View Full Version : Bug-net v. No-see-um: Which one? Sources?
I'm finally ready to make my bugnet... and my local source of no-see-um 'fabric' is no longer available. (discontinued, and out of inventory)
I'm still trying to decide whether to get no-see-um netting or mosquito net -- in my mind it comes down to better coverage or better airflow (though I have no practical experience with the stuff... so input is VERY welcome).
So two questions:
1. How many people use no-see-um netting versus 'mosquito net'? Experiences with it?
2. Where is a good place to get either/or of the above fabric?
canoebie
07-13-2010, 13:12
Not sure about the "where to get it part" but I am way more concerned about keeping cool on a hot day than no see ums. I have had my Claytor JH, which is not no see um and have been out where there were no see ums and did not get bothered.
I get warm as it is with the mosquito netting on the Claytor, I cannot imagine how much the nsm netting would cut off. For me without question, I would go with mosquito netting. When I make my first hammock, I will definitely go that route.
Mountain Gout
07-13-2010, 13:22
I second what canoebie said.. That no-see-um is great stuff, and it even keeps a little heat in on cool mornings. But when it is very hot and humid it makes it hard for me to breath..
sclittlefield
07-13-2010, 14:09
I can help with the "where to get it".
Mosquito Netting:
VT Army Navy (http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=916256129&Count2=833396553&Keyword=mosquito+net&Target=products.asp)
No-See-Um Netting:
Backwoods Daydreamer Gear (http://www.backwoodsdaydreamer.com/apps/webstore/products/show/1519631)
Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics (http://www.owfinc.com/Fabrics/mesh&netting.asp)
Quest Outfitters (http://www.questoutfitters.com/mesh_fabrics.htm#Mesh Fabrics)
Thru-Hiker (http://thru-hiker.com/materials/breathable.php)
Youngblood
07-13-2010, 16:03
I second what canoebie said.. That no-see-um is great stuff, and it even keeps a little heat in on cool mornings. But when it is very hot and humid it makes it hard for me to breath..
I think the way that works is when it is hot, there isn't much of any temperature differential between the outside air and the air inside the enclosed netting with you in it. Without that temperature differential it is difficult to get air flow with tightly woven noseeum netting. In cooler temperatures that isn't the case and the air you warm up exits easily, often it fells like there is nothing there when it is cold enough :). Looser woven mosquito netting isn't as suffocating in hot weather but it doesn't hold in as much heat in cold weather either.
That is great info -- as I said, without actually ever using it I am not sure how it will play out.
For this particular trip, I'm going to be in the Boundary Waters for a week... July 29 - Aug 5 -- I'm thinking that mosquitoes and black flies are going to be the biggest issue next to heat... so airflow is going to be important. Beyond that, I've slept outside for 20 years with or without a shelter of some sort and never had issues with no-see-ums...
Now i just need to check out some of those links for a source.
Thanks for the input!
gObez, have you ever been to the BWCA? If you haven't you might want to get the no see um. The bugs up there in July/August are significant. I went in early June and they were bad then.
I have no see um netting on all of my outdoor shelter equipment. I don't notice any real heat issues and I go out from late May until late October.
John
Ended up finding this stuff at the Army Surplus down the road from my place, and wanted to know if it was comparable to other kinds of bug netting:
http://www.amazon.com/Rothco-G-I-Type-Mosquito-Netting/dp/B000K99ZS4
Hmm, actually, no I haven't been up there -- from what I've read the no-see-ums aren't as bad in late july/early august... Maybe i need to do some q/a on some bwca forums.
This may not be applicable to hammocks, but when I was on the DuMoine River in Quebec after ice-out the Noseeums were voracious, and two guys in a Frostline tent with mozzy netting wer eaten alive at one beach campsite.
The BWCA and the DuMoine are at essentially the same lattitude, but I do not know if the insect populations are similar.
Jim
I can help with the "where to get it".
Mosquito Netting:
VT Army Navy (http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=916256129&Count2=833396553&Keyword=mosquito+net&Target=products.asp)
The VT Army Navy Store sells both. They even offer no-see-um in wide 117" rolls.
http://shop.vtarmynavy.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=armynavy&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=978771388&Count2=895911812
Big Jim Mac
09-08-2010, 22:02
I just ordered some netting from Vermont Army/Navy, should be in Friday so I'll try to post up what I think. Didn't give this a lot of thought, thinking now I should have tried to no-see-um or even the nano-see-um from Thru Hiker. I was looking for something that would work well with a woodland camo/olive green DL hammock.