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      DIY Nemo Bugout?     

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scotttimm
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08/24/2018 01:47PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Anyone try this before? Looking to do a smaller, lightweight version of the Nemo Bugout for a long-distance lightweight trip next summer. I don't need bells and whistles, just thinking a mosquito net sewed up into a 6x8 nylon tarp would be sweet, and my daughter's a wiz with a sewing machine...
 
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wingnut
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08/24/2018 07:52PM  
I haven't sewn any bug screen before but it sounds like a good project. Let us know how it goes. I need to make up a screen front, for my wall tent and could use any tips you could share.
 
08/25/2018 08:10AM  
I made a bug shelter this spring and it absolutely saved my bacon on my 10 day trip in June. I seriously would have gone home on day two without it because of the bugs.

Mine was designed to attach under my tarp, and had basically the shape of a wall tent. Zipper on each end. Was very easy to sew. Mine was about 9x10 to fit under my 10x12 tarp. It's just for me and my dog, and I figured I could have gotten by with about 8x6 if i was going to do an extended trip and needed to save weight/space.
 
08/25/2018 09:24AM  
Would you have a suggested design layout or a website that has that info? I'd be interested in measurements, thickness of the bug screening, zipper lengths, etc. to get this done. I converted an old campsaver yard canopy into a bug screen by cutting the poles out but it's still too bulky and doesn't tie up well in the backcountry.
 
08/25/2018 07:23PM  
Not 100% sure if you're asking me or not, HighnDry, but I will answer anyway;-)

I use .67 oz black noseeum mesh I got from RbtR. They have a .50 oz but I did not buy it. I also used some 1/2 inch black grosgrain ribbon for strength and green for the loops (makes them easier to see). You can see from my crude drawing it is pretty simple; two long rectangles make the sides walls and roof, and two pieces with diagonal cuts on one end make up the doors on each side. The math is pretty easy - just need the pythagrian theorem to work out the angle of the roof. I made mine too steep, so have show a lesser steep pitch as a suggestion but it will depend on how you like to pitch your tarp. I just tie the ridge of the bug tent to the ridge line of the tarp, and the side loops up to the side loops on the tarp.

Most of the the time, I let 6-10 inches of the walls just sit on the ground. It worked really well for me. Lots of room for me to sit with gear, stove, and dog. Figured if I wanted, I could almost use one panel instead of two for roof/walls and still get by if pinched for space and weight.

 
08/25/2018 08:37PM  
That's perfect and thanks for sharing all of this information. Can I ask about a cost range and the time it took to sew it all together? I'm also curious if you weight your seam (that touches the ground)? I find that to be a weakness in my own design and have to sort out rocks or branches to lay across the seams of the walls to keep them in contact with the ground.
 
08/25/2018 10:51PM  
The material was $4.25 a yard and is 54 inches wide. I think I got 22 yards or so, plus maybe five more for the grosgrain. That's about it for cost, and it took maybe 2-3 hours of cutting and sewing, then maybe an hour tying on the cords and such. As I mentioned above, the pitch of my roof was too steep, so I will end up cutting out some material there, and easily could have made it a bit smaller and been happy. Sorry I don't have a weight, but I'm packing up right now for a trip in LISN tomorrow.

The loops at the bottom stake it down and worked well. Only other thing I'd change is putting the lops maybe 6 inches up from the bottom so there is extra to lay on the ground. On first trip I got hit with some strong storms, and was wind bound on the windward side of the lake one day and it did well. I did have one corner seam tear paratially out, but in those winds I expected much worse (and realized I needed a needle and thread in my kit).
 
08/27/2018 07:32PM  
For my solo trips I use a bug net that they sell to go over cots. They are sold for kids going to summer camp. If needed, I just string it up under the tarp ... or not. It is high enough to sit under, even on a chair, but not to stand under. Plenty of room for eating, cooking, reading, napping, etc. They are inexpensive and no sewing involved.
 
Tomcat
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11/01/2018 06:25PM  
Lightweight fabrics like netting can be challenging to sew, the material stretches and it is difficult to see the edge when folding or sewing. I use basting tape to hold the fabric together for sewing. I recommend black noseeum netting in the length and width that allow you to sew the fewest seams. I am told that black netting provides the best visual clarity and the fewest seams will add strength, save weight, and save sewing time.

 
goaljohnbill
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11/05/2018 05:15PM  
Bannock: "For my solo trips I use a bug net that they sell to go over cots. They are sold for kids going to summer camp. If needed, I just string it up under the tarp ... or not. It is high enough to sit under, even on a chair, but not to stand under. Plenty of room for eating, cooking, reading, napping, etc. They are inexpensive and no sewing involved."


