another idea for mesh on tents

Eventfarm · Post by **Eventfarm** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:53 am

Ok, so I go to put up my tent to make sure I know how to do it and the thing it 75% mesh!!

So, I can go buy a new tent, seal the mesh, or ?

But I'm thinking that air flow is a good thing, I found that you can buy air filter material in bulk rolls. I'm thinking of creating a velcro on air filter that can velcro over all the mesh and then put the rain fly on for extra security.

The hope of this would be that I still get *some* air flow and I keep down the majority of the dust.

Last year I was in a truckback camper, so we'd close the door until it got too hot, then we'd open it until the dust annoyed us too much. I slept on the bench next to the open door during the sand storms. I can live through that level of dust, so I'm thinking I should be good inside mostly filtered tent.

Am I crazy? Has anyone tried something like this?[/list]

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:49 am

If you don't have shade, air flow won't help.
You want airflow between your shade and the tent.
Most filters will clog or let dust in.

Eventfarm · Post by **Eventfarm** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:17 am

I will still have a shade over the tent, with airflow in between. I'm just trying to avoid buying a new tent.

DoriumLux · Post by **DoriumLux** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:32 am

I have tried that before with batting for quilts. It comes in rolls. I couldn't say it really improved anything much. It kept SOME dust out. I would try buying nylon at the fabric store and then buying the nylon adhesive. Honestly, I would never camp in a tent with that much mesh on the playa if I cared about sleeping without the bed being covered in dust + everything else. Good luck.

Eventfarm · Post by **Eventfarm** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:45 am

how thick was the batting that you used?

I can't go the route of using the nylon/adhesive as I live in texas and the mesh will be very handy when camping locally.

I also experimented with using the rain fly velcroed on to the tent to cover the mesh (it covers it all), but it got really stuffy in there.

I might end up just embracing the dust and living with it.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:59 am

Don't just talk about it....

I bought a white sheet that i managed to cover the mesh holes (granted, not 75% of my tent was mesh but maybe 50%) just used safety pins...worked pretty good, you wont keep all the dust out, but you get another sheet to put over yer bedding after you wake up....still not sure what to do with the sheet the next morning...you'll prolly just get lazy and end up becoming one with the dust

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:06 am

If it has mesh that doesn't close, it's a screenhouse, not a tent.
Don't forget that it gets cold.

Once I'm out for the afternoon, I try to let the tent start storing heat for the night.

Windows are for ventilation.

I took a tent like that my first year, after my good one got stolen.
Two inches of dust in it by evening.
The wind through the mesh ripped the doors open and the crap zippers never worked again.

Better a cheap tent with minimal mesh.
Cover that.

Or get a better tent if you don't want to cover yours.

DoriumLux · Post by **DoriumLux** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:48 pm

Eventfarm wrote:how thick was the batting that you used?

I can't go the route of using the nylon/adhesive as I live in texas and the mesh will be very handy when camping locally.

I also experimented with using the rain fly velcroed on to the tent to cover the mesh (it covers it all), but it got really stuffy in there.

I might end up just embracing the dust and living with it.

Thick? I don't remember the measurements but it was a bitch to keep on the tent and fairly useless. I'd go with Gyre's suggestions or sheet up your bed as mentioned before.