Best Mosquito Head Nets and Bug Jackets (2026)

A head net is what you reach for when repellent is not enough: black flies swarming your eyes, mosquitoes thick enough that you are breathing them, or no-see-ums on a still evening by the water. The one decision that matters is the mesh, and makers publish a hole count per square inch, so you can compare.

How we chose: we did not test these nets; we compared the mesh counts each maker publishes, kept only listings sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 29, 2026, and noted where a maker's numbers disagree.

Head nets and a bug suit side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

Sea to Summit's counts come from its head net page; Coghlan's 1,600 figure is on its No-See-Um Head Net spec sheet.

Mesh count: mosquitoes vs no-see-ums

A mosquito is big enough that a coarse mesh stops it. A no-see-um (a biting midge) is small enough to walk through the same mesh. Finer mesh stops more bugs but moves less air and darkens your view, so the right net depends on what is biting.

Sea to Summit explains its own trade-off on its permethrin-treated head net page. Its standard nets use 500 holes per square inch, which "allows for optimum airflow" and suits warmer climates. But "this mesh is not no-see-um proof." Its FAQ says no-see-ums "require a mesh with at least 1200 holes per square inch," and the same page recommends 2,000 where no-see-ums, sandflies and midges are common.

Coghlan's publishes a count for each of its nets. Its compact head net uses 220 holes per square inch and its standard mosquito head net 300. Its No-See-Um net is the fine one: 1,600 holes per square inch on Coghlan's spec sheet, and 1,150 on the Amazon listing.

We cannot tell you which Coghlan's figure is right. At 1,600 it clears Sea to Summit's 1,200 bar; at 1,150 it falls just short. Either way it is more than twice as fine as a 500-hole mosquito net, which is the difference that matters where no-see-ums are thick.

Why a treated net helps

A plain net is a barrier. Mosquitoes still land on it, walk around looking for a gap, and wait for the mesh to touch your skin. A permethrin-treated net repels or kills bugs that land on it.

The CDC's guidance on permethrin-treated clothing and gear is to use 0.5% permethrin and never apply it to skin. Sea to Summit sells its net already treated with Insect Shield. Insect Shield's own listings rate its treatment at up to 25 launderings for gear, and a head net rarely gets washed.

You can also treat an untreated net yourself. Sea to Summit says its polyester mesh, drawcord and barrel lock "will not be damaged by being treated with a permethrin spray." Our permethrin spray guide covers how much to use and how long to let it dry, and the warning for cat owners.

How to wear a head net so it works

• Wear a hat with a brim. Sea to Summit's net has no stiffener ring; it says to wear it over a hat, which gives "plenty of space between the mesh and your skin." Where mesh rests on your nose or ears, mosquitoes bite through it.
• Or buy a ring. Coghlan's Deluxe has a wide ring built in that holds the mesh off your face, per its listing, for when a hat is not practical.
• Seal the neck. Every net here closes with an elastic or drawcord at the neck. Tuck it into a collar and zip your jacket over it, or the bugs walk in from below.
• Pick black mesh to see through. Sea to Summit says black mesh gives better visibility than white.

A head net covers your head only. Put picaridin or DEET on your hands and wrists, per the repellent guide, or wear treated long sleeves.

When a bug jacket or full suit makes sense

A bug jacket is a head net with sleeves: mesh from crown to waist, often with a zip-open face. A full suit adds mesh pants. They make sense in two places: a camp where you are sitting still for hours as the bugs come out, and for people who would rather not put repellent on at all.

The South to East Mosquito Suit is the one we could find sold by its maker's own store. Its listing describes a no-see-um mesh jacket and pants, a fully zippered head cover you open to eat, and elastic openings at the wrists, waist and ankles. It gives no hole count, so we cannot check its no-see-um claim the way we can for the head nets.

Bug Baffler's mesh shirt was offered on Amazon only by a third-party seller when we checked, so we left it out.

A mesh suit is loose, so mosquitoes cannot reach skin unless the mesh is pressed against it. Wear a shirt under it on buggy nights and do not sit with mesh stretched over bare knees.

The same numbers apply to tent and bed nets

Hole counts are not only for head nets. Sea to Summit says its mosquito shelters use the same 500-hole mesh as its standard head nets, and the same warning applies: fine for mosquitoes, not proof against no-see-ums. If you sleep under a net on a beach or near a salt marsh, look for a no-see-um mesh in the spec.

Tent inner doors work the same way. A tent labeled with no-see-um mesh is doing the job a fine head net does.

Netting for babies

The CDC's mosquito bite prevention fact sheet says not to use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months. Instead, dress them in clothing that covers arms and legs and cover the stroller or baby carrier with mosquito netting. A head net is not the right tool for an infant; use netting made for the stroller or carrier.

Which one we would buy

Buy the Sea to Summit permethrin-treated head net for most mosquito trips. It is treated, soft, and the 500-hole mesh breathes in heat.

Buy the Coghlan's No-See-Um Head Net for coastal marshes, northern lakes and still evenings where no-see-ums and midges bite. Accept that you will see less and feel warmer.

Buy the Coghlan's Deluxe if you won't wear a hat, or the untreated Sea to Summit if you plan to spray it with your clothes.

Buy the South to East suit if you sit out evenings at a buggy camp and want your arms and legs covered too.

Related: area repellers for the campsite and tick removal tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a head net stop black flies?

A mosquito-grade mesh keeps out mosquitoes and most other flying bugs, per Sea to Summit, which says 500 holes per square inch "is great for mosquitos and most other bugs." It is the tiny midges and no-see-ums that need finer mesh.

Is Coghlan's No-See-Um net safe near a campfire?

It is less risky than an untreated nylon net: Coghlan's spec sheet lists it as flame retardant. Flame retardant is not fireproof, so keep your face out of the smoke and sparks.

Can I wash a permethrin-treated head net?

Yes, within limits. Insect Shield says its treatment lasts up to 25 launderings for gear and 70 for apparel, so wash a treated net only when it needs it.

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