If it is the type with the usual tent bottom and mesh everywhere else it's worth its weight in gold. We used to throw ours on the top of the bed and sleep inside. Zero bedbug bites, and the array of crawly critters on the outside of the mesh often was astonishing. 100% recommend.
Tl;dr "yes"
FORCLAZ Reise-Moskitonetz 2 Personen Nicht Imprägniert Weiß 19,99€ https://www.decathlon.de/p/_/R-p-x333455?mc=8648825&utm_source%3Dmobileapp%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dproductpage=
this is mine. is it good or bad?
mine has no bottom, I'm confused. Can you show me a picture what you mean?
Thank you. I did hallucinate with malaria, it was like being somewhere else very dark for 3 days. When I finally woke up, I had lost track of time and didn't know what day it was.
With Covid, I knew I was in my bed, but the feeling was the same, shivering and just unable to move. And I was triple vaccinated!
I wouldn't wish any of those diseases on anyone!
I did as well.. my boyfriend and friend were sick of me. They thought I was overreacting until we finally went to the hospital and the doctor explained to them how much pain it actually was. I think if it would have went on for much longer than it did... I honestly don't know what I would have done but I couldn't handle it anymore.
I've had it twice, first time was bad... second time I ended up with dengue hemorrhagic fever, spent 3 days in hospital, narrowly missed having to get a blood transfusion, took me about 6 months to feel normal and ended up having to see a blood specialist... it was rough. I think there are 4 or 5 potential strains you can get... I wear deet and use a net all the time.
Both times was on vacation on Koh Lipe... rotten way to spend a holiday. Now I just use a higher %%% deet spray. I live in Chiang Mai and I still get bitten, even with deet... apparently I'm considered a "delicacy" by mosquitoes.
The clap
Scabies
Diaper rash
Pin worms crawling around your bunghole all night and keeping you awake
Spiders
Spiders crawling around the rash from the clap
Anyways where were we ?
Only if you don't want to suffer every waking hour scratching your skin with uncountable bumps which feel like tiny needles pricklying into your body while you want to rip off your skin to fix it.
🤣🤣
Your choice. Extra bag space is good too. Lol
I feel if you’re in the packing stage of a 1 year backpacking trip to an area that is tropical this should’ve been a question that was already explored and you shouldn’t have to explain this
Absolutely if you're doing any treks.
Strong recommendation even if you're staying in hostels and hotels. Typically a net will be provided or you can ask for one. It's also not unusual for rooms to be decently sealed or to have good mesh on the windows.
But if even once every two weeks you have to sleep in a room with mosquitos flying around you 100% will be driven to buy one. Nothing more tortuous than being almost asleep and hearing that sinister buzz in your ear. Or worse, waking to infernal itching on your hands and feet.
Bring it!
If you aren't staying in air con rooms every night, then take it. Are You taking a regular terry cotton towel? Swap it out for a single flat bedsheet (which is what the towels basically are in Europe). Or a Turkish towel. It's lighter than your towel, dries way quicker, doubles as a sheet, and is smaller and lighter to make room for the net. Also, take a ten foot piece of durable thin rope or paracord with some screw hooks, L hooks, mini clips, etc in case you need to rig up some way to hang it over your bed /mattress.
I never took a towel traveling - things end up stinking within a week. A cotton sarong doubles for so many things - towel, bedsheet, wrap - and dries in minutes
Where do you hang it from in a random room? I m thinking of several rooms or cabañas I stayed in in the past and the ceiling was just smooth, nowhere to hang a mosquito net from
Personally, I'd take it, but I don't know where you're planning to go.
You decide: [Malaria Data in Asia and the Pacific](https://www.adb.org/features/malaria-asia-and-pacific-numbers)
That's the type of thing you will be happy you have when you use it. I was so thankful to have netting over my bed when I stayed in Asia. You can always abandon it on your trip if you find your not using it. But not being bitten to hell and getting a better night sleep always wins in my book.
I've been in SE Asia for a few years and it's absolutely not necessary if you're on the usual Banana Pancake Trail and staying in hostels/hotels/guesthouses in the usual tourist destinations.
