chris
09-16-2003, 13:40
Reviewer: Chris Willett aka Suge aka Sugarmonkey
Age: 29
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 lbs (I'm getting pudgy sitting in my office all day)
Locations tested: 2658 miles on the Pacific Crest trail this summer. The Oregon lake country provided ample nights for battling mosquitoes.
Weight (as advertised): 2.25 oz.
Weight (as tested): 2 oz.
Price: $19
Manufacturer's web address:
http://www.trailquest.net
Phone number: N/A
Email address: N/A
Construction: This is as basic as it gets. A large hoop of mosquito netting which you put over your upper body and secure with a draw cord. A loop allows you to tie off the netting with a cord to keep it off your face at night.
Fit: Again, very simple. There is a lot of volume, so if you tie off the netting you don't get a feeling of enclosure. The netting goes down to my mid ribs and is impervious to mosquitoes and other beasties, provided the drawcord is used.
Trail Test: I got the mosquito netting to use with my tarp on the PCT this summer. The Sierras were reputed to be bug heaven, but I went through early enough that I really didn't need the sleep net. I did use it occasionally in northern California, but it didn't get a regular workout until I got to Oregon. Then, the bugs really came out. Swarms as thick and persistant as anything I've seen. Even northern, coastal British Columbia (think Alaska). Since I didn't have a tent, the netting was essential to getting a reasonable nights sleep. With the netting in place, I slept well and would go to sleep to the pleasant buzzing of frustrated mosquitoes.
I started using the pull out loop to keep the netting off my face, but eventually just wore my large brimmed hat to sleep. The big brim kept the netting off of me well enough.
Alternatives: The main alternative is the A16 Bug Bivy. I didn't want to get this for several reasons: It is more expensive, heavier, and the frame loop looked like it would be a pain to pack well. I also did not like how the netting secured to the sleeping bag, thinking that bugs might get in from underneath. The A16 certainly provides more room for writing or reading, however.
Recommendations: I would highly recommend taking a sleep net of some sort, and this is exactly what you want. Even if you have a tent, you may end up wanting to sleep in a shelter or not wanting to put up the tent on a gorgeous summer night. But, with bugs out, you pretty much have to. Instead, bring the 2 oz sleep net. If you are a tarp user, get the most basic tarp you can, without bug netting. Having the netting as a separate component of your sleep system is much more flexible: You don't have to pitch the tarp to use the netting. Again, if you spend time in shelters or like sleeping out alot, this is the way to go.
This sleep net is as basic as it gets, but it works and works well. Brawny and Rainmaker, the people at Dancing Light, are thru hikers and make alot of ultralight gear. Their website is well worth checking out.
Age: 29
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 200 lbs (I'm getting pudgy sitting in my office all day)
Locations tested: 2658 miles on the Pacific Crest trail this summer. The Oregon lake country provided ample nights for battling mosquitoes.
Weight (as advertised): 2.25 oz.
Weight (as tested): 2 oz.
Price: $19
Manufacturer's web address:
http://www.trailquest.net
Phone number: N/A
Email address: N/A
Construction: This is as basic as it gets. A large hoop of mosquito netting which you put over your upper body and secure with a draw cord. A loop allows you to tie off the netting with a cord to keep it off your face at night.
Fit: Again, very simple. There is a lot of volume, so if you tie off the netting you don't get a feeling of enclosure. The netting goes down to my mid ribs and is impervious to mosquitoes and other beasties, provided the drawcord is used.
Trail Test: I got the mosquito netting to use with my tarp on the PCT this summer. The Sierras were reputed to be bug heaven, but I went through early enough that I really didn't need the sleep net. I did use it occasionally in northern California, but it didn't get a regular workout until I got to Oregon. Then, the bugs really came out. Swarms as thick and persistant as anything I've seen. Even northern, coastal British Columbia (think Alaska). Since I didn't have a tent, the netting was essential to getting a reasonable nights sleep. With the netting in place, I slept well and would go to sleep to the pleasant buzzing of frustrated mosquitoes.
I started using the pull out loop to keep the netting off my face, but eventually just wore my large brimmed hat to sleep. The big brim kept the netting off of me well enough.
Alternatives: The main alternative is the A16 Bug Bivy. I didn't want to get this for several reasons: It is more expensive, heavier, and the frame loop looked like it would be a pain to pack well. I also did not like how the netting secured to the sleeping bag, thinking that bugs might get in from underneath. The A16 certainly provides more room for writing or reading, however.
Recommendations: I would highly recommend taking a sleep net of some sort, and this is exactly what you want. Even if you have a tent, you may end up wanting to sleep in a shelter or not wanting to put up the tent on a gorgeous summer night. But, with bugs out, you pretty much have to. Instead, bring the 2 oz sleep net. If you are a tarp user, get the most basic tarp you can, without bug netting. Having the netting as a separate component of your sleep system is much more flexible: You don't have to pitch the tarp to use the netting. Again, if you spend time in shelters or like sleeping out alot, this is the way to go.
This sleep net is as basic as it gets, but it works and works well. Brawny and Rainmaker, the people at Dancing Light, are thru hikers and make alot of ultralight gear. Their website is well worth checking out.