2 more lessons from the long run

I was talking to a GP friend who's taken up running lately, and described the agonising stomach cramps that brought my long 2 day run to a halt. Apparently that was probably dehydration. Never been that dehydrated before - that was quite unpleasant. One to watch out for I think.

The second lesson is one about shelter. For years when lightweight camping I've favoured just a bivi bag, which is perfectly adequate even in moderate rain, as long as you're warm enough. It's the evening that's a problem - midges are always around unless you're up high. A bivi and bug net combination would solve that problem, but there are other problems.

1. Many mosquito nets are not small enough mesh to keep midges out, and 
2. Almost all are designed to be draped over a bed or similar, so they have an open bottom. Since midges rise up out of the ground like tiny flying zombies, this probably won't keep them out.

http://www.brettschneider.co.uk/floor%20mosquito%20nets.html

The small wedge net would be nice, except that a) it doesn't give you much space to move around, and b) the mesh won't keep midges out. The pyramid net looks promising, but would need something to prop it up. The pyramid net weighs 700g though, so combined with a 400g or more bivi, it's more than a kilo with no poles. Might as well carry a tent. It would be a nice big bug free space though.

http://www.borahgear.com/bugbivy.html - this would need a more substantial bivi in heavier weather, but is very light indeed.

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tarps-bivis-bothies/all-tarps/bivi-tarp/ - a bit more expensive, but being terra nova it's very light. Plus it has a pole.

Current favourite is the Snugpak ionosphere. It's a one man tent, but a bit bigger than my Vango Ultralite 2 man tent. It weighs about the same, but it's 2 layer, and the inner can be carried on it's own. That makes a free standing bug net weighing around a kilo. In worse weather the flysheet can go in too. It's Snugpak, so probably bombproof, and I live near the factory, so returns are easy in case of problems, plus it's money into my local economy.

Also looking at the Terra Nova Zephyr. 100g lighter, and probably a little more spacious, but without the option of only taking the mesh.

http://www.terra-nova.co.uk/tents-and-spares/all-tents/zephyros-1-tent/