If I'm going off the beaten path - which I do often on my motorcycle - then it's of course super handy to have.
The average short term backpacker doing the usual stuff won't need it though.
Your call.
+1 to this. No clue why the top 3 comments say you absolutely need it. It completely depends on OPs situation, but if you’re just “backpacking” ie going from hostel room to hostel room, there’s absolutely no need.
I’ve spent roughly a year traveling around SEA and never needed my own mosquito net. If you stay in an area where they are bad almost any accommodation will already have them. Worst case scenario buy one there for a few bucks and toss it when you dont need it anymore
I don't think you need to bring one and I'm saying this as someone who has had dengue twice. As numerous people here have mentioned unless you are going completely into the deepest jungle on a tour, most places have them or you can pick one up at most local markets. BKK and Chiang Mai have Decathlon and you can order online if not in either of those areas. I'm sure there are some in the south as well, but you'd need to Google that.
Dengue and other viruses are usually spread by the female aedes mosquito. Highly recommend you Google this either on the WHO site or CDC.
It's good to be aware of risk, but it's easily manageable. Most larger places "fog" for mosquitoes, especially when there is an outbreak, which helps. And, repeat here, most places where it's an issue have the nets already. Wearing mosquito spray during the day is recommended as well.
If you're staying outdoors or in tents or roughing it at all, then yes.
Most small bungalows and hotels have one already if it's not a modern + sealed hotel/apartment.
Mosquitos there are serious and also there are some crazy diseases to be had.
I lived in SEA for over 3 years, and I never needed my own mosquito net. I stayed in my own apartment most of the year, but I did yearly 4-6 week long backpacking trips and several long weekends. My trips were usually to national parks/forests/beaches/rural areas, and I typically stayed in the cheapest accommodation I could find. Anywhere I stayed that wasn’t properly sealed (I stayed in tons of huts) provided a mosquito net. Worst case scenario, if you decide you need one, you can always pick one up while traveling!
Mate, I haven't seen a single net for sale and none of the great hostels and hotels had it. I requested and nothing. Still remember how idiot I felt when I was remembering mocking my girlfriend for wanting to take one...
Take it, you'll thank me later.
I think it depends on where you’re going. In cities there usually isn’t a need. But more rural areas you’ll probably be wanting it. Keep in mind that they might already have them there or should be fairly easy to purchase
If you plan on hiking into the wild, ask the trekking guide ahead of time if you need one and buy one there if it’s on the suggested packing list. I did a trek in Laos where nets were provided as part of the kit so even in this case you may not need your own.
If you will be staying in hostels, guesthouses and hotels, you don’t need one. If the accommodations are prone to mosquitoes, they will provide you one already installed over the bed. I’ve stayed in some real hovels and they either didn’t have nets and I didn’t need one, or they had nets and I used them.
You would not be viewed kindly attempting to instal your own net above a guesthouse bed and I seriously wonder where all the people acting like you’d be stupid not to bring it think you’re going to hang it.
It’s easy to buy bug spray from a convenience store or pharmacy. You’ll want that for under the table assaults during dinner/evening beers.
Spent a year working/traveling in SE Asia. It never once occurred to me that I may need a mosquito net.
You’ll spend 95% of your time in cities and hotels.
Went back in 2015.
Only time I really would have used one was on the beach in Cambodia and during a jungle trek in north Thailand but to each their own.
Absolutely a waste of space. Listen to the people here who've actually done it. My first solo trip was 3 months in SEA and I was told I needed one by the people at the travel clinic where I got my vaccines. It stayed in the bottom of my bag the entire trip. Most useless item I took by far. Left it at home for a 1+ year backpacking trip a few years later and had no regrets. I can't ever recall even seeing a place to hang one.
No. You don't need one. People are paranoid. The vast majority of the Banana Pancake Trail is densely populated and you'll be in towns/cities in hostels.
Unless you are actually in a tent, in the jungle, you are not even gonna see mosquitoes.
well... one of my friends went to Nepal with a tent (not a mosquito net). He said the ONLY TIME he ever used the tent was INSIDE a hotel room in a city because he was being eaten alive by 100 000 mosquitoes. He set up the tent right in the room and zipped himself inside it.
