Mosquito Nets come in various shapes and sizes
If you live in or will be traveling to a place with lots of mosquitoes, especially where mosquitoes carry disease, sleeping under a mosquito net is essential. And using a mosquito net while outside over picnic tables, chaise lounges, benches, tables, and chairs, etc. is highly recommended.
A mosquito can enter any room in any building through an open door or window or through cracks in walls, etc. While air conditioning can reduce mosquito activity (mosquitoes are less active in cooler air), air conditioning alone is not guaranteed protection against mosquito bites.
Wherever mosquitoes are active and particularly in places where mosquitoes are known to carry diseases (like Malaria, Zika virus, West Nile virus, Dengue fever, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, etc.), Tedderfield recommends using mosquito nets inside the house over all beds and outside to cover wherever you happen to be hanging out.
Mosquito nets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so how to do you choose what will be best for you?
Mesh Size and Fabric Quality
Mosquito nets are most commonly made of cotton or polyester. Polyester is lighter weight than cotton and considerably more durable. “Denier” (den-ee-yay) is a measurement of fiber thickness in fibers used to make fabric. The higher the denier, the stronger and more durable the fabric.
In mosquito net mesh, denier also indicates the mesh hole size. The smaller the mesh size, the smaller the insects it will keep out. But smaller mesh size also means less airflow.
So what is recommended?
Standard size denier (D) for most mosquito nets is 75D. This size mesh will definitely keep out mosquitoes and many other insects, while also allowing for good airflow. And at this weight, the fabric will be quite strong and durable.
There are also mosquito nets are made of 50D. This weight has smaller holes, so will keep out even smaller insects, and it still allows for decent airflow. It is important to check the quality of 50D fabric. High quality 50D fabric will last and will not be prone to tear. Lower quality 50D fabric will tear easily. You can tell the quality just by feel—the fabric should have some stretch to it, but feel like well made fabric. Simply pulling on the net to check for stretch should not make it lose its shape or tear.
We do not recommend purchasing nets that are below 50D. Mesh that is smaller than 50D is much more likely to snag and tear, and airflow will be poor.
Recommended Mosquito Net Shapes
Tedderfield Premium Quality Queen/Double/Single Bed Rectangular Mosquito Net
Rectangular Nets
These nets are box shaped allowing for the greatest sense of space underneath them. They can be draped over a frame, or if they have properly placed hanging loops, they can be attached to hooks on a wall (or tree branches, etc. if used outside).
They make great travel nets because they will easily fit into a stuff sack and they are lightweight. For staying in hotel or vacation rental rooms, we recommend bringing along inexpensive adhesive hooks or velcro picture hangers that can be put up and taken down without leaving marks.
For the best insect protection, this type of net should be tucked under the mattress of a bed or should be allowed to drape to the floor/ground over any table, tent, etc.
Tedderfield’s Queen/Double/Single Rectangular Mosquito Net provides a comfortable space and excellent insect protection and good airflow. When covering a single bed, there is space to also cover bedside tables.
Tedderfield Premium Quality King and California King Conical Mosquito Net
Conical Nets
Conical mosquito nets have one attachment point to the ceiling in the center of a hoop that is at the top of the net. The size of the hoop determines how spacious it will feel underneath the net. The wider the hoop, the greater the space underneath!
This style of net can also be great travel mosquito nets because of the single attachment point. Just be sure to check the quality of the hoop. Some hoops are made of a lightweight metal and can be opened and then folded back up easily. Cheaper models though can have hoops made of plastic or other materials that will break the moment you try to re-fold them.
Tedderfield’s King/California King size net has an extra wide hoop (34 inches compared to the standard 26 inches), so it feels very spacious underneath. The hoop is made of metal and can be folded and unfolded whenever you need.
We provide a cloth carry bag, so it’s easy to fold up the net and take it along, and the whole package weighs just over a pound.
Again we recommend bringing along an adhesive ceiling hook or velcro picture hangers for use in hotel or vacation rental rooms.
For the best insect protection, this net should also be tucked under the mattress on a bed or should be allowed to drape to the floor/ground over any table, tent, etc.
Tedderfield Premium Quality Zipper Top Playpen/Stroller Mosquito Net
Mosquito Nets for Playpens and Strollers and more
Tedderfield is very proud to introduce the Zipper Top Mosquito Net for playpens, strollers and more. This net has a drawstring base which makes it adaptable to cover multiple things. The zippered opening provides easy access to your children.
All of the other nets on the market in this category are shapeless with an elastic base. You cannot adjust the elastic base so while they may be advertised as being able to cover playpens, strollers, etc., it is not possible to make the base snug. In addition, in order to put your child into a playpen, stroller, etc. or take your child out, you have to take the net on and off.
Tedderfield’s exclusive design is truly adaptable for multiple uses and means no more fighting with elastic to access your children. The dimensions are L40.5” x W29.5” x H32.5”. It can cover anything that will fit into these dimensions: standard size playpens, many different sizes of strollers, basinets, cradles and more. Figure out where you’d like the zippered opening, put the net on, tighten the base, tuck in any excess net and the drawstrings, and access your children through the zippers.
Other Types of Mosquito Nets
You may come across freestanding frame nets. These nets come with metal or plastic poles to make a mosquito net tent, which can be placed over a bed, cot, etc. One disadvantage is if the frame gets bent, which can happen quite easily, it will leave gaps that mosquitoes and other insects can get through. In addition, this type of net is not good for travel because of the many parts and extra weight. This type of net also tends to be the most expensive.
The wedge and ridge type of mosquito nets look like a slice of cake…with a high end that goes over the head of a person sleeping and the lower end which can be wrapped around the base of a sleeping bag or cot. These types of nets are usually made for a single bed size or smaller and tend to feel quite stuffy underneath given the small space they cover.
In Summary
- Whether you live in or will travel to a place with mosquitoes that carry disease, it is best to use mosquito nets for sleeping and for outdoor recreation.
- Decide on a shape that will work well for the space where you want to use it. We recommend either a rectangular (box shape) or a conical shape for beds, tables, tents, hammocks, etc., and our exclusive zipper top design for playpens, strollers and more.
- Check the fabric to be sure it feels sturdy with a bit of stretch to it.
- For rectangular nets, make sure the hanging loops are sturdy and in the right places to make the net hang properly.
- For conical nets, check the width of the hoop—the wider the hoop, the greater the space underneath it. Check the hoop material. Ideally you want a lightweight metal that can be unfolded and refolded many times.
- Look for nets that come with a carry bag and hanging kit as well as easy to follow hanging instructions.
- For travel, bring along inexpensive adhesive hooks or velcro picture hangers that can be put up and taken down without leaving any marks.
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