If you’re an avid hammock camper, you’re likely in the market for a hammock bug net to keep you protected from mosquitos and other insects while you sleep under the stars.
We’ve found some of the top hammock bug nets for camping, in hopes of breaking through the clutter of the shopping process and giving you a solid place to start.
Read More : 3 Things to Know Before Buying a Hammock Bug Net
Hammock bug nets are pretty basic, but there are some key factors for you to be aware of that can help you make the best possible purchase.
- Coverage. You need to understand the size of these nets to ensure they not only fit around your hammock, but give you plenty of room to stretch and sit up.
- Zippers. You want a net with a good zipper location and a well-constructed zipper in order to get in and out easily and ensure no bugs can get in.
Our top picks
Here are our favorite 5 hammock bug nets. Read on to know what we think of them.
Best for Budget Minded : Wise Owl Outfitters Snugnet -25
“Wise Owl’s solution is a solid choice.”
Value for Money : ENO Guardian
“A value option that’s easy to set up and prevents bugs from getting in the way.”
Easy to Use : Therm-a-Rest Slacker
“Easy to get in and out safely.”
Best All Round Protection : Kammok Dragonfly
“360° protection protects you from bugs while allowing the summer breeze to sail across your face.”
Compact and Lightweight : Klymit Traverse
“Only weighs about 12oz.”
Wise Owl Outfitters Snugnet Bug Net
The Wise Owl Outfitters Snugnet Bug Net is such a great value because it’s compatible with pretty much any hammock on the market today.
More importantly, it’s extremely spacious, giving you more than enough headroom to look out through a netting that’s a little dark, but still easy to comfortably look outside at your campsite.
As a bonus, Wise Owl offers this netting with four accent colors to choose from, including red, green and blue.
If you’re looking for a cheap bug net for you and your camping partner, Wise Owl’s solution is a solid choice.
ENO Guardian Bug Net
The ENO Guardian Bug Net is a value option that’s easy to set up and prevents bugs from getting in the way of your relaxation time.
In terms of size, it’s 114” x 53”, which is plenty big to fit your everyday hammock, but also hammocks with an underbelly where you can store gear.
The netting system’s real selling point, though, is how easy it is to install. The tree-friendly strap design places very minimal impact by using a simple string and hook that’s extremely durable. No knots required.
And while this ENO Guardian bug net works best with ENO-branded hammocks, you can easily install it around other brands as well.
Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Bug Shelter
Install the Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Bug Shelter right into the suspension points of your Slack Hammock (sorry, other brands aren’t compatible with this net) and enjoy a bug-free nap.
We really like the large zipper opener, which makes it easy to get in and out safely. And then the reinforced guy points let you pull the sides out, offering more space.
The no-see mesh at the bottom serves two purposes. It helps you with setup and can keep all sorts of critters, like squirrels and mice, out of your hammock.
Really, the only downside to this Therm-a-Rest bug net is that it’s only compatible with Therm-a-Rest hammocks.
Kammok Dragonfly Hammock Bug Net
Offering 360-degree protection, the Kammok Dragonfly Hammock Bug Net is another great solution that protects you from bugs while allowing the summer breeze to sail across your face.
Setup is extremely quick and doesn’t require any knots to secure.
Most users agree this is a great net for a bug-free night, but some have complained about the ergonomics of the zipper being uncomfortable. In the grand scheme of this product, that feels pretty minor.
While this Kammok net is designed for Kammok-branded hammocks, it will work with any hammock that’s no longer than 10 feet.
Klymit Traverse Bug Net
Highlighted by its industry-leading magnetic zipper, the Klymit Traverse Bug Net is designed to keep all sorts of insects out of your way while you’re hammock camping.
There’s a lot to like about the size of this net. It only weighs about 12oz. and includes guidelines that can be used to increase interior space.
This net system works with most standard-sized hammocks. It also integrates nicely with the Traverse Shelter outdoor canopy.
Size and versatility don’t often come cheap, so be prepared to spend a little more for Klymit’s solution than other nets on this list.
Hammock Bug Net Buying Guide
On paper, it seems pretty easy. Buy a net that fits around your hammock and enjoy a bug-free camping trip.
Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. Use this guide to ensure you make the best-informed purchase.
Bug net coverage
A hammock bug net is ineffective if it’s too small for your hammock, so it’s important to not only know the length of the bug net, but also of your hammock.
And it doesn’t just end with the length of the bug net, either. You also need to figure out how much headroom you need.
Most experienced campers recommend a hammock that’s at least four feet longer than your height.
So, you’ll want to make sure the bug net is even larger because you don’t want to feel constrained by it. Also, if it’s too tight around your body, you might still feel and hear bugs buzzing around you.
The Wise Owl Outfitters Snugnet Bug Net is a great example of a hammock bug net that’s the perfect size. It’s 11.5 feet long and 4.5 feet tall, giving you not only enough horizontal space, but also plenty of room to sit up without rubbing your face on nylon.
Remember, the larger the bug net, the heavier it likely will be. This is important to know if you’re a hammock camper who often backpacks to destinations and precisely measures out every ounce before taking off.
Read More : 15 Hammock Camping Tips and Tricks
Mesh materials
Bug nets can be made from a number of materials, including cotton, polyethylene, polyester and polypropylene.
But when shopping for a hammock bug net, you’re likely going to see several products that use nylon to keep bugs out.
One of the common types of materials is no-see-um netting, as found on the ENO Guardian Bug Net. It’s named after the irritating noseeum bug.
Some form of it has actually been used to deter mosquitos and other bugs for hundreds of years. It’s made mostly using nylon, but also with polyester.
Each manufacturer has their own unique name for the no-see-um netting. The Kammok Dragonfly Hammock Bug Net, for instance, uses Dragonet no-see-um mesh, which is likely quite similar to ENO’s solution.
If you’re really into figuring out the strongest material for your bug netting, you might feel intrigued to delve into nylon ratings.
If you see a nylon rating of 40D or 40D Ripcord, as found on Eno’s hammock bug net, the D signifies nylon, while the 40 signifies weight.
Now, higher weights don’t necessarily mean higher quality or that it won’t rip as easily. Those ratings don’t take into effect other factors, like the weave and manufacturing process.
Zipper location
The zipper on a hammock bug net may seem mundane, but it’s actually one of the most important aspects of the product. After all, you do have to get in and out of the hammock net.
Where that zipper is located actually dictates where you can get out. So, if the zipper was just at the top of the net, for instance, you’d probably have a difficult time trying to stand up in a hammock and escape from the net.
Thankfully, today’s hammock bug nets are designed for easy access in and out.
The Therm-a-Rest Slacker Hammock Bug Shelter’s zipper is almost the length of the entire net and is located on the side, making it really easy to get in and out.
Some nets forgo a zipper altogether, like the Klymit Traverse Bug Net, which implements a magnetic system instead.
Andrew Dodson
Andrew Dodson is an avid camper who enjoys the great outdoors with his wife and two-year-old son. He resides in Colorado, where you can often find him enjoying hikes with a toddler strapped to his back and mini goldendoodle Percy nearby.