+1 but we do this with a coglan or similar brand rectangular double and sleep 2 people under it. We thread the large snaps on fishing barrel swivels through the middle of the "roof" and connect them directly to the ridge line of the tarp since we normally pitch it as an A frame. Then tie the corners to the tarp with some small 550 pieces. Much cheaper than building your own and has held up to 15 or so uses in 4 years w/o becoming destroyed.

I also built a "single seat style" one that I took to horse to put over the thunder box. Everyone laughed that I had it then begged me to hang it the first full morning... And yes sewing netting is kind of a pain.
 
Tomcat
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11/17/2018 09:22AM  
Scott, did your tarp workout?

I just ordered a Thermarest Tranquility 4 Wing tarp and for a winter project I am going to sew netting around the perimeter. I have been using a modified 9'x9' Nemo Bugout.

John
 
goaljohnbill
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04/08/2019 01:17PM  
Jaywalker:


"


Jay walker thanks for these plans, I decided this winter that our coglan rectangle was too low and was finally starting to die. I am in the middle of sewing this up now and it is going to turn out functionally fine if not pretty. Netting and grosgrain are awful to sew (way worse than silnylon and grosgrain). Those cross supports took until my 3rd one to not look like they were done by a drunk. Even pinned down the netting moves all over when it stretches.

I am considering a couple of minor mods to the design. I would like to skip the zippers but dont know if velcro or something else would work well enough. I am also very strongly considering putting a few small loops in the middle of the sidewalls for when the tarp is storm pitched really low so that we can still stake it.
 
scotttimm
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04/08/2019 09:45PM  
Hey All - thanks for the great ideas. I think I am going to buy a Mombasa Outback Travel Net, and I will simply hang it under a tarp if needed. I got into making a paddle for for my wife for Christmas...then one for my daughter...second daughter...now my son wants one...so my time to put into the bugout project is limited! I'll put the Mombasa link below, looks like a decent option for a small group of us? I love the idea to thread barrel swivels with a snap on the cord that makes the ridgeline of the tarp, brilliant.

Maybe a homemade bugout will make it to the top of the list for next year...
Mombasa Outback Travel Net Double
 
04/09/2019 08:11AM  
goaljohnbill: "
Jaywalker:



"



Jay walker thanks for these plans, I decided this winter that our coglan rectangle was too low and was finally starting to die. I am in the middle of sewing this up now and it is going to turn out functionally fine if not pretty. Netting and grosgrain are awful to sew (way worse than silnylon and grosgrain). Those cross supports took until my 3rd one to not look like they were done by a drunk. Even pinned down the netting moves all over when it stretches.


I am considering a couple of minor mods to the design. I would like to skip the zippers but dont know if velcro or something else would work well enough. I am also very strongly considering putting a few small loops in the middle of the sidewalls for when the tarp is storm pitched really low so that we can still stake it."


I hope it works very well for you. Mine sure looked a bit silly since I made the roof part much too steep for my typical tarp set up (roof portions sort of hung down), but hey, it kept the bugs out!

Be sure to post any modifications, then follow up with how they worked out. One thought on the Velcro; I found an unexpected advantage of the zipper was when carrying something, I could stand on the mesh with one foot and pull the zipper up or down with one hand. I'd speculate Velcro would require two hands to pull apart and recluse - just a guess.
 
DanCooke
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04/09/2019 12:50PM  
The Hook component of the hook and loop closure will eventually destroy the netting. Try placing the hook against the screen multiple times- like will happen when you open/ close the opening and when you stuff it away to travel.
(Velcro is a brand of hook and loop closure- more expensive than most on the market- but worth it for my 2 cents worth.)
 
goaljohnbill
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04/09/2019 01:44PM  
Jaywalker: One thought on the Velcro; I found an unexpected advantage of the zipper was when carrying something, I could stand on the mesh with one foot and pull the zipper up or down with one hand. I'd speculate Velcro would require two hands to pull apart and recluse - just a guess. "


DanCooke: "The Hook component of the hook and loop closure will eventually destroy the netting. Try placing the hook against the screen multiple times- like will happen when you open/ close the opening and when you stuff it away to travel.
(Velcro is a brand of hook and loop closure- more expensive than most on the market- but worth it for my 2 cents worth.)"