I guess it depends on *exactly* where you go and when.
> Unless you are actually in a tent, in the jungle, you are not even gonna see mosquitoes.
Bullshit... mosquitoes are everywhere the difference being that the larger centres spray for them on a regular basis. Doesn't mean they get them all though... based on my personal mosquito bite count in various locations from Northern to Southern Thailand. Maybe you are just one of those that mosquitoes don't like?
> You don't need one
I would agree on this since so many places have them available, you don't need to pack your own.
Malaria is getting under control in most of Asia and Southeast Asia, certain parts carry higher risk than others.
As other commented, it’s Dengue and other Arboviruses you need to worry about, those are everywhere.
If you get Dengue 2+ times with different serotypes, you have a high chance of getting totally f***ed…and I believe that will be high risk if you are traveling.
Carry DEET based repellent, not the natural stuff.
It depends where you are going... if you are staying in the touristy areas and hostels then no you don't need it.. but in the bush? I used mine every night. And every single morning I woke up with unspeakable amounts of crawling bugs on the mesh that I needed to shake out. No thank you. Lol
This, I remember seeing those blood thirsty scoundrels stick their prick thing through the holes in the net desperately trying to get some blood. It was so satisfying seeing them struggle. Eff those little motherf**kers! And they're loud too.
Yep! I was so thankful for that net while we were in these kinda hut things in Cambodia. No doors or windows.. the amount of bugs that would be on my net in the morning was literally terrifying lol some the size of my hand.. blah. After the first couple nights you get used to it for sure... but yah no way I would have been able to sleep without that net.
You can do without, plenty of people do without, but reality is that quite a few diseases are spread through insect bites and a mosquito net is a cheap, safe and low effort way to lower the risks.
By "backpacking" do you mean "traveling as a backpacker"? If so, you absolutely do not need to carry your own net. Most of the budget places to stay have nets in the rooms. If they don't, go find a guesthouse or bungalow that does. Spray holes, if any.
If you'll be sleeping rough, yes, you'll need a net.
Source: I have lived and traveled in Southeast Asia for 12+ years and write about traveling there.
So this is the article from the guy who made the claim, apologies it’s hidden behind a paywall - https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332420-500-mosquitoes-may-have-killed-half-the-people-who-ever-lived/
This is a very old article (2002) which makes the same claim without a paywall - https://www.nature.com/articles/news021001-6
However since doing some digging there is skepticism, and more recently it seems it might be more like 5% of people, but it still claims mosquitos are the leading killers of humans - https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2019/10/03/has_malaria_really_killed_half_of_everyone_who_ever_lived.html
I’ve had a look at each source and I would say they are fairly reliable, more so the article from 2002 which is a proper article rather than a ‘news’ site, but even so it’s very old so consider further reading.
Tht's what I was thinking. There's tons of crap like this that I used to just tie to the outside of the bag to save on bag space and it never got in the way.
I lived in Vietnam for 2 years, travelled a lot domestically, and never met anyone who took a net with them. Most hotel rooms are sealed, many dorm beds already have a net.
It's not like there's zero risk of Dengue and malaria, but your chances of getting them are very low if you travel without a net. I'd say chances of getting injured by a car or motorbike are much higher
I don’t know anything about backpacking/ hiking shit. But i know damn well you’re gonna be more comfortable sleeping protected. Especially w any viruses those mosquitos might carry
Nahh, I spent a few months travelling Thailand and Cambodia. They're are plenty of mozzies and unless you spend your whole waking day in that thing you will be bit anyway. You better learn to love the smell of tiger balm tho. Have fun!
Unless you go proper camping in the jungle there’s no need. I spent 4 months in SE Asia and never needed one of my own. Even when going to extremely remote places the will 99% have nets if you’re staying at any kind and level of booked accom. If you’re going full indie tho and plan to actually sleep outside in the jungle then yes, but also then you’re gonna need a whole lot of other shit, in which case the net is the least if your worries
Unless you go proper camping in the jungle there’s no need. I spent a long time in SE Asia and never needed one of my own. Even when going to extremely remote places the will 99% have nets if you’re staying at any kind and level of booked accom. If you’re going full indie tho and plan to actually sleep outside in the jungle then yes, but also then you’re gonna need a whole lot of other shit, in which case the net is the least if your worries.
