Sea to Summit

Sea to Summit's head net is a simple but effective insect barrier — an ultralight polyester mesh weighing 36 g with a fine weave that, per the manufacturer, keeps out not just mosquitoes but also smaller biting insects that coarser nets let through. Given its low weight and negligible packed volume, it's the kind of thing you can leave permanently in a side pocket as insurance even for trips where you don't expect bugs to be a problem. An elasticised drawcord along the bottom hem seals the net around the neck, so it needs no separate fastening and won't slip during hiking or in gusty wind. It's designed to fit over a wide-brimmed hiking hat, which creates enough gap between the mesh and your face to stop biting insects reaching skin through the fabric. It packs into its own tiny stuff sack that takes up almost no space. A useful addition for areas with heavy mosquito or midge pressure — though on its own it doesn't replace repellent on exposed skin around the face and neck.