Bushwalk Australia

I've got a Warbonnet blackbird with the double fabric. It's got a built in bug net on the top. Last night, by a lake, the squadrons of mozzies zoomed in, and I was being bitten through both layers plus my clothes! I did have an underquilt, but not snugged up due to the heat.
I ended up using my top quilt under my body to stop the little buggers, was ok as it was a warm night.
Anyone else been bitten through two layers of hammock? I thought that wasn't meant to happen!
And will insect repellant spray directly on my hammock damage or degrade the fabric?

Sounds horrible I can't speak for your circumstances but up north I used to spray the Off! brand over everything then leave for a day in full sun to air, after that I never really had a problem. Wash and repeat after each trip. The proboscis - if the mozzie is large enough and /or the right species - can work it's way through many types of material. Not much comfort I know but maybe something you could try.

Permethrin is commonly used to keep the little blighters at bay

That does sound horrible. I had heard of this before but doubted it could really happen particulaly through clothes and double layer. I personally wouldnt spray anything onto a hammock material, but there must be something out there that wont affect it. I had actually been considering making a large bugnet that would envelope the whole hammock but put the idea aside. Perhaps in am area like that it would be useful

Eek, how horrible. Like Simon suggests ( was going to say "Simon says"!), soak whole lot in permethrin.

A

perfectlydark wrote:That does sound horrible. I had heard of this before but doubted it could really happen particulaly through clothes and double layer. I personally wouldnt spray anything onto a hammock material, but there must be something out there that wont affect it. I had actually been considering making a large bugnet that would envelope the whole hammock but put the idea aside. Perhaps in am area like that it would be useful

Permethrin is commonly used in the USA on hammock material and clothing.

The bug net you are thinking about would be a 'Fronkey' net, personally I prefer it now to the integrated net, easy to make, and yes it would largely solve the mozzie biting through the fabric problem also.

andrewa wrote:Eek, how horrible. Like Simon suggests ( was going to say "Simon says"!), soak whole lot in permethrin.

A

Simon says is fine - just do as I say - doesn't work with my kids though .

Thanks simon yes thats the basic design I had in mind

This actually reminds me of my old mate Spadger Wilson. Spadger had set up camp south of Newcastle, and right about sunset, the dreaded Hexham Greys started swarming. If you aren't familiar with them, Hexham Greys are the meanest and hungriest mozzies to ever buzz a camp. So Spadger was under attack, and he ran for his single wall, half-man tent. So those mozzies just kept sticking their proboscii straight through the tent wall. Spadger grabbed one of his hiking thongs, and started slapping the evil *&%$#! stingers.
You may have realised by now that this is the same Spadger Wilson who was Australias Utralight bushwalking pioneer. If you don't know of him, it was he who invented not only the UL hiking thong, but also those ultra short stubbies, and the Jackie Howe singlet. Once upon a time you could get his full range at Gowings. You might recall the ads, "Get your UL clobber from your cobber Spadger".
Anyhow, Spadger is bending these little proboscis as quick as you get finished in a thunder box in summer.....until there were so many of the evil creatures, they just flew away and I never saw my mate Spadger or his tent again.


But on a lighter note...

Those Fronkey style nets have a couple of other advantages. You do away with zips on your hammock, good for weight and hassle free. Also, you have better access for under quilt adjustment. And if you use an underslung gear hammock, you have full access to your beer and crisps while watching England lose on your smartphone !


I'm thinking Picaradin products like Off might be better for the BB, since Permethrin needs to soak in to be effective. Just don't use DEET.

Through your double WBBB and clothes. Hungry buggers.

I've never had that but don't tend to camp much in lower altitude during summer. Sounds like a fun time.
Also I have UL thongs as back-up.......and live near Hexham.....

Yes, the whole setup encased in a suspended bug net was what I was designing in my head on the walk back the next morning. Another option was to bring the sheet of reflective insulation material I put under light pads in a tent. No mozzie could penetrate that but I'm sure they'd find bits of my anatomy that weren't protected by it. It's probably too hot anyway. It can do double duty as the back support for my GG Mariposa pack instead if the eggshell foam though, so wouldn't add to weight.
I'm also trying to think of a sling for my pack to get it off the ground overnight without putting undue strain on the lifter or the shoulders. There were bull ants in there in the morning, even though I had no food stored in it. I originally attached it to the webbing tree strap via a carabiner, but wasn't happy with the prolonged hanging, even with it almost empty. I do have an under gear hammock but it seems a bit big. Now if I could also make it do double duty and be a pack cover for rain I'd be a happy chappy. Something to work on.

OSM.....I wouldn't go hammocking there again!

As for Spadger's ultralight thong.....??!

Or am I thinking about the wrong sort of thong?

A

were you on the west coast of the south island per chance?

Wayno, most of my NZ trips are on West Coast. Soaking tent and hammock in permethrin has made a big difference to my enjoyment in relation to the sandflies. Would love to soak clothing too, but, as we are normally fly fishing, I am cognisant of the fact that permethrin and fish don't go that well together!

A

Haha, Wayno, no, slightly closer to home. Less than a ten minute drive from us is Thirlmere Lakes NP. We can do a nice little 3/4 hour stroll and camp overnight if we want sleep serenaded by frogs and cicadas, or to test something new out, without risking life and limb. If it doesn't work we can bail and drive home. And in the morning, we get to have brunch at our fav cafe. Hard work, this bushwalking thing!

The water level is low at the moment, not really enough to kayak in, and the mosquitoes seem to have concentrated their efforts. I'm usually a mozzie magnet, but this was pretty bad even for someone used to them honing in on me especially . Next time I'm wearing earplugs to block out their whine.
And if I had been wearing an American version of a thong, it's not just my back and arms that would have been bitten through the hammock!

I might try the permethrin suggestion, seeing it's not going to damage fabric.

OSM the gear hammock/pack cover is extremely easy to make. Ive been using mine made out of silnylon for a few years now. I think I posted about it when I did it. I'll see if I can dig up the thread
Edit: here you go
viewtopic.php?p=102378#p102378

Bluegum Mic wrote:OSM the gear hammock/pack cover is extremely easy to make. Ive been using mine made out of silnylon for a few years now. I think I posted about it when I did it. I'll see if I can dig up the thread
Edit: here you go
viewtopic.php?p=102378#p102378

Nice work Mic. Have you used it as a gear hammock? I have a gear hammock but have only used it the once.

Thanks Mic. Just the sort of thing I was thinking about.
(I added a couple of questions to your post, as they weren't mozzie related)

Wow, I have never had mozzies bite through a double bottom before! You must have some big mozzies! I have noticed some are stopped by a single layer, where other types get through to various degrees. But never through double fabric.

simonm wrote:Permethrin is commonly used to keep the little blighters at bay

I second that. It is really easy to do and lasts a long time. I did this to some single layer Hennesseys after the kids got covered in mossie bites one night. Though even through the single layer, the mozzies only seemed to be able to give them lots of shallow little bites (not proper mozzie bites).

Shouldnt be an issue in my tenth wonder as the second layer hangs somewhat loosley over the main hammock. Unless they got betwee the layers or decide not to bring the outer

I never had mossies biting me through my warbonnet hammock.

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They breed em tough down south Phil. Still scratching as I speak!

Ouch, you think they would be tougher up here.

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