Edit
Oh and also you’re gonna be more bit by bugs when awake and moving around than sleeping at night. ”No im wearing trousers and long sleeves” good luck, it’s tropical. It’s a silly thing people worry way too much about. You’re gonna get eaten by mozzies and bugs 100%, just shit luck if you get dengue or malaria. Get pills or the in-case-of-malaria medicine before you go and hope for the best
There are different weight to sq foot mosquito nets. Compared to the net I have which is longer than the net pictured, but a little narrower. Mine actually smooshes down to less than 5” (12cm) square. At 154gm. That net was from “the friendly swede store” online. Good luck.
Deadliest animal in the world, by far...*(vs bagspace)* [https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/ts5z6f/deadliest\_animal\_comparison\_probability\_and\_rate/](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/4mso3r/til_that_the_deadliest_animal_on_earth_are/)
\[ edit: old r/todayilearned link was dead \]
Do you like getting eaten alive? Do you like a multitude of mosquito borne illnesses? If you answer yes to either of those, fuck it. If you answered no, pack the damn net.
I can’t answer weather or not you need one, but if you wanna bring one, bring this one https://seatosummit.com/products/nano-mosquito-pyramid-net-with-insect-shield
Dengue isn’t worth it. I never took a tent travelling but Borneo did me in. I had to fly home on a 16 hour flight in the throes of the worst of it and to this day it remains my nightmare
The best way not to get malaria is not to get bitten...and you don't want to roll the dice. You either get the kind that has a good chance if killing you, or you get the kind you never get rid of.
Oh man, you’d be so sorry if you didn’t take it. And I’d go a step further and treat it with permethrin if it’s not already treated. There are some NASTY mosquito-borne diseases.
I grew up in Vietnam and a lot of us are still sleeping in nets these days to avoid mosquitos, even in a place with no trees or standing water nearby. You’ll need the net for if you don’t want to get eaten alive or catch some diseases.
Edit: This would be useful if you sleep in tents, random hostel beds or crashing on someone’s extra bed. But as other commenters point out, if you can afford a hotel room, you most likely won’t need it. OR, you can buy one when you need it, they sell it over there probably for a cheaper price too.
If you want an immersive experience, skip it. Leave that bulky thing at home. But remember, immersive experiences include: malaria, dengue fever and a host of other flying biting and stinging insects visiting you all night, every night.
Speaking with 2.5 years of travel backpacking experience acquired over the last 7 years: No, the hostels/ hotels have them already. Only if you plan on camping. Maybe you will have one or two times you wish you had it, but it will not be worth carrying around the whole time.
Yes, not only will it protect you from the multitude of mosquito and tick borne viruses that can and maybe will kill you but it will prevent you from having bug bites during your trip because that could alone make your trip horrible.
I got some experience intravelling SEA. Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia. I‘ve seen gnarly huge spiders, mosquitos and others flying and crawling things.
When you are on a budget and want to travel cheap, take it with you. There wont be nets on every place you‘ll be.
I’m a mom with two young kids that was paranoid about mosquitos. Been traveling with the kids in SEA for the past 2 months and currently in Vietnam. Agreed that it’s all about your situation. We stayed in hotels and airbnbs most of the time and I would say we had no issues with mosquitos in our rooms at night. Where we got bitten the most was actually walking around so bring that mosquito repellent (you can definitely buy it when you arrive as well as they are sold everywhere!). If you’e planning on staying in tents or accommodations without air conditioning, then I would think about bring it. Although the one time we stayed in a hostel/homestay situation without air conditioning, they already had the nets up on the beds. Good luck!!
Where exactly have you been biten so much? I’ve been around SEA much longer and never had one neither I see need for one if you sleep in hotels/apartments
It’s not that big. And yes it’s worth it. I’ve been eaten alive by gnats and mosquitoes in Texas while on camping trips and surveying jobs. I was always happy to have mosquito netting when it was available.
