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Reviews > Health & Safety > Insect Repellents > Bug Baffler Headnet > Owner Review by Michael Pearl

BUG BAFFLER HEADNET
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OWNER REVIEW

August 13, 2012

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Mike Pearl
EMAIL: mikepearl36ATyahooDOTcom
AGE: 38
LOCATION: Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 9" (1.75 m)
WEIGHT: 155 lb (70.30 kg)

I have a great appreciation for the outdoors and get out at every opportunity. I am a three-season backpacker and year round hiker. Currently, my trips are two to three days long as well as an annual week-long trip. I utilize the abundant trail shelters in my locale and pack a backup tarp-tent. I like to cover big distances while still taking in the views. I have lightweight leanings but function and reliability are the priority. I mostly travel woodland mountain terrain but enjoy hiking beautiful trails anywhere.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Bug Baffler IMAGE 2
Year of Manufacture: 2011
Manufacturer's Website: www.bugbaffler.com
MSRP: US $9.00

Listed Weight: Not Listed
Listed Dimensions: Not Listed
Measured Weight: 0.6 oz (17 g)
Measured Dimensions: 18 x 16 in (46 x 41 cm) when folded along the seam

Size: One Size Fits All
Materials: Polyester No-See-Um Mesh and Elastic Bands
Care Instructions: Machine or hand wash cold. Tumble dry low or hang dry. No bleach, iron. Keep away from open flame.
Color: Black

Made in New Hampshire, USA.

Bug Baffler satisfaction guarantee quoted from the company website.

"We at Bug Baffler believe that you deserve to be satisfied with your purchase. If for any reason you are not happy with an item purchased from us, return it for an exchange or refund — less postage. Use the return instructions on the sales receipt and indicate reason for return. Include a copy of your sales receipt, if possible."

Description: The Bug Baffler Headnet is a mesh net that covers the head and neck. It is designed to protect against biting insects. The net is worn over the head and neck. The Bug Baffler is one piece of No-See-Um mesh sewn into a round shape at the top. There is one line of stitching that runs up the back. At the front about where my forehead is the stitching splits into a "V" pattern. This creates a flattened area in the mesh at eye level. Two elastic loops at the bottom of the net are worn under the arms to secure the net's placement. The Bug Baffler fits nicely over the shoulders with a semicircle cut out of the mesh in between the elastic attachment points. A small Bug Baffler label is sewn at the front, bottom of the Headnet and sits at about chest level when worn.

FIELD USE

My annual week-long backpacking trip during the summer of 2011 was to Yellowstone National Park, USA. This is where the Bug Baffler saw its most action. This one piece of gear alone was worth the weight of my entire pack in gold.

Before leaving I mentioned my trip to a coworker. He told me to get a head net or cancel my trip. While I thought this extreme I took his advice. I choose the Bug Baffler because of the way it secured under the arms, no other brand did this. I also liked the amount of room inside the net without fabric hanging or bunching.
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When we met the gentlemen that was shuttling us into the park he asked us three things. How are you? Do you have bear spray? Do you have bug nets? We were both completely amped, about to head off for seven days in the backcountry. My buddy bought bear spray while waiting for my plane to land. And to my friend's great surprise I handed him his very own 0.6 oz (17 g) haven.

The van stopped at the trailhead and I was slightly amused when Gary our shuttle driver applied bug spray inside the van. But before we could even shoulder our packs we were under attack. The mosquitoes were everywhere. I had several bites in the short time it took to pay and thank Gary. We both dug into our packs and donned our Bug Bafflers. That was the first of only two times we put the nets in our packs. The second was at the end of our trip.

For the next seven days the nets were on our heads. Or next to us inside the tent in preparation to enter the mosquito storm. The Bug Baffler was amazingly effective. I did not get a single bite on my head or neck. The net worked just as well with or without a hat on. My visibility was only slightly decreased while wearing the Baffler. We wore our Bafflers at all times outside of our tent. Even while eating and brushing our teeth. We would remove one arm from the elastic loop. Then slide our hand between the net and our body. We would eat a bite or brush then quickly pull our hand out and the net down. Even with all the on and off all parts of the Bug Baffler remain intact and the elastic has good stretch.

Half way through the week we stopped in at the Backcountry Office to secure a new itinerary. I made the mistake of not properly securing my Bug Baffler. Walking through the parking lot the Baffler fell off the outside of my pack. Once on the trail again with the mosquitoes I was struck with fear when I could not find the Baffler. I backtracked about half a mile (0.8 km) and searched for about 15 minutes to find the Bug Baffler. Without the Bug Baffler I felt the rest of the trip would be just about impossible. We earlier met two different groups that were bailing on their hikes due to the mosquitoes. I thought of the Bug Baffler as an essential item and was very relieved to find it. After that the Baffler was on my head or in a zipped pocket. The Baffler folds down to about the size of a bandanna. I can stow it a cargo or hip pocket with minimal bulk.
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POSITIVES

bug proof
secure fit
light weight
packs small

NEGATIVES

visibility slightly decreased

SUMMARY

The Bug Baffler is a piece of gear that goes on every warm weather hike. It is so light and packs so small it only makes sense to me to bring it along. I have used it a few times since Yellowstone. The black flies and deer flies in my area can be quite troubling. Again the Baffler keeps me bite free. When protecting my head and face from bugs I prefer the Bug Baffler to sprays and creams. The Baffler eliminates the exposure to the bad smells and taste of most chemical and oil based insect repellents.

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

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Reviews > Health & Safety > Insect Repellents > Bug Baffler Headnet > Owner Review by Michael Pearl



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