Does It Really Stop Scottish Midges? Inside the South To East Head Net Debate

Mosquito Net or Midge Net? Start With the Label

The single most useful thing you can know before buying is written on the bag itself. The Amazon listing sells this as a midge net, but the packaging that turns up on your doorstep says "Mosquito Head Net." Several reviewers spotted the mismatch and it explains most of the arguing.

Mr R D Field summed it up in a one-star review: "This clearly states its a Midge Net. However on the packaging, when it arrived, clearly states it's a mosquito head net. The smallest holes, 620 per square inch, would allow midges through. They would probably block mosquitoes, but this was advertised as a midge net."

He's putting his finger on the physics. The listing quotes a mesh of 620 holes per square inch, which South To East describes as the finest of any head net. That is fine enough to keep mosquitoes off your face, and mosquitoes are the bug most campers worry about. Highland midges are a different animal. They're roughly a millimetre or two across, small enough to squeeze through mesh that stops far bigger insects cold. So a net that performs beautifully against mozzies can still let midges through, and that is exactly the divide you see in the reviews. That comes down to hole size, not luck.

Why Buyers Actually Reach For It

Strip out the midge debate for a moment and the picture gets very sunny. For mosquitoes, flies, gnats and bees, the praise is steady and enthusiastic. Robert Mahony put it best: "Those little monsters are all over me but they can't bite me. No more hiding inside." Alison smith went further, saying "the mesh is so fine you can see through it very well, and no more bites from mosquitos."

It travels well, too. BarbW took hers to Uluru and it "kept the flys well away from my face," HeRo used one at Iguazu Falls, and Inkslave described stepping out of the car at a Northwoods campsite, being swarmed by midge flies, and having "the problem solved" the moment the net went on. Gardeners and allotment holders love it for weeding and mowing on sticky days. One kayaker, DION, said it "kept the bugs out" on the water and rated the drawstring highly.

Worth knowing before you read the reviews yourself: Amazon pools feedback across the different colours and, in this case, across buyers all over the world. You'll see mentions of Iceland, Scandinavia, Australia, Canada and Florida alongside the UK ones, so treat destination-specific comments as exactly that.

The Scottish Midge Test

Here is where buyers turn on it. Of the 14 one-star reviews in the 100 most-recent, 10 are about midges getting through the mesh, and four of those name Scottish midges specifically. Katinka Achrafie's is the most vivid: "Completely doesn't work for midges - the holes are too big and I watched midges literally crawling in through the holes. Do NOT buy for midges." Michael Whiting, whose review was titled "Scottish Vampire Midge Wins Again!", said it "did little to hamper" them, while still noting the net was "surprisingly good quality."

But the Scottish reviews are not all bad, which is what makes this so hard to call. W. Davies said it "kept legions of Scottish midges at bay" through "the usual horrendous midge-infested Scottish Summer." Kenny Monaghan called it a "life saver when hill walking in Scotland," and Tim Wheeler used his "last weekend in Scotland against the dreaded midges." Kate Hartley, gardening in west Scotland on a warm, sticky day, reckoned "not one of the little blighters got in," though she added a key tip: "make sure to tuck it down into your neck line of your shirt so that you don't leave any available gaps."

So what's going on? Midge density and species vary hugely, and so does how snugly you seal the net. If you're heading somewhere with a serious midge reputation, plan for it. Deborah Butler found her answer by doubling up: "I needed two. Had to double up and that seems to do the trick," which is one upside of a 2-pack. For the very worst west-coast summer swarms, a finer dedicated midge mesh is the safer bet. For everything short of that, opinions are split down the middle, so go in with realistic expectations.

One Net, Any Hat

Fit is where this net quietly shines, and it's a big part of the repeat-buyer pattern. There's no built-in hat, which is deliberate: you wear it over your own cap, bucket hat or wide brim, and the brim holds the mesh off your face so you're not squinting through fabric pressed against your eyelashes. Reviewers have worn it over baseball caps, wide-brimmed hats and even a riding helmet.

The listed size is generous at 63.5cm around the top, 66cm tall, and 99cm around the bottom hem, which is why it drapes well past the collar. Ann Bellfield described it neatly: "Good size that will fit over a large brimmed hat and can either come down over shoulders or be synched up with the toggle to close around your neck." That elastic drawstring toggle is what seals the bottom, and EcoSurvivor liked that it's "long enough to tuck under the neck of your shirt."

Two fit notes worth flagging. A couple of buyers found it a shade tight over a really wide-brimmed hat, so if that's your setup, size expectations accordingly. And Richard H's advice is sound for comfort: "wear a hat underneath to keep it off your face." With any cap or hat on, buyers consistently say it sits comfortably and you can see out without trouble. Have a look at the current price if the universal fit is what you're after.

Mesh, Colour and Seeing Where You're Going

Visibility is the feature reviewers mention almost as often as bite protection. The 620-holes-per-square-inch mesh is fine but open enough that most people say it barely affects their view. "Does not affect your view" and "you can see really well through the net too" come up again and again.

Colour is the twist here, and it's worth choosing deliberately. Darker versions win for daytime clarity: Chris C. prefers the green because "it's easy to see through," and EcoSurvivor found the lighter shade easier again in some light. But the pale versions have a catch in strong sun. Downhomer, reviewing the grey, said "the sun reflection on the mesh makes it almost impossible to see thru," and KT found the white "hard to see out of in the sun light" and reckoned white "also attracts mosquitos." Since Amazon pools these colour variants on one page, read the star rating with the colour in mind.

One limitation worth flagging: fly anglers should think twice. John Smith bought his for fishing and found "visibility is extremely limited" for spotting fish in the water. For general bug defence you'll see fine. For picking out a rising trout, the mesh gets in the way.

Packs Down to Nothing, and the Verdict

If weight is your religion, this one's easy. Each net folds into its own little drawstring pouch that clips to the outside of a pack. kimberly meredith summed up the appeal for hikers: "Pack down to just about nothing, weigh almost nothing. If your a hiker and every ounce counts this is your product." The 2-pack is handy too, giving you a spare for a mate or a second net to double up in bad midge country. One small thing to check on arrival: a lone buyer, Alan Davies, reported only one net in the parcel, so count yours when it lands.

So, the bottom line. Against mosquitoes, flies, gnats and travel bugs, this is a strong, well-priced, pack-anywhere bit of kit that fits over whatever hat you own and lets you see out. Against confirmed heavy Scottish midges it's a coin toss, and if that's your main enemy you should plan to double up or buy a finer midge-specific mesh. Pick the darker colour for daytime clarity, tuck it into your collar, and match your expectations to the bug you're facing. On that basis it lands at a solid four out of five: excellent value for what most campers need, with one clear caveat for the midge belt.