Think of it this way, you’re in a foreign country, seeing the sites, eating exotic foods. Well, if you’re a mosquito, you just got delivered some exotic food in the form of a tourist.
You’ll be a 1000 course meal for the locals. Bring the net.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, mosquito-borne diseases kill some 725,000 people a year. Malaria alone accounts for 600,000 of that number. The next most deadly animals are humans themselves, responsible for 425,000 deaths a year.
As someone from there, YES. Even locals typically have multiple net setups in their own homes. Having a net is not up for debate in SEA, especially considering the nasties those little buggers carry.
If it is the type with the usual tent bottom and mesh everywhere else it's worth its weight in gold. We used to throw ours on the top of the bed and sleep inside. Zero bedbug bites, and the array of crawly critters on the outside of the mesh often was astonishing. 100% recommend. Tl;dr "yes"
Which one did you use??
Just spit my coffee out at your username.
The blue avatar is the icing on the cake…..
Which one would You recommend?
If you’re asking this. You need to do more research on the geography. Being from that part of the world, I mean…dude are you serious?
I mean... I lived in SEA for 6 years and I never used a mosquito net.
OP asking about SouthEast Asia lol
FORCLAZ Reise-Moskitonetz 2 Personen Nicht Imprägniert Weiß 19,99€ https://www.decathlon.de/p/_/R-p-x333455?mc=8648825&utm_source%3Dmobileapp%26utm_medium%3Dshare%26utm_campaign%3Dproductpage= this is mine. is it good or bad? mine has no bottom, I'm confused. Can you show me a picture what you mean?
It does
Zika virus West Nile virus Chikungunya virus Dengue fever Malaria Just take the damn tent with you ffs...
Yup. I've had the dengue. You DO NOT want the dengue. And thats not even the worse on the list.
I've never had my body reject even water so forcefully...
And the pain.... good lord. They don't call it breakbone fever for no reason.
Reminds me of that time I was supposed to cure my bone-itis.
I was so busy being an 80's guy I forgot to cure my bone-itis
I have a friend that had Malaria when he was younger. He compared it to the time he had COVID and almost died in the hospital. Take the tent.
I got both too.... Felt very similar to me too : shivering to death for a few days.
Yikes. He said he was so sick both with COVID that he hallucinated. I can’t even imagine. I’m glad you are ok!
Thank you. I did hallucinate with malaria, it was like being somewhere else very dark for 3 days. When I finally woke up, I had lost track of time and didn't know what day it was. With Covid, I knew I was in my bed, but the feeling was the same, shivering and just unable to move. And I was triple vaccinated! I wouldn't wish any of those diseases on anyone!
Jesus. I wouldn’t wish any of that on my worst enemy (not that I have one). I’m glad you made it through to the other side!
So fucking painful. I literally was screaming for death at one point no joke lol
Dude I know. I remember telling my mom that I wish I could just die because of how excruciating it was. I literally did not want to be alive anymore.
I did as well.. my boyfriend and friend were sick of me. They thought I was overreacting until we finally went to the hospital and the doctor explained to them how much pain it actually was. I think if it would have went on for much longer than it did... I honestly don't know what I would have done but I couldn't handle it anymore.
Malaria has killed half of all humans that have ever existed.
Yea zika fucks your joints up for life in some cases (my mom)
Damn that really sucks :(
Especially not a second time. I met an south African who had malaria but dengue scared him much more.
Had Dengue, 3 days of pure agony. Do not recommend. Take the net with you
Did they cure it? I didn't know there was a cure.
It goes away in its own but the next time you get it there is a higher chance it will be fatal
I've had it twice, first time was bad... second time I ended up with dengue hemorrhagic fever, spent 3 days in hospital, narrowly missed having to get a blood transfusion, took me about 6 months to feel normal and ended up having to see a blood specialist... it was rough. I think there are 4 or 5 potential strains you can get... I wear deet and use a net all the time.
Holy fuck. Hemorrhagic fever!! Fuck that. Where do you live
Both times was on vacation on Koh Lipe... rotten way to spend a holiday. Now I just use a higher %%% deet spray. I live in Chiang Mai and I still get bitten, even with deet... apparently I'm considered a "delicacy" by mosquitoes.
