Parasites: chiggers, ticks, fleas, lice, black widows, etc.

[delete this account]

 

[jbphilly]

I've never been one to embrace ultralight to the point of discomfort, and for me sleeping exposed to biting insects is not comfortable. I sleep either in a hammock with a bug net, or in an enclosed tent - or in the open, if it's very cold weather and no bugs are out or if I'm in the desert.

For when I'm out of the shelter, bug spray generally works for me, but I've also never been in places with extreme mosquito/black fly populations.

[Colorado Cool Breeze]

I grew up in the South. You forgot snakes, opossums, raccoons, mice.
Spent many nights as a boyscout in a bottomless tent. Turning my flash light on in the middle of the night
to find 10 wolf spiders hanging out at the top of the tent was quite traumatic for a 10 year old.
A neighbor, a returning Vietnam Vet gave me an army jungle hammock and I have been sleeping in a hammock ever since.
Even after moving to Colorado where there are 10 times fewer bugs and night critters I still prefer to swing from two trees.

[Adam Alphabet]

If you prefer tarp camping an UL bivy or netting bivy is the perfect match. A little wind protection, bug protection, rain spray protection, etc....

Mountain Laurel Designs: http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/index.php?cPath=22

Titanium Goat: http://www.titaniumgoat.com/products.html

There are many more out there.  Or if you're crafty you can make your own. A simple flat bivy is a relatively easy project, bath tub floor a little more involved.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=44617

Good Luck, don't get eaten.

[bmike-vt]

also look at tarptents. love my contrail thus far. if i weren't on my fargo with drop bars i would have gone with the moment.
its lighter than many mainstream available tarp + bivy combos.
(not lighter than some of those things linked above!)


my tarp tent contrail by mbeganyi, on Flickr