Between my 8 year old and the bugs and crawlies, I prefer a tent. We use a good 4 man, 3 season tent for family camping, and I keep a small, cheap 2 man tent in my Jeep for emergencies. I can easier add it to my GHB or our BOB in need be.

I carry a thermal sportsman blanket and an AMK bivvy in my hiking kit for an unepexected overnight shelter. I throw the little tent iinstead of the bivvy in the summer. In the winter I use a tube tent in addition to the blanket and bivvy, because I find it does a better job with the wind, rain and snow than the cheap tent, as long as we barricade one end. If I had the money, I'd upgrade to a better winter shelter but that's not in the cards right now.