BWCA Permethrin your sleeping bag? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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06/06/2018 08:34AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
We're tripping mid-July this year, so we won't be in prime bug season.

Last couple years, we've had 2 people, and we hammocked bunk-bed style under a Nemo Bugout, which I also sprayed with Permethrin, so bugs at night while sleeping were not a problem. We did not Permethrin our bags.

This year our party grew by 1 person, so somebody, (me) will be sleeping in a hammock, under a Kelty tarp. My hammock is inexpensive though comfortable, but doesn't have a bug net.

Should I just Permethrin my sleeping bag, with my uncovered head sticking out the end? Or will my face get eaten off that way? Do I need to buy a bug net? (hate to bring another piece of gear if I don't have to) Any other suggestions are appreciated.
 
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mc2mens
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06/06/2018 09:06AM  
I hate to break it to you, but mid-July is prime mosquito season.
 
Spauldo
member (31)member
  
06/06/2018 09:29AM  
I have been trying to get links to work, but I am a fan of hammocks with the net built-in. There are several different types, but I am currently using one from Everest Active Gear.
 
jfinn
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06/06/2018 09:59AM  
Buy a bug net; they are light, compact and inexpensive. I have had one for 8 years and used only once, carried along 3 times. No big deal. It won't go bad!

Yes, prime bug season.


John
 
06/06/2018 11:23AM  
don't think permethrin on a sleeping bag is going to help.
 
06/06/2018 11:44AM  
jfinn: "Buy a bug net; they are light, compact and inexpensive. I have had one for 8 years and used only once, carried along 3 times. No big deal. It won't go bad!


Yes, prime bug season.



John"


+1
I'm not a huge fan of Permethrin. It is safe and efficacious for people but environmental contamination can linger, especially if it gets in the water source. Not to turn this into an ethical response, but those bugs up there are an integral part of the ecosystem and while we visit we should all try to lessen our impact if possible.
A bug net is perfect.
 
06/06/2018 11:56AM  
Well, talked me into it, just ordered this:
Hammock Bug Net
 
06/06/2018 11:59AM  
I am a HUGE permethrin fan. Not only for mosquitoes but tick prevention. In my experience it does not repel mosquitoes, but if they land on permethrin treated clothes they will fly away and not linger to bite through the clothes. I don't think it will help on a sleeping bag because the bag is too thick for the buggers to bite through anyway.

It may kill some mosquitoes, but I have not seen any drop dead when they land on dry clothes. they just fly away or don't land.

I might treat the inside of a tarp, tent fly, tent screen, hammock bottom, etc to discourage lingering, but a sleeping bag just seems like a waste. Just my $0.02
 
Savage Voyageur
distinguished member(14414)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished membermaster membermaster member
  
06/06/2018 05:25PM  
I don’t think it’s a good idea to spray Permethrin on your sleeping bag. Just get a simple bug net. You will not regret it.
 
flytyer
distinguished member (220)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/06/2018 06:59PM  
Quote from bottle:

"Avoid contact with face, eyes or skin. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mist."

No way would I spray my sleeping bag.
 
mschi772
distinguished member(806)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/06/2018 07:48PM  
flytyer: "Quote from bottle:


"Avoid contact with face, eyes or skin. Avoid breathing vapors or spray mist."


No way would I spray my sleeping bag."


Right, but that's in regard to the product before it dries. It doesn't have vapors or mist when dry, and if the dried product couldn't contact skin, soak-treating pants would not be a thing.

In any case, the answer is not the sleeping bag. It's a bug net.
 
proepro
senior member (65)senior membersenior member
  
06/06/2018 08:51PM  
Spauldo: " I have been trying to get links to work, but I am a fan of hammocks with the net built-in. There are several different types, but I am currently using one from Everest Active Gear."


Lots of discussion of this in the hammock section of BWCA.com. You need more than a bug net over your head in a sleeping bag. They will bite through it. What if the bag is hot and you need to unzip?

For me a the hammock with built in net net was not enoigh protection. They bit me through the hammock and the net if I touched it. I woke up with a swollen hand.
 
TheGreatIndoors
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06/06/2018 09:45PM  
I would not spray permethrin on anything that I have a lot of contact with, e.g. my shirt. I am a chemist and can tell you that it is carcinogenic. It is also a neurotoxin and fatally toxic to cats and fish. I do not believe its toxicity in people is well understood (as is true of most/many things). I spray my hiking boots and the outside of my tent, but I would not spray my hat. It is much nastier than DEET.
 
mjmkjun
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06/07/2018 05:40AM  
johndku: "Well, talked me into it, just ordered this:
Hammock Bug Net "

Looks like you made a good & affordable choice. A review stated: "The cinch-tight ends don't cinch tight enough to close completely around the support straps." Fix before leaving home or bring some zip-ties or something to block small gap at each end.Skeeters are determined little buggers.
The vertical zipper is a bit peculiar to me but am not as agile as once was. I'd likely rip it trying to get out of the hammock during middle of the night nature calls.
 
