Review of Black Diamond Beta Bug Tents
One of the most frustrating hazards of trekking through
the great outdoors is the near-inevitability of contending with the native
insect population. Mosquitos,
ants and other creepy crawlies, both airborne and otherwise, can put a major
damper on what would have been a pleasant and inspiring excursion into the
wild. The insect problem is even
more prominent in warmer weather, which ironically would be the climate most
ideal for open-air camping if not for all the pests flitting about.
Conventional three-season tents could certainly give you the
protection that you require, particularly if modified with the proper rain
fly and outer wall, but some days, what you really, honest to goodness want
to fully capture the majesty of the world beyond your home, is as much
exposure as you can muster that still qualifies as a tent.
Well, Black Diamond somehow divined this secret longing
of many happy campers, and designed a tent that is built for the ultimate
immersion in nature with none of the hassle brought about by its tiny
inhabitants. The fruit of their
ingenuity is known as the Black Diamond Beta Bug, and it is spare in its
execution, but interestingly may be just the answer to infestation avoidance
that one seeks. The Beta Bug is
a tent that is almost entirely made out of tough mesh screening along its
walls, to protect its inhabitants against the nasties that threaten to soar
in and ruin the experience of sitting in the midst of a panoramic expanse.
The Beta Bug also sports a completely enclosed, slightly raised floor
that will keep one safe against ground-based insects, who have spoiled many
a camping trip by finding their way into sleeping bags, clothing and food
supplies. With almost 35 square
feet of space, the Beta Bug will comfortably house two to three inhabitants,
along with their gear. With a
single zippered door that can be shut tight to complete the anti-insect
barrier, the Beta Bug is perhaps your best option for being as close as
possible to an open environment that is likewise bug-free.
While not unexpected considering all that this tent is, the Beta Bug
weighs less than two pounds, making it almost negligible as a camp pack
burden.
Certainly, the Beta Bug is specialized for its purpose, and comes with as few frills as possible, but it would have been nice for the tent to come with its own support poles for the body, which are not included. You will have to invest separately in a couple of ski poles or trekking poles, to stick into the grommeted holes in the tent’s ceiling. Also, the seams of the tent have not been sealed to keep the weight down, and if you want a stronger Beta Bug, you will be forced to spend on some sealant to do the job. Don’t expect a tent with all-mesh screen walls to protect you against weather, either. Wind and rain will both penetrate the Beta Bug like it wasn’t there. Overall, the Beta Bug is ideal for warm, dry weather, and does exactly what it is expected to do. You can buy it online here.
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