Zippers it is. This is one of the reasons I tossed those mod ideas up. I wasnt sure about it and thought I might be missing other possible issues. Thanks gentlemen
 
Grandma L
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04/11/2019 09:35PM  
I figured out the materials, zippers, and time involved. Then purchased a Bugout when it was on sale.
 
goaljohnbill
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04/12/2019 10:02AM  
Grandma L: "I figured out the materials, zippers, and time involved. Then purchased a Bugout when it was on sale. "


Yeah if I would have known about the mombasa before I started getting materials together I probably would have just done that for 1/6 of the cost. Although with my normal tarp pitch the flat top isnt the best use of space so the home built ones peak is perfect. Especially at its price point the bugout is way more than I wanted/needed also since I already own a sil tarp.
 
Tomcat
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06/19/2019 02:03PM  
Just purchased Magellan 8 ft x 8 ft screen house from Academy Sport on clearance for $24.98 and modified it to use as bug shelter for two people.

 
SevenofNine
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06/20/2019 06:41AM  
Nice job. Why did you feel you needed to lower it?
 
Tomcat
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06/20/2019 08:43AM  
SevenofNine: "Nice job. Why did you feel you needed to lower it?"


As purchased the gray fabric skirt does not touch the ground and leaves gaps for insects to enter along the bottom.

 
06/20/2019 09:28PM  
Tomcat: "
SevenofNine: "Nice job. Why did you feel you needed to lower it?"



As purchased the gray fabric shirt does not touch the ground and leaves gaps for insects to enter along the bottom. By relocating the pole and stake loops from the bottom of the gray skirt to the top of the skirt and shortening the pole legs 8 inches I was able to eliminate the gaps.

"


Neat. What's the final weight?
 
Tomcat
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06/21/2019 08:49AM  
sns: "
Tomcat: "
SevenofNine: "Nice job. Why did you feel you needed to lower it?"




As purchased the gray fabric shirt does not touch the ground and leaves gaps for insects to enter along the bottom. By relocating the pole and stake loops from the bottom of the gray skirt to the top of the skirt and shortening the pole legs 8 inches I was able to eliminate the gaps.


"



Neat. What's the final weight?"


I used our bathroom scale so I don't know how accurate the measurement is but 3.6 lbs..
 
goaljohnbill
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06/26/2019 04:42PM  
Jaywalker: "
goaljohnbill: "
Jaywalker:


Be sure to post any modifications, then follow up with how they worked out. "


Well got a trip in with the new bug net. overall completely a win, being able to stand up inside is fantastic. Way way more floor space than the old one also. As you can see from the pics below I have a ridgeline stuff sack tarp pitched, which then I prussicked the net to the tarp ridgeline w zing it that just runs the length of the tarp plus a foot or 2 (red clump on left is spare line JIC). I have 6 gable tie outs (one on left has my river socks hanging on it) that are zinged to the corner and center guy lines. Only issue is that the "normal pitch" stake loops ended up being too low I didnt compensate for the drop of a tightly guyed tarp vs the lose guying I did in my basement during creation. We staked the 6 ground tie outs to keep it in place but didnt stake the doors.





Also one other mod I made was to move the vertical seams at all 4 corners in ~6" so that the net was narrower. Otherwise it would have went out past the tarp. I know I could have remathed to get everything setup correctly but I liked the pitch angle and just wanted it narrower.
 
Tomcat
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06/28/2019 09:37AM  
 
06/28/2019 11:14AM  
Congratulations, Goaljohnbill! Looks really nice! Now you just have to hope for lots of mosquitos and black flies so your hard work can be fully appreciated by your paddle partners.

Getting the pitch of the roof just right was hard - mainly because I tend to vary the pitch of my tarp based on available trees and weather conditions. I just ripped mine apart and put back together with a flatter pitch and a bit smaller.

Just curious - did you consider tying the netting side pullouts directly to the side loops on the tarp? I've done that just to reduce line and stakes, but no idea if it's better or not.
 
08/25/2019 08:32AM  
BTW I cut mine down to be about 7.5 x 8.5 feet, and it was plenty of room for me + gear + two dogs. Weight with rope ties and in bag = 1 lb 13.5 oz. It would have been about 1 lb 8 oz if I'd used the .5 oz noseeum mesh.

