Wayne00001

Got a new tent and it is going to sit in it's bag until next spring. I was wondering if there is a way to coat or permiate the tent with bug repellant. I don't want to asphixiate myself next year, but if there is away to deter ticks and other pests by putting my tent in a plastic tote or garbage bag with moth balls or flea and tick collars over winter. Seems like a cheap way to deter the little buggers. I know deer hunters do something similar to kill thier scent on boots and clothes. Just curios if anybody had any success with treating thier tent.

Please don't experiment if you don't have a clue. Could be rough on your relatives if you don't wake up.

Wayne

valygrl

Just keep it zipped up all the time, nothing more is needed.

scrapser

Bugs won't set up camp in your tent while it's being stored over the winter unless you live in a bug infested home in which case you already have a much bigger problem. What valygrl posted is all that's necessary.

Deer hunters use a scent that imitates the scent of deer so they remain undetected by smell. It is not a repellent.

skilsaw

I understand clothing treated with an insect repellent called permethrin is available. It can be purchased in liquid form and used to treat bedding if bed bugs are a problem.

I don't know how well it would work on the nylon or polyester of a tent.

safariofthemind

Never needed anything either for the tent per se. For ticks and other critters while walking, the Sawyer Permethrin spray on the clothes (never your body) works very well.
https://www.sawyerproducts.com/products.htm#003

antokelly

do you intend to store your tent outdoors,
i keep mine nicely packed on a shelf in a closet .
hope that doesn't sound condescending ..

DW99

This is an off topic comment-

Why are we having to look at right wing political ads on Bike Forums? Just asking.

Wayne00001

The idea was to have the tent be pest free using it next year in the woods. I've been in some places crawling with ticks. And have had mosqitoes buzzing on the outside of the mesh making it difficult to fall asleep. No, it's not to protect it over winter in my home. The idea was to have a tent like the permethrin embedded clothes. I'll look into that stuff.

electrik

Nope, btw... sleeping in a DEET or permethrin coated tent? I'll take the skeeters buzzing outside instead and bring ear-plugs. BTW, the water-proof coating on the tent doesn't like oils, DEET will eat through the tent fly.

safariofthemind

Chemically speaking, DEET is much more dangerous than Permethrin. Permethrin is synthesized based on a substance in Mums and is pretty safe toxicologically speaking. DEET on the other hand is heavy duty stuff suspected of being carcinogenic.

https://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/zoon...permethrin.pdf

staehpj1

A very bad idea in my opinion. It sounds not only unnecessary, but likely to damage the tent as well.

MichaelW

Nikwax make Skitostop with permethryn for treating tents. The treatment wears off so there is no point in applying it before storage.
I had a battle with some aggressive ticks that found their way into my tent. When I dropped one by the vestibule I lost it so moved my tent 10m.

Tom Stormcrowe

Could you send me a screenshot of the right wing political ads, please? As far as I know, we aren't doing any political ads, on either side of the coin. We try very hard to keep the forum apolitical. Occasionally, they slip through, though.

Garthr

Don't do chemicals ..... sure, they'll mess up your tent, but far worse is what they do to us, the humans. Think about it.

skijor

I addressed this topic this past summer and got helpful responses.
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ents-for-pests

I ended up not treating the tent with anything. I got a Thermocell which did not do the job...I had the thing right between my feet sitting around the campfire and I was still getting bit by skeeters.

scrapser

Sometimes the way something is said can be construed entirely different from the author's intention. After re-reading the OP, I now understand what the question was. He is asking if there is some treatment that could be applied to the tent fabric while it is sitting on a shelf over the winter. To my knowledge there isn't anything available that would not also harm the occupants.

safariofthemind

When storing woolen garments that need protection for a long time, we use large vacuum bags, then create a partial vacuum using a foodsaver machine. With little air, bugs don't have a chance to develop. The bag itself is waterproof so it can be stored outside. Just an idea. Works great on fishing equipment and other things you want to protect from oxidation too btw.

Here's where I get the long length plastic material - you cut to size, then seal one side, stick the contents in, then seal the other side. The bags can be reused numerous times.

https://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...oodsaver+rolls

fantom1 

1) Spelling. Dear lord, work on your spelling. I before E, except after C.

2) If mosquitos buzzing outside your tent keep you awake at night, maybe a different hobby other than camping outdoors would behoove you? I honestly can't imagine being bothered by mosquitos outside the tent. Ticks are disgusting, so maybe the nightmares would keep me awake if I saw thousands of them crawling, but I seriously doubt that has happened.

CliffordK

Some of the army tents at the army surplus store smelled like bug repellent. Not something I'd want to sleep in.

I think ticks normally get onto your body when you walk past them. A tent will be erected in one place, so less likely to pick up ticks. Mosquitoes are kept out by the mesh. Others? We did find a scorpion around the sleeping tarp once (no tent, I think). But, nobody was hurt, so all was well.

Fleas (lice) are pretty species specific, and not something that you'll casually pick up when camping.

Chiggers? Again, probably picked up while walking.

saddlesores

australia - woke up with tent covered with huge texas belt-buckle sized tarantulas.

new zealand - several times woke to find leeches attached to various parts of the tent. leeches suck.

MarcusT

With several of the comments here, I decided to order the Thermacell. I hope for the best, but did notice they use the "cheap printer" marketing: The product itself is well priced, but replacement cartridges are stupidly over-priced.

DeborahHarrell

Very true said! It is really overpriced..

J.Higgins 

Tourist in MSN

I am not the one that made the comment, but I do want to thank you for your efforts.

indyfabz

Uh...He passed away some time ago.