I’m Kayla, and I’m that friend who always gets bit first. Mosquitoes love me. So I bought a traveller net, the Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Pyramid Net (single), and I’ve used it on seven trips. Different beds. Different bugs. Same little pouch in my pack.
If you’re still deciding which net style fits your travel style, the comparison chart on ValidTravel breaks down weight, mesh size, and price in one glance. For the ultra-concise version, you can also skim my earlier traveller net pocket-shield review that hits the high notes.
You know what? It surprised me. In good and bad ways. Let me explain.
What I Packed and Why
- The net: Sea to Summit Nano Mosquito Pyramid Net (single)
- Weight: about 3 ounces
- Stuff sack, a thin hanging cord, and a tiny hook
- I also carried: two 3M sticky hooks, four safety pins, and a shoelace
- Later, I treated it with 0.5% permethrin spray
I picked this one because it’s light, small, and has one hang point. I didn’t want poles or a huge cube over my head. I just wanted my ankles safe.
Real Trips, Real Rooms
1) Bangkok hostel bunk
First night, jet lag, sweaty. The bunk had no hook. I stuck a 3M hook on the wall above my pillow, tied the net to it with my shoelace, and tucked the skirt under the mattress. I missed one corner—rookie move—and woke up with two bites on my left ankle. Fixed the tuck the next night. No more bites. I could still feel the fan. I could still scroll my phone. It felt… calm, like a little tent.
2) Safari tent in Kenya
The tent had a center pole. Easy hang. But the zipper door made a gap. I used two safety pins to close the front flap. It rained hard and the wind pushed the mesh a bit, but I slept bite-free. I did hear hyenas, which is not a net problem, but still—my heart raced.
3) Everglades car-camp
Gnats. The tiny kind. I draped the net over the open hatch of my SUV and used four cheap magnets to hold it in place. Not perfect, but it cut the swarm by a lot. I cooked noodles inside and didn’t eat a single bug. That felt like a win.
4) Chile hostel, weird top bunk
No hooks, high ceiling. I ran the cord to the bed frame and a wall shelf. It looked silly. It worked. Also, it doubled as a tiny privacy curtain. Nice when your bunkmate snores and tosses socks.
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The Good Stuff
- It’s light and small. I forget it’s there until I need it.
- No-see-um mesh kept out the tiny guys in Florida.
- One hang point is simple. No puzzle, just tie it up.
- I can see through it, so I don’t feel stuck in a box.
- It washes and dries fast. I rinsed it in a sink in Chiang Mai.
Even that quick sink rinse in Chiang Mai happened on a whirlwind trip where I unexpectedly had to lean on my travel insurance in Thailand. Spoiler: messy, but totally worth it.
The Not-So-Fun Bits
- You need a point to hang it. Some rooms have nothing. I carry sticky hooks for that.
- The mesh can snag. A metal zipper on a hostel locker nicked mine. I fixed it with a strip of Tenacious Tape.
- It gets a bit warm if the fan is low. I crack a side for airflow and tuck well at the corners.
- On tall mattresses, my toes brushed the net. Bugs can bite through tight mesh if your skin presses it. I stuffed a shirt at the foot to lift it off.
- After I treated it with permethrin, it had a faint smell for a day. It faded by night two.
If you’re stuck in a hotel room with zero hooks, weird vents, or cords in awkward spots, check out the quick hacks in my roundup of travel tweaks I use in hotels—what worked, what flopped. A few of those MacGyver moves pair perfectly with hanging a net.
Other Nets I Tried
- Lifesystems BoxNet Single: roomier, square shape, but heavier and bulkier. Better if you stay put for a week.
- Coghlan’s basic net: cheap, big, and floppy. Worked in a cabin, not great for fast trips.
- A pop-up net from a random seller: the wire frame bent and never sat right after one flight. I gave it away.
Small Tips That Help Big
- Pack one 3M hook. Two if you’re tall.
- Bring a short cord (paracord or a shoelace). It solves strange ceiling math.
- Use safety pins to close any gaps near your head.
- If you camp from a car, add four small magnets. Handy for doors and hatches.
- Tuck the net under the sheet or mattress. Corners first, then the sides.
- Practice at home once. It takes five minutes and saves your midnight brain.
Want a fast visual of other ways to keep mosquitoes off you? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a concise infographic on mosquito bite prevention that’s worth a glance before your next trip.
Cost and Value
Mine was around the price of a nice dinner. After seven trips and only one tiny tear, I’d say it paid for itself—mostly in sleep and peace of mind. Fewer bites. Fewer itches. Fewer grumps the next day.
Who Should Get It
- Backpackers and hostel folks in warm zones
- People who camp near water or in buggy seasons
- Light packers who hate heavy gear
- Anyone who, like me, is a bug magnet
Who Can Skip It
- Hotel-only travelers in cities with screens and AC
- Folks who won’t hang anything, ever
- If you already have a bed net in your room, you’re good
My Bottom Line
I keep this traveller net at the top of my pack now. It’s not perfect—nothing is—but it’s simple, light, and it works. I sleep better. I wake up with fewer red dots. And honestly, that small calm feeling, like you built a tiny fort for the night? That’s worth carrying.
If you grab one, toss in a hook, a cord, and two pins. That tiny kit turns “huh, how do I hang this?” into “done.” Then go to bed. Let the bugs hate someone else for a change.