Dark and alone

[bkrgi]

Like most things, I try to use a routine. I do this for safety, as I am often on solo trips and in extreme or emergency situation a routine instead of having to "figure things out" can be a matter of survival.

That said, zipper placement is not likely to be a life/death matter, but I can imagine it must have felt that way. So, back to my "routine". When I zip up my bugnet, I make sure the zipper pull is in the same exact place everytime. I know exactly where it is and can grab it in the dark without looking. I would encourage you and others to experiment with this, and other routines. How many times have you noticed someone digging through their pack looking for something? If everything is packed in the same place everytime, there is no searching. I also set up/take down my tarp/hammock in the same order as though it was raining. That way when it is, I dont even think about it. Icould go on, but I think my point about routines permeating our techniques is clear.

So find a good spot where you like the zipper pull, and ensure it is there everytime.

Plus 2

All about the mental game

[SkyPainter]

===> "In Omnia Paratus". Old military unit motto.

~ Sky

[pgibson]

http://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/s...pper_Pull.html

The Glow Zipper Pull. Your best friend at 3am.

[Dux]

http://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/s...pper_Pull.html

The Glow Zipper Pull. Your best friend at 3am.

Especially when ya gotta go... NOW!!! lol

[tinysailboat]

this happens to me a lot. If I wake up, and i cannot immediately poke my head out...its a full blown attack. Its why I use the small diamond tarps and leave my zipper half open. As I have gotten older, the claustrophobia gets worse. Don't even try to put me in a tent.

[MAD777]

Just one of the reasons I've come to favor Fronkey style budgets. I don't even put the cinch cord in the bottom.

[ps22285]

Yup I just leave mine open at the bottom as well MAD77. Swing the legs over and your free! Never tried a integrated bug net.

[Brady]

I attached one of the little glow in the dark linelocks to my zipper pull. There are other things made to add light, but I just used a left over linelock I had.

^ this

[sandykayak]

My claustrophobic fear is of the zipper getting stuck. That's one of the reasons I love having zippers on both sides of my Switchback. Because I'm short (5') I have extended the glow-in-the-dark zipper pull cords with neon orange cord and a large wooden bead on the end. This enables me to grab the pull with my toes and pull it toward me.

[Bamskies780]

How do you set up the signature at the bottom of your messages?