How to Set Up Your Laavu & Summer Overnight+ Bugs!

I went out for a two night summer tripto try out my newest piece of gear: A set of two Polish Laavu. This is a conical tent made from two Polish Plash Palatka style ponchos.
Also, I demonstrate one way to set it up!

[@Mat-kr1nf]

My worst overnight experience was my last camp, in a half Lavuu setup. The rain bought out slugs, I woke up every hour, picking slugs out of my hair, off my sleeping bag, from under me, under my mat, on my mat, off the canvas, out of my bag.......I hate slugs, I’ve never experienced so many before, even in the rain. It was madness 😢🥺. In the UK, we don’t get dangerous insects, snakes etc, so that’s not a worry and I like spiders, they don’t bother you. My favourite time of year though, especially in military tents/ tarps without an integral floor, is in winter, preferably when the ground is frozen- no creepy crawlies, warm yourself in front of the fire. Brilliant!😃😁

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Ye, slugs also sound awful. I am planning on using the Laavu this winter, so I'm pleased it works well for you

[@TheWtfnonamez]

Glad someone is finally talking about the bugs and lack of enclosure. The laavu is sadly on par with say a bivvy or tarp camp. Its actualy worse than a hammock because at least you can set up a mosquito net with a hammock. Personally I love mine but it is entirely climate-dependent. I would happily use it in winter in the UK. But at other times of year, or camping where there is a tick problem, you really want something that is enclosed. People may laugh but I have sometimes taken a can of RAID with me camping. After camping in a location with so many mosquitos I had to take a rest day because I was bitten to hell, I am shameless about using sprays and repellents. That said, putting some pine needles on the embers of a fire will deter a lot of bugs, and personally I use cedar oil a lot. But if you camped in the jungle with a laavu you would wake up with centipedes wrapped around your ballsack. I love the laavu, but its primarily for climates that are not infested with bugs and rodents.

[@TheAshreetaah]

Thank you very much for this video,awesome explain

[@Roller822]

The joys of the Laavu. lol. I use mine every chance that I can, but instead of the pole kit, I use 2 telescoping poles set up as a bipod. This frees up way more space. Just extend the poles to be the same length as the vertical seams. For the ground sheet, just a cheap, blue 6x8 trap. When i first set up,the inside of the tent gets a good blast of yard fogger. then around the edges on the outside. Bug free and it lasts a good 2 days. Also, attach some loops of 550 cord or mule tape to pull the edges out better. If I'm not in a hammock, it's the Laavu for me. Atb, John

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Thanks John, that is a great protocol. I will try it next time I take the laavu out this winter. I especially like the bipod idea.

[@jalcock6721]

In the summertime i stake both sides open and cover the entire thing with a very large bug net also you really want to clear the leaves out Just my opinion

[@jalcock6721]

Also you can just make a hammock out of it

[@lardyguts2]

You may be able to make the DD SuperLight Pyramid Mesh Tent fit with some tucking in here and there, it wont be a great fit but it may do

[@seventhsonswain]

Use a tripod of 9 feet and suspend leave tent. This will eliminate the center pole. Excellent video thank you

[@glenray7464]

Lavvu too hot for summer for me i use it in the fall. Try hanging it up in tree so you have 6 inches of gap at the bottom for air flow and more room. As for the bugs i have large bugnet that take 4 sticks about two feet long and pound them in ground around your bag run a string around top and bottom . Put bugnet over it tuck three side under it on top on the ground sheet and under your bag. Just lift up loose side get in and tuck bugnet under you. I use a sawers bug spray for fabric on it to keep the bugs off. I use the spray on lavvu too.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Adding the bugnet sounds like a great idea. I will look into it

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Can't say bugs really bother me but it also doesn't get to 80 degrees in my AO at night. For me I have always been a ground sleeper and likely always will. I love the Polish tent.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

You know, my wife talked me into keeping it around till the winter, I am gonna try and mod it with a cut tarp to give me an improvised ground cover. She also got Lyme disease from a tick bite on this trip so the bug threat is real here in the mid Atlantic. She caught it early and is fine though.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

@@MilitaryHistoryGearReview lyme is very dangerous and can not be taken lightly. Mint oil, deet, permethrin and even menthol oil (tiger balm or vicks) are all your friends.

[@alphabears6342]

You should clear the ground to get rid of the bugs. Also, next time, take lavender oil or spray. Its excellent at repelling crawlers at night.

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Yea, that will be my plan for next time. Also, I am going to treat the Laavu and ground tarp with Permethryn.

[@JP-qj7te]

I'm skeptical...my mom used to make us use lavender oil as a mosquito repellent living in South Texas and I don't think it really worked. Perhaps your crawlers are not as vicious as south texas mosquitos?

[@alphabears6342]

@@JP-qj7te I am not sure. Since i have been using lavender soap in summer times, I've noticed that mosquitos and other crawlers have been staying away from me. I've also noticed the reverse when i do not use lavender, mosquitoes eat me numerous times. I also lavender oil, I just rub it on by spare skin. Maybe it's the lavender oil you use? I know that most oils are not created equal. Or maybe it's a placebo for me. If it was a placebo, then it worked everytime.

[@alanchinn7259]

Excellent tips mate, but with the bug thing, it depends what country you’re using the teepee in, I live on the Isle of Wight in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 so we don’t get bugs and spiders like you probably do, thank god, cus I would never use it again if I had a spider like you do crawling over my face. FairPlay to you lasting a few days in it with them bugs. But in England with a ground sheet, they are excellent tents. Anyway cheers 👍

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Yea, in cooler seasons here the bugs are not as bad, and I have started taking out a nicer ground sheet. It makes a huge difference. Glad to hear it's worked out well for you! Cheers!

[@radioactivewaste4463]

Nice vid would you ever buy a zelt l would be neat to see your thoughts on that

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

I've never heard of a zelt. Whats the story behind it? Where could I pick one up?

[@radioactivewaste4463]

Well a zeltbahn is a camouflage tent poncho use by the German military and at on point by the Swiss during WW1 and 2 it’s a triangle shape and when you put four of them together you get a tent you can get some reproduction or a Swiss one if you google

[@MTwoodsrunner]

I had the same experience stuck inside the US Army pup tent...i don't mind the creepy crawlies so much as the dank, dark and depressing canvas above me...try spending a week of unceasing rain stuck inside that laavu...just keep away from sharp objects, ropes with nooses and other life ending objects...at least till you can get back to civilization !!! LOL...woods

[@MilitaryHistoryGearReview]

Never thought I'd experience a tent that made me miss GP mediums lol. I saw one video where the guy modded the laavu with windows. I thought he was crazy when I saw it but now I kinda get it