BWCA Nemo Bughouse or CCS Tarp system? Boundary Waters Gear Forum
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06/16/2022 02:47PM  
Historically a shoulder-month camper, recent retirement has provided me with many more extended stay options in the Q and BWCA. Bugs were never an issue in the past due to seasonal planning. Now, however, I plan to trek often in all open water months. On a trip into the Q last week, my paddle partner and I were quite satisfied with his Eureka NoBug Zone to keep the slowly appearing black flies and mosquitoes at bay. We are headed back into the Quetico in early July, a time when the flying pests should potentially be at a lull. Or so I think.

Considering we have access to a much lighter/pack friendly CCS Tarp, typically hit the tent early, rise at the crack of dawn and wish to carry less yet not be foolish, what would you recommend for protection, NoBug Zone or CCS alone? And for what months?

Thanks for your consideration,
Mac
 
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06/16/2022 07:15PM  
NoBugZone. It's like a lounge suite.


 
06/17/2022 09:35AM  
I remember several years ago being in a wet, warm buggy campsite with long pants and sleeves, gloves, and a head net trying to eat dinner. Each time I pulled the net away to get a spoonful a couple got in. I don’t want to repeat that.

A couple years ago I made a mesh bug shelter that attaches under my tarp. Now I can not imagine traveling mid May until mid August without it. Some campsites it’s not really needed, but then the next site it’s a life saver. You may be able to find something like this to hang under your CSS when needed. It doesn’t need to be very big at all - just enough to get 2 people in.

If it’s between the CSS tarp and the NoBugZone, and in July with all the water we’ve had this year, I’d have a hard time a hard time sitting in my head net and gloves shoveling bites of dinner at a time thinking “but I saved 2 pounds” or whatever it is. Get the actual weight difference and think about the bugs that will bite you, and your scale will tilt toward your answer.
 
06/17/2022 02:22PM  
In past years I always brought a couple of Coghlins bug nets to rig up at the site and over the throne. Finally bit the bullet on a 12.5’ CCS screen tarp and the extra space and headroom to walk around is a luxury. We use it for car camping and group outings at parks too, worth every penny for enjoying life when the bugs are biting.

 
Swampturtle
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06/19/2022 10:36AM  
Eureka no bug zone 13. Best investment ever. Just before my week long, mid-may trip in upstate NY the weather was all over the place. Reports of everything hatching at once due to the wide fluctuations in temperature. This same thing happened last year to us & the bugs were really bad at all times of day, even with bug suits it was hard to enjoy doing anything. Sad to say we left a day early after so many bites left me exhausted & living on 2 types of benedryl. Never did that before & I never want to cut my trip short again because of bugs.

I've also never brought a bug net type hangout tent, I always thought it was too much...like it's admitting defeat in some way & just too much stuff. After last years bloodletting, and now this year with the reports starting the trifecta of hatch once again. We bought the Eureka nobug zone. Get the larger size 13. If it rains you'll want to put your stuff in the middle & be able to walk around. Was able to relax & make meals. Saved our trip. Love it. We ran a ridgeline on it & replaced the ridiculously large yellow stakes with small light weight ones when we set it up before our trip.
 
06/19/2022 04:26PM  
Thanks all for your insights, exactly the intel I was looking for. Very much appreciated.
Mac
 
martian
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06/19/2022 04:54PM  
My son & I just got back and we used a CCS 10X10 with a similar sized $20 bug net made for bedding off Amazon. It worked great and was light weight. We also deployed a round hooped version over the privy so no bites there either. Truthfully it really wasn't that bad but we came prepared just in case.
 
06/19/2022 06:27PM  
martian: "…We also deployed a round hooped version over the privy so no bites there either….. "

It seems the trouble with this strategy is that while it keeps flies and mosquitos living in the woods away from you, it locks you in there with the flies and mosquitos that live down in that pit. Those are the ones I’m most worried about bitting me.
 
06/19/2022 07:08PM  
Use a tarp/net combo to cover the latrine and poop in peace.
 
martian
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06/19/2022 08:09PM  
Jaywalker: "
martian: "…We also deployed a round hooped version over the privy so no bites there either….. "

It seems the trouble with this strategy is that while it keeps flies and mosquitos living in the woods away from you, it locks you in there with the flies and mosquitos that live down in that pit. Those are the ones I’m most worried about bitting me. "

We nuke that first if it's necessary before we really nuke it.
 
PabloKabo
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06/19/2022 11:56PM  
Ha! That's one way of putting it!

When I first brought tarps up to Quetico, they were a nice addition for shade or shelter from the rain. They crew approved.

When I brought along the Nemo, BugOut, it was a game changer. The guys all agreed it was the best addition that had ever been made to increase the enjoyment of many parts of our trip. I used the 12' version.

I have started using the Eureka NoBugZone (smaller version) when our group is just two. It's great, just like the BugOut was, but smaller. I'm over six feet tall, so unless I rig it up high, I'm not able to stand tall much of the time I'm in it. That said, most of the time I'm in it, I'm sitting.

CCS makes such great equipment. It's well-thought-out gear. But, without the netting, it would be like going back to my old Noah's Tarp. No thanks.
 
06/20/2022 10:33AM  
PabloKabo: "
CCS makes such great equipment. It's well-thought-out gear. But, without the netting, it would be like going back to my old Noah's Tarp. No thanks."


CCS makes a great bug shelter fixed to a silnylon tarp- you get to choose whether or not you want "regular" netting or no-see-um netting. It is lighter and packs considerably smaller than a similarly sized Nemo or Eureka. It is much more expensive and very high quality.

CCS Bug Tarp
 
Northwoodsman
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06/20/2022 10:37AM  
You can have the best of both worlds. CCS does make a Bug Shelter. You can get a 10' x 10' or a 15' x 15'.
 
06/20/2022 11:05AM  
Spend the extra money on a CCS bug shelter. You will not regret it!!
 
Hammertime
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06/20/2022 09:56PM  
I haven’t tried the CCS or eureka options but I’ll never go without my Nemo 12x12 bugout again. In addition to the bug relief it can be a day/night saver in a heavy rain or storms.
 
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