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Savage Voyageur
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I’ve only done this in my hammock. I stay high and dry in driving rain thanks to my CCS 12x10 tarp.
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Tomcat
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4keys
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I have never used one but what about a lean 1 from CCS ? The front can be open, or netted, and the awning acts like a tarp but can be lowered if the weather gets really bad. I don't think there is a floor but you can order a ground cloth. You'd have to compare weights, but a lot of people on here love these.
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BWPaddler
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With that size tarp you should be able to stay dry no problem. I own a bug tent called a Tropic Screen II. Lightweight, has a floor built in. It's just like a tent but it's only screen.
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THEGrandRapids
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Anyone do this? Bug net (with or without a bottom) and their tarp? Any opinions on how much "heat" is retained by a tent fly? Any opinions on type of bug net? Looking at dumping weight since I always bring a 10x14 tarp anyway. Pros? Cons?
Assuming wind is the only issue, as long as tarp seams are good. Looks like an ultralight 2-person bug net with floor weighs a pound. A 4-person Black Diamond weighs three pounds. We prefer to have a bottom. I do bring a Sea to Summit double box net without floor as a relief from bugs.
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HayRiverDrifter
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I have done it a couple of times. I just used my tent ground tarp and a Coleman bug net. Best part, no zippers to get in or out, just walk out. You can also fold the front corners in to close the door. Definitely check the lay of the land for runoff. Have ear plugs because the bugs are right by your head. I have a hammock setup now.
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AussieShep
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Anyone try the Eureka No Bug Zone? A tarp and mesh tent all in one. Even has the zipper assembly to accommodate hammock ropes if that's your thing.
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Blatz
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A lot of tents can be pitched fly only.
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MarshallPrime
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Personally, Id just use a tent. Cant be that much heavier and you are safe from the rain. Now I have used hammocks for a 7 night trip in the Q and liked it for the most part. Took some getting used to...and the only storm we had was terrible with high winds and lots of rain and I ran into my buddies tent. We had an ultra light 4 person tent and 2 hammocks for 4 guys so we had plenty of room, just in case.
It it worth the hassle/headache and what is peace of mind worth?
Just my 2 cents.
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Coolpix
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sns: "Thousands of serious hikers ditch the tent and just take a tarp."
I went backpacking with 3 friends, they took only tarps and I took a tent. All three ended up in my tent during a storm.
Chose the equipment for your own comfort level.
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Minnesotian
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I have done the bug net under a tarp for a night or two. It works and is great if there isn't a chance of a big storm. A couple of the nights I had short rain on the tarp and nothing pooling.
However, what I do now is set up the tarp with a tent underneath that doesn't have the rainfly on. Keeps the bugs off me, the tarp is big enough that I don't worry about most rains, but if it really starts coming down I can always throw the rainfly back on. And by having the tent I get a bathtub floor so I don't have to worry about any rivers of rain soaking me.
Since I moved to this style I have seen so many more beautiful sunrises and sunsets through a cloud of mosquitos. Stargazing is much more enjoyable and it never gets stuffy inside the tent as long as the rainfly is off.
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Tomcat
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johndku
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We've spent an 8 day trip hammocking under a Nemo Bugout, bunkbed style, no tent. Worked for us, and survived through the big storm of July 2016. Though I'm not sure I'd want to be on the ground with a pad and sleeping bag unless I was in a tent.
Also spend many nights hanging with just a bug net, no tarp, weather permitting. Nothing like looking up at the stars through the 10,000 mosquitos trying to attack through the netting.
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dentondoc
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Another issue that comes to mind is significant rainfall ... where water begins to pool and/or run through your campsite. Unless the floor is like the bathtub design used on many tents, I think you are likely to have water infiltration inside your sleeping area.
Of course there is the wind/rain combination where the raindrops are coming at you on a horizontal plain. This problem is mostly eliminated with a rainfly that comes to ground level, but under the right circumstances, I've a a few drops make it through or around the fly (e.g., via vents and the like).
One possible work-around is to pitch your tent as normal, but only deploy the rain fly over a portion of the tent interior. If a storm comes up during the night, you should be able to quickly pop out of your tent and anchor the remaining tie-downs for the fly. (Just don't leave your camp with a partially deployed rainfly on layover days.)
dd
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sns
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Thousands of serious hikers ditch the tent and just take a tarp.
Some take a bug net, some don't, depending on location, season, etc.
Pitch is everything. There are many good videos out there on different ways to pitch a tarp - and thus to stay dry.
I do not think you can count on netting to add any warmth, however.
No real reason not to do it...and the weight savings can be significant.
PS: "bugs to eat"... I would like to get some of your recipes!
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nooneuno
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There is another name for a tarp bug net combination, they call it a TENT.
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keth0601
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I think you'd be surprised to find that a bug net + tarp combo will often be heavier than a well designed tent of like materials. The issue is that you lose some efficiency. You fully surround yourself with a net tent, then you cover yourself with a tarp that's larger than a tent rainfly would need to be in order to get proper coverage. Add in the extra cord, stakes, etc you need for rigging both your tarp and your net tent and the weight adds up (and so does the complexity).
If you look at some of the modern backpacking tents there's much more efficient use of material. If the poles are where you think you're saving weight there are plenty of designs out there that don't require poles either...
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Z4K
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It sounds like a Lean+ from CCS is exactly what you're looking for. I believe Dan will outfit these in all sorts of custom ways including floors. You could also just bring another tarp to lay on the ground as well.
I hang almost exclusively these days, which is much lighter than a tent and can be just as dry if you pitch a tarp over it properly. I could never sleep in a hammock until someone taught me how to hang them properly (I was hanging them much too tight) and told me to lay in it crooked. Plenty of videos about this stuff on YouTube. The hammocks I like to use have built in, zippered bug netting. I've slept in the open quite a few times as well, with only a pad under me, wrapped up in my sleeping bag with a head net set over my face.
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Tomcat
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In attempting to reduce weight and bulk you may unnecessarily sacrifice comfort. You may be able to reduce bulk and increase carry comfort by packing iteams more efficiently. Before you start cutting the length off your tooth brush to save weight take a look at the big picture.
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sns
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If you want to go UL/simple (for whatever reason - minimalism, speed/distance, etc) with a tarp / bug net...and you are comfortable with pitching said tarp for all conditions...why not? Go for it.
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awbrown
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Take a look at a CCS Lean+. It's the best combination of bug shelter and tarp that I know.
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jwartman59
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On solo trips I typically bring a tarp and my REI bivy sack. If bugs are an issue the bivy sack has mosquito netting built in.
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butthead
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I have, an A frame tarp set, solo bugnet and separate bathtub style floor in summer, skip the bugnet in colder temps.
Rain is delt with by setting sides to the ground, raising one side for day sits. Using a 10x12 tarp no trouble with rain. It offers no heat benefit but a constant air flow thru, I trust my sleeping gear for warmth at nite. Small pack size and light weight the are desire to use this setup. Lots of nite sounds and view also are a benefit.
 
Tarp camp in Kettle Moraine State Forest WI, late in year no bugs.
butthead
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