One difference I noticed with hammock camping (to which I am new) is that your smaller quarters and proximity to the mesh vs tent camping really attracts the mosquitoes.

I cannot avoid getting up during the evening to pee once or twice. And the mosquitoes are right there in your face just clamouring for an invitation inside when you unzip the mesh. When I returned from doing my business I had a considerable job to do killing these buggers - even with my mosquito racket. In a tent I've normally observed only a couple get in. In the hammock it is multiples of that.

Frenzying in the middle of the night is not conducive to gently falling back asleep.

Any tips?
By the way, I live in Canada and cannot obtain permethrin here.

To bad about the permethrin, it solves the mosquito problem. Apologies for the directness, but a pee bottle works pretty well...

bhouse46: "To bad about the permethrin, it solves the mosquito problem. Apologies for the directness, but a pee bottle works pretty well... "

I may give that a go. Pretty precarious in a hammock though, eh?

Hi Argo,

Regarding the proximity to the mesh, are you using a hammock that has netting integral with the hammock? And does it also have some type of frame so that it isn't just draped over the hammock? It's helpful to have a small rod that creates a "hoop" to elevate integrated netting. Getting out/in is really no different than unzipping/zipping just enough of the tent door. I also have an ultralight set-up that has integrated netting with guy-lines that give the netting some outward lift as well as the ridgeline.

Clark

I keep a pee bottle near but exit the hammock. Apply Natrapel (20% Picaridin) spray to the netting & underside of the tarp. I give netting/tarp an application enough to dampen (not dripping) after setting up hammock. Dry by the time I turn in. The possible negatives are the 6 oz spray bottle takes room in your pack & a touchup application may be needed every 3rd night if they are swarming thick.
Neither fabric is absorbent. An application of Natrapel (or permethrin) is a coating only and will wash or wear off in time.

A "Fronkey" or Bottom-Entry Bug Net is (IMO) much better in heavy mosquito season than integrated net hammocks.

I have both a Dutch Chameleon w/ integrated net and netless hammocks for which I use a bottom-entry net and it's a fraction of second to whip that bottom entry net up/over your head vs unzipping, getting out and zipping back up (multiple seconds).

I have a bottom entry Hennessy. I've noticed the lack of bugs following me in as well.

I have a bottom entry bugnet from dutchware and have no problems with bugs getting in

rxgac: "I have a bottom entry Hennessy. I've noticed the lack of bugs following me in as well."

Even though it's too late for me, I'm curious as to how the bottom entry mode accomplishes this vs side entry.

As an aside, we only had one very mosguitoey night in Quetico and it wasn't an issue for some reason. They were knockin' but they never really entered when I had to exit it the middle of the night for a pee break...a couple of times (Fireball helps that). But I had a pretty bad experience in June on a wet long weekend trip in The French River - my very first hammock trip - which is why I posed the question here.

Argo: "

rxgac: "I have a bottom entry Hennessy. I've noticed the lack of bugs following me in as well."

Even though it's too late for me, I'm curious as to how the bottom entry mode accomplishes this vs side entry.


As an aside, we only had one very mosguitoey night in Quetico and it wasn't an issue for some reason. They were knockin' but they never really entered when I had to exit it the middle of the night for a pee break...a couple of times (Fireball helps that). But I had a pretty bad experience in June on a wet long weekend trip in The French River - my very first hammock trip - which is why I posed the question here."

The reason the bottom entry nets are (IMO) superior to zippered - integrated nets is that you do not have to zip/unzip the hammock when you get in and out.

Simply drop your feet over the edge of the hammock and out the bottom entry oval - you're still protected, nothing's getting in or out.
Slip on your boots or shoes.
Grab the bottom entry opening and in less than a second, flip it up and over your head.
Reverse process to get back in.
You simply cannot get in and out w/ a zippered bug net as fast as with a Fronkey or Bottom-Entry net.
My fav is from Simply Light Designs - all are good.

Pro tip: If nature calls in the middle of the night, no worries. Just turn on your headlamp with the red light, then unzip the screen just enough to reach your Pee Bottle. It is a bottle of Gatoraid that I drink on the first day. Then it becomes my pee bottle after that. Just took at the end of the trip. Just be sure as you enter your hammock at night you can reach the bottle. I have a side entry zipper, up and down that I spray with Permethrin.

Argo: "One difference I noticed with hammock camping (to which I am new) is that your smaller quarters and proximity to the mesh vs tent camping really attracts the mosquitoes.

I cannot avoid getting up during the evening to pee once or twice. And the mosquitoes are right there in your face just clamouring for an invitation inside when you unzip the mesh. When I returned from doing my business I had a considerable job to do killing these buggers - even with my mosquito racket. In a tent I've normally observed only a couple get in. In the hammock it is multiples of that.

Frenzying in the middle of the night is not conducive to gently falling back asleep.

Any tips?
By the way, I live in Canada and cannot obtain permethrin here. "

Trade you some permethryn for some bear bangers, eh?

You might not be able to buy the Sawyer Permethrin up in Canada but I’ll bet you can find it at a local farm store. It is made for horses to keep flies of them, spray on horse blankets. It is basically the same product but you will need to dilute it to work.

Funny enough, the mosquitos were never a problem on my Quetico trip even though they were out in force. I wrote my original post after my first hanging experience on a wet three day trip on the French River in central ON. I was pleasantly surprised in Quetico. It was a disaster on the French.

Maybe investing in a large mosquito proof netting. Drape it over your set up and seal the bottom with rocks etc. Then use a pee bottle right outside the hammock.

I’ve tried using the bottle inside the gathered end hammock but the first time I dripped ended that experiment. Better to be standing when said deed is done.

For me personally I go in sept and the buggers are sluggish and usually not present during the colder nights.