QUICK! GET THE NET!!
The bug net that is. Its summertime here in the South and that means the skeeters are out in force. Even though we had a mighty cold winter there seems to be a bumper crop of the little beasties. About the only time one can stretch out in a hammock without getting sucked dry is late, late at night after they've settled down for the evening or early in the morning before they wake up. Now I have no problems hanging late, late at night or early in the morning but that carves out a lot of prime afternoon snoozin' time or getting in the sack early during an overnighter...unless, of course, one has a bug net.
I've been doing a little internet research into bug nets lately. I've looked at various commercial models and even considered making one myself. While perusing Wilderness Logics website a couple of weeks ago I noticed that there wasn't a bug net listed. By chance I decided to shoot them an e-mail and find out if they might have a net in the works. As it turns out they did. Marty at WL and I traded a few e-mails and few days later and the mailman delivered a box with a bug net to my front door.
As I opened the box and unfolded the net it was easy to tell that the WL folks knew their way around the materials they were using as well as their sewing machines. The 'rough' edges weren't just turned to the inside of the net, they were also finished on a surger. The stitching along the zipper was smooth with none of the wiggle that I usually manage to get on my DIY stuff. This thing is VERY well made!
One thing that sets this net apart from the others I've seen is the zipper. Rather than being a 'half moon' shape or oriented vertically, its more of a 'half moon plus'...take a look:
Its easy to get in and out of and there's less worry about ripping the net at the top or at the ends of the zippers...a great feature for a klutz like me.
The hammock suspension fits through the ends of the net which has velcro 'seals' to keep the critters out. Marty told me that it worked best if the hammock suspension was at the bottom of the velcro. I took his advise and also connected the net to my tarp ridgeline with some shock cord to pull it tight and give it a little added upward pull...
Its about as roomy inside as most other nets...
And it kept the skeeters out quite well. Even Alex enjoyed a break from the bugs...
I'd call the WL bug net a keeper. Think I'm going to really appreciate it during bug season.
Oh yeah, one of the best features of all...its made in North Carolina...yep, thats right, not in Thailand, not in Guatemala or not in some other ountry...but right here in the U.S.A.
(Disclaimer - I have no financial interest in WL, I just like their products)
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