I use a waterproof stuff sack and sit on it to get all the air out, then seal it up.

 
08/26/2019 10:43AM  
Jaywalker: "BTW I cut mine down to be about 7.5 x 8.5 feet, and it was plenty of room for me + gear + two dogs. Weight with rope ties and in bag = 1 lb 13.5 oz. It would have been about 1 lb 8 oz if I'd used the .5 oz noseeum mesh.

I use a waterproof stuff sack and sit on it to get all the air out, then seal it up.

"


Very cool! Pics of yours set up?

I ended up doing a zpacks DCF tarp with a noseeum net from amazon under it. About 1lb, 8oz total. Room for 2 underneath, but entry is via lifting the edge of the netting - no zipper.
 
Tomcat
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10/29/2019 06:55PM  
 
Grandma L
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10/29/2019 10:28PM  
Tomcat - I am definitely interested. Do you know how wide the fabric is? I was working on a net to tarp system.
 
Tomcat
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10/30/2019 04:37AM  
 
goaljohnbill
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10/30/2019 08:34AM  
Jaywalker: "...
Just curious - did you consider tying the netting side pullouts directly to the side loops on the tarp? I've done that just to reduce line and stakes, but no idea if it's better or not. "


Finally noticed this when Tomcat and Grandma L woke the thread back up. Yeah I did do that, you can really see them on the pic where it is pitched over dirt. I put them into the tarp side loops with a quick slip knot. They held fine (no major wind so not tested) and came out easy. I didnt make them super tight so as to not mess with the tarp tension. I made the center net guys too short. If the tarp and net arent pitched perfectly square the lines dont reach enough to tie. Ima fix that this winter.
 
Tomcat
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10/30/2019 12:33PM  
 
02/20/2020 12:02PM  
I have a 10x12 Kondos tarp that I want to add bug net to. Basically a copy of aCCS Tarp Tent but with removable screen.

I'm thinking of using velcro sewn all along the edge of the tarp to attach the netting. I would use a 12" wide silnylon section along the top of the netting to avoid the velcro/netting problem Dan mentioned earlier in the thread.

I was considering using zipper instead of velcro but it seems like it would be bulkier. Any thoughts on velcro vs zipper attachment to the tarp, or other ideas for attachment?

Thanks,
Beavers
 
Tomcat
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02/21/2020 11:05AM  
 
02/21/2020 03:07PM  
Intended use would be family BWCA trips. Having a bug free area to hang out, cook and eat meals is a priority.

I was hoping to make the netting removable to save the weight when I didn't need it. I've been thinking about it more...the CCS ones don't have removable netting. If there was a good easy way to make it removable I'm guessing Dan would of included it on his screen tents. I'm going to have to sit down and figure out how much weight all the zipper would add.

The more I think about the closer I get to talking myself out of making the netting removable.

 
Tomcat
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02/21/2020 04:21PM  


 
02/22/2020 01:11AM  
Thanks John, I'm definitely going to put some more thought into this one before I start. There's a lot of material and time at stake. I don't want to screw it up.
 
07/28/2020 03:13PM  
Update to Plans: I know some of these threads last for and are re-read for years, so wanted to post an update to the plans I posted above with two important improvements.

First, in my shelter built to my first plan, I found the corner seams regularly would rip open in strong winds, starting at the ground near the stakes and going up anywhere from 12-30 inches depending on how strong the wind was. After sewing them shut several times, I finally just added more gross grain ribbon as shown in GREEN below, and that seems to have solved this problem.

Second, in strong winds I also sometimes have had trouble getting the stakes to hold the sided down - especially since it's sometimes hard to get a stake down all the way. Rocks placed on the inside seem to do better at holding it down, and adding a small triangle of Cordura to the corners helps reduce the wear on the netting when rocks are placed. This is shown on one corner in RED below.

One last thing - I used .66 oz no-seeum mesh from RbtR. It has been good, but if you need to make a repair in the field DO NOT USE Gorilla tape. The adhesive is so strong that when you try to take it off at home, you will rip more of the netting. It is literally too strong. Cheap duct tape will work.

 
08/09/2020 01:24PM  
Thanks for the update and design improvements Jaywalker. Sewing mine is on hold until winter.
 
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