06/07/2018 06:49AM  
mjmkjun: "
johndku: "Well, talked me into it, just ordered this:
Hammock Bug Net "

Looks like you made a good & affordable choice. A review stated: "The cinch-tight ends don't cinch tight enough to close completely around the support straps." Fix before leaving home or bring some zip-ties or something to block small gap at each end.Skeeters are determined little buggers.
The vertical zipper is a bit peculiar to me but am not as agile as once was. I'd likely rip it trying to get out of the hammock during middle of the night nature calls.
"



Zip ties I always bring - almost no weight and plenty of uses. I figure I'll permethrin the bug net and call it a day....if that doesn't work I'll retreat to the tent if necessary, but I hate sleeping on the ground.
 
SevenofNine
distinguished member(2472)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/07/2018 08:51AM  
Spraying your bug net seems like a waste of time and money. But maybe you're a suspenders and belt kind of guy.
 
Spauldo
member (31)member
  
06/07/2018 09:15AM  
proepro: "

Lots of discussion of this in the hammock section of BWCA.com. You need more than a bug net over your head in a sleeping bag. They will bite through it. What if the bag is hot and you need to unzip?


For me a the hammock with built in net net was not enoigh protection. They bit me through the hammock and the net if I touched it. I woke up with a swollen hand. "



I typically sleep with a pad under me to negate this problem. Is that not enough up there? I haven't slept in the BWCA in a hammock yet. I plan to in August.

As an edit, I have an ENO one-link system that I purchased for my son, so I can take whatever is best recommended. I don't want to wake up covered in mosquito bites.
 
HowardSprague
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06/07/2018 11:58AM  
Sleeping bag, I wouldn't. Too much potential contact with skin. Hang your arms out while sleeping and rub your eyes or something,..I don't like it. Toxic stuff, as noted above.

I do spray my pants and a shirt and shoes,...and maybe the outside of a pack, since I've found stowaways when I got home. But I would not wear any of my permethrin - treated clothing while sleeping.

(and I only use permethrin when tripping during peak tick time - before July. Nothing for mosquitos.)
 
mastertangler
distinguished member(4432)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/07/2018 04:23PM  
SevenofNine: "Spraying your bug net seems like a waste of time and money. But maybe you're a suspenders and belt kind of guy."


You got a problem with"belt and suspenders kind of guys"?

Just remember one thing.........if you mess with me you mess with the whole trailer park.

A few things I'm not into......"air freshners" especially those plug in kind and permethrin.i guess it sure beats getting Lyme but that stuff must be mighty potent. Do you handle your clothing after it dries and does it sluff off in a chalky sort of way creating cross contamination (ingesting via hand to mouth etc)?

I guess we all have to go some way..........like anything else, some folks it won't bother and others might be highly allergic.
 
mjmkjun
distinguished member(2885)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/07/2018 04:26PM  
Honestly, there's no need to permethrin your sleep stuff, sleep clothing or your new netting. Skeeters will hover and serenade just above netting and all around. It's the woods. :-) Additionally, it's a good idea to use wet wipes and remove any bug repellant off face, neck, hands and arms before turning in for the night.
Have fun!
 
proepro
senior member (65)senior membersenior member
  
06/08/2018 11:25AM  
Spauldo: "
As an edit, I have an ENO one-link system that I purchased for my son, so I can take whatever is best recommended. I don't want to wake up covered in mosquito bites."


The ENO bugnet on that should be enough protection. It gives a small separation from the hammock.

Pad or sleeping bag help but it is easy to roll over a touch the net or bottom layer when the net is part of the hammock.
 
Othello
distinguished member (139)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
06/08/2018 02:58PM  
I've been fortunate to only ever have had two ticks on me in the BWCA. Both were last June, in my sleeping bag, in the middle of the night. I'd rather be chemical-free, but you can guess the approach I took this year.
 
06/09/2018 08:27AM  
Othello: "I've been fortunate to only ever have had two ticks on me in the BWCA. Both were last June, in my sleeping bag, in the middle of the night. I'd rather be chemical-free, but you can guess the approach I took this year."


No problems with the chemical free concept with the exception that permethrin is a widely used agricultural and industrial insecticide. Treatment for head lice, farm crops and stock, and a widely used fabric industry and food industry insecticide. Your in contact and consuming permethrin treated products if you eat or wear clothes, even if you do not know it.

butthead
 
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