Any suggestions on a lightweight screen tent. Our last trip was very buggy and the kids had a hard time enjoying themselves. I looked and many options seem heavier than my tent.

Wondering if their are some lighter weight options out there.

T

Nemo Bugout. We have the 9x9 version. Great shelter to cook, eat and play cards in without skeets or black flies. If it’s real windy it really cuts the wind down as well. We take it all the time.

We have a Nemo Bugout also, and while I appreciate it on basecamp style trips, it is heavy and not extremely well made(tore in a 20-25mph wind). After seeing a CCS, I wish I would have bit the bullet and purchased one instead of the bugout. Very expensive but far superior. I have a CCS tarp and it survived a 70mph wind this summer. You can't beat CCS. Neither of these are really a "tent" but personally I would never consider one of those.

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house

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Any idea on the weight? Website doesn’t list weight. Thanks for the link.

T

I bought the Nemo 9x9 last year. It's weathered a couple of wind events. Despite it weighing in at 5# I take it on solo ventures during bug season. It is worth 5# to be able to sit deep into the evening and to know if things get out of control there is an out that is more than 40" tall and 27 sq feet. Quick to set up, have never had a problem finding a spot. I was in the Q a couple of weeks ago and half of my "down time" might have been unendurable without it.

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house

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while this look's nice, i believe in the" you get what you pay for " line. in your opinion, do you think it will hold up?

bwcasolo: "

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house


"

while this look's nice, i believe in the" you get what you pay for " line. in your opinion, do you think it will hold up?"

I saw Tomcat's photo of this screen house on a different thread. I ordered and received one for $30 and figured the cost was low enough to try. There are some modifications that need to be done to make this bug free. The bottom has large gaps so it will have to be lowered. I haven't modified mine yet but I am looking forward to doing it soon. It is a great low cost option if you don't have the funds for a CCS or a Nemo Bugout.

Selfsuffi: "

bwcasolo: "

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house



"

while this look's nice, i believe in the" you get what you pay for " line. in your opinion, do you think it will hold up?"

I saw Tomcat's photo of this screen house on a different thread. I ordered and received one for $30 and figured the cost was low enough to try. There are some modifications that need to be done to make this bug free. The bottom has large gaps so it will have to be lowered. I haven't modified mine yet but I am looking forward to doing it soon. It is a great low cost option if you don't have the funds for a CCS or a Nemo Bugout."

Can you post your modifications—how you did it? Also can you weigh it? I am an ounce counter...

T

I've looked at this too - also an ounce-counter, and own a 9x9 Bugout. (Mine is 4# 8oz in the stuffsack, with OEM guylines.)

For 4, the 9x9 Bugout should work. Perhaps a bit tight, but if you are going light, probably not an issue. If you bring the kitchen sink, counter, and island and want to set those up inside, then maybe 2 people.

Or the 10x10 CCS Screen Tent...as others have said, Dan makes the highest quality stuff. Looks like his lightest one is 4.5 lbs.

For 1-2 people & light travel, I have a DCF tarp and a very small net tent (box shape, no floor, no zipper: 63"x79", 60" high) that I can suspend under that tarp. Total weight 1lb 8 oz.

If you come up with a better option, let us know!

Nice work! Looks like a great cost-effective option. Now that you lowered it, what's the interior height?

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house

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Tomcat - who is your source for the aluminum pole upgrade?

Wow awesome info everyone, especiallyTomcat!

T

Tomcat: "

bwcasolo: "

Tomcat: " 8'x8' screen house



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while this look's nice, i believe in the" you get what you pay for " "

I disagree, I saw a canopy for $149 and later found the same canopy for $37.


I feel there is only so much that design, materials, and workmanship can provide. Lightweight tents and canopies are not indestructible and will not last forever under heavy use no matter how much they cost or the care given.


I also believe that design, materials, and workmanship are important factors in how well equipment will preform a specific task. I own equipment with average quality material and workmanship but above average design that out preform above average quality material and workmanship with average design.

I take one $20 pocket knife canoeing. I have more expensive better quality knives but none fit my need as well.


Just my opinion and how I evaluate equipment.


John

P.S. I do understand what you meant. I am not suggesting that this is a quality product. It is clearly not suitable for everyone but it has worked well for me.

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nice review, for 20 some bucks i may try it, thanks.

I am going to try cheap screen tent with mods, but in my search has anyone ever tried a Big Agnes deep creek bug shelter and modified it under a CCS tarp? Looks like it could work with a mild mod, since CCS has many of the same tie out/attachments?

Deep creek

I have been playing with an idea for a cheap, lightweight screen tent. I purchased a mosquito net bed canopy on Ebay, under $20. The one that I got is a square and has a roof with two panels hanging from each side. I sewed all the corners and two sides, opposite each other. On the other two sides I installed KAM snaps every 3 inches or so. I did this thinking that some day I may want to run a hammock line through each side. The top of the canopy has a loop that is connected to the center of my CCS 10x14 tarp with an 'S' clip. The corners are connected to the edge of the tarp using ball bungee cords. I don't have any practical experience with it out in the field so I don't know how well it works. It blows around a little in the wind, but I'm sure a few rock or stakes on the up wind side would help stabilize things. It is very lightweight stuffs pretty small.

The Large screen portion cover 93 sq feet and weighs in at 4 lb 4 oz per their website (not including tarp)
Big Agnus Bug house specification page.

They do not specify the height of the ridge line or corners.

Sometimes when you go lightweight you give up interior space- especially vertical- where the edges you have to be sitting or less. I value being able to stand up to all the edges of the shelter and multiple access locations.

timatkn: "I am going to try cheap screen tent with mods, but in my search has anyone ever tried a Big Agnes deep creek bug shelter and modified it under a CCS tarp? Looks like it could work with a mild mod, since CCS has many of the same tie out/attachments?


Deep creek "

I did...once!

It can be done but for the effort of figuring out the rigging and the weight it wasn’t a great option for my style of tripping—-like to move so weight and set up take down ease is a big value for me. I sold my BA Bug House after one trip.

I now use a Sea-to-Summit double bug net rigged under my CCS 10x12 tarp for solo and 2 person trips. For my family trips with my wife and 2 boys I use a Nemo Bugout 9x9. This is plenty of room for the four of us to eat or play cards on buggy evenings for an hour or two before bed. Once the boys are asleep its plenty of room for my wife and I to star gaze and talk over a night cap. If I was traveling with four or more big adults I would consider the CCS screened tarp but so far they are more “awesome” than I need.

We usually hang hammocks, and we can hang 2, bunkbed style one on top of the other, under our Nemo. So, despite it being a little heavy, it does save us from bringing 2 bug nets for our hammocks.

CCS Bug Shelter.

Thanks for the idea of lowering an inexpensive screen tent. I have one that seems pretty lightweight but even on a level ground has gaps at the bottom. I thought I would have to add fabric and weight to close those gaps. Now I will consider shortening it by 6 in.

My bug shelter is 7.5 x 8.5 and attaches to the bottom of my ridgeline tarp. Weighs 1 lb 13.5 oz in the bag ready for the trail. Would have weighed a bit less if I'd used the .5 vs the .66 oz noseeum mesh from RbtR. Took me about 3-4 hours to make. If you want to save both some ounces and pennies, and can do some work yourself, give it a try.
DIY Bug Shelter Thread