Solo, I love the pack in my video! It's the Pa'lante Packs Joey. Here's a vid I made going over the pack if interested: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-abYQ4UupM-I.html And packing the Joey up for a 4 day stretch out on the trail: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K4MWngVV6Nc.html Most bugs don't bother me either, but the mosquitoes and ticks can be troublesome in the northeast late spring/summer. Haven't had much trouble with them and haven't had a slug on my face yet! That would definitely make the experience interesting🤣. Thanks for watching!

@ianbruce6515 One of my favorite places and not too far from me. I'm out hiking there every year. Sometimes a tent can be more beneficial and makes sense, but I've been able to use a tarp or tarp/bivy system in Maine too. Depends on a lot of factors and the type of trip. We definitely get our fair share of biting insects in the northeast.

@@matjobin For many years, I headed out into the woods in the second week of October and bugs were minimal. September ok too

@JohnMury The fragrance could encourage any inquisitive wildlife, not just bears. It's often the mini bears that I find to be less fearful at certain campsites. I'm not wearing the insect repellent to bed and will use one of the netting options with my tarp if the bugs are really bad. Good campsite selection can help greatly too. My research before heading out for a long hike or shorter trip will determine which is most suitable. The Picaridin is a great alternative to DEET too. I haven't used DEET in many years and I'm very cautious of it these days, especially around my Dyneema gear. Bear activity has increased quite a bit on the AT over the years and the trail has changed too since my hike on it close to 20 years ago. Though it's always good to be bear aware, I'd be more concerned about mini-bears (squirrels, chipmunks, porcupine, raccoons, mice), black flies and mosquitoes in Maine during the summer. Still all things that you will want to keep enticing scents away from. Have a great hike!

@ek-nz That sounds rough. There are some great tents out there and as you mentioned, some of them can be lighter than a tarp/bivy setup. Though I prefer using a tarp, I'll still use a tent instead depending on the type of trip or hike. Everything has its benefits and drawbacks.

Just don't get too close to the campfire...lol

@ivanmaroto8792 The one I purchased has worked well. I don't remember the specific brand, but I had found it on Amazon. I think Sea To Summit has a couple of nice options too.

Repel the mosquitoes in lieu if attracting bears, sounds bad to me

@@johnswanson3741 a dear friend of mine that told me of this 'application' used it for a family event. A lot of people, huge bonfire, loud music, lights shining, loud drunk people everywhere. In that kind of setting it's absolutely safe. I would not advise this for solo camping in the backwoods of Yukon or Alaska!! Hell, in any remote area and alone for that matter. I agree.

Thanks BACPAKR! It's a custom made Dyneema bivy from Borah Gear.

@@matjobin I thought it looked a lot like mine, but mine is not a pretty blue color! I use mine so much that I’d be lost without it. Borah makes a great product.

@@LMay64 I was lucky that there were a couple of different Argon fabric choices available when I placed my order. Couldn't pass up the blue. I've been very happy with it. They do!

@nickhikesinthewoods6150 Thanks! It’s a Borah Gear bivy.

Btw.. the sunblock is waterproof but the bug protection is not… will need to reapply if you swim

@kimelisabethkristensen1485 I’ve found it to provide me with protection for around 4-5 hours before I need to reapply it. It may be different for someone else though and will be dependent on things such as conditions and location.

Tulle will work for mosquitoes but not smaller bugs. You need noseeum mesh for these.

I finally have an explanation as to why I get eaten up/bit and my sister doesn't! O+ blood type! Tyvm!

padizzle It can be pretty tough in CT and southern New England compared to the National Forests up north.

@ckhung2679 Thanks for watching. In the video I'm wearing a Senchi Designs Wren polartec alpha direct fleece, a generic button up dress shirt and Prana Mojo shorts.

@jeffm5808 It’s a Pa’lante Joey. One of my favorite packs! Here’s a closer look at the pack if interested: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-abYQ4UupM-I.html

@chrisgage894 This 7x9 tarp works really well in rain and does keep me dry. Good campsite selection and suitable pitches will help. If it’s a sideways rain and my pitch and site selection aren’t enough, I’ll pair my tarp with a bivy.

@cakeshoe Yes, citronella oil is actually one of the ingredients in the bug lotion I showed briefly in the video. I find it to work really well for bugs along with the other oils in the repellent and have been very happy with it. Results may be different for others though.