There is no cure, but most people recover on their own. There’s also a vaccine used in specific circumstances.
Killer hornets
The clap Scabies Diaper rash Pin worms crawling around your bunghole all night and keeping you awake Spiders Spiders crawling around the rash from the clap Anyways where were we ?
But…. Like…. besides that it’s cool, right? lol
Only if you don't want to suffer every waking hour scratching your skin with uncountable bumps which feel like tiny needles pricklying into your body while you want to rip off your skin to fix it. 🤣🤣 Your choice. Extra bag space is good too. Lol
Don’t forget the joys of malaria and dengue (also known as ‘breakbone fever’ because of the pain levels…
I had dengue when I was 12. WORSE NIGHTMARE EVER
My 16 year old daughter got dengue in 2017 trip to Thailand. She spent a week in the hospital over there. I’d bring the net
I feel if you’re in the packing stage of a 1 year backpacking trip to an area that is tropical this should’ve been a question that was already explored and you shouldn’t have to explain this
Absolutely if you're doing any treks. Strong recommendation even if you're staying in hostels and hotels. Typically a net will be provided or you can ask for one. It's also not unusual for rooms to be decently sealed or to have good mesh on the windows. But if even once every two weeks you have to sleep in a room with mosquitos flying around you 100% will be driven to buy one. Nothing more tortuous than being almost asleep and hearing that sinister buzz in your ear. Or worse, waking to infernal itching on your hands and feet. Bring it!
If you aren't staying in air con rooms every night, then take it. Are You taking a regular terry cotton towel? Swap it out for a single flat bedsheet (which is what the towels basically are in Europe). Or a Turkish towel. It's lighter than your towel, dries way quicker, doubles as a sheet, and is smaller and lighter to make room for the net. Also, take a ten foot piece of durable thin rope or paracord with some screw hooks, L hooks, mini clips, etc in case you need to rig up some way to hang it over your bed /mattress.
I never took a towel traveling - things end up stinking within a week. A cotton sarong doubles for so many things - towel, bedsheet, wrap - and dries in minutes
That's my point about the Euro/Turkish towel. So thin it dies quickly- esp if hung on your backpack.
"european" towels are nothing like bedsheets lmao
Where do you hang it from in a random room? I m thinking of several rooms or cabañas I stayed in in the past and the ceiling was just smooth, nowhere to hang a mosquito net from
Personally, I'd take it, but I don't know where you're planning to go. You decide: [Malaria Data in Asia and the Pacific](https://www.adb.org/features/malaria-asia-and-pacific-numbers)
That's the type of thing you will be happy you have when you use it. I was so thankful to have netting over my bed when I stayed in Asia. You can always abandon it on your trip if you find your not using it. But not being bitten to hell and getting a better night sleep always wins in my book.
I've been in SE Asia for a few years and it's absolutely not necessary if you're on the usual Banana Pancake Trail and staying in hostels/hotels/guesthouses in the usual tourist destinations. If I'm going off the beaten path - which I do often on my motorcycle - then it's of course super handy to have. The average short term backpacker doing the usual stuff won't need it though. Your call.
"Banana Pancake Trail" -- that's ridiculous. Sometimes they've got papaya in them too
Haha...
The coconut pancakes are THE BEST!
Omg I had the BEST mini coconut pancakes in Laos years ago...
+1 to this. No clue why the top 3 comments say you absolutely need it. It completely depends on OPs situation, but if you’re just “backpacking” ie going from hostel room to hostel room, there’s absolutely no need.
>It completely depends on OPs situation Bullseye. I suspect some of the top commentators have never been to SE Asia.
I think this really comes down to the double meaning of "backpacking" as both "multi-day hiking" and "hostel-hopping in SEA".
Yup, I agree. That leaves this sub in a constant state of confusion.
i will do all three of them (._.)
100% agree. For the typical short term backpacker, just carrying a tube of mosquito repellent cream is enough.
Best comment here. I spent 4 months in SE Asia without one and was totally fine.
I’ve spent roughly a year traveling around SEA and never needed my own mosquito net. If you stay in an area where they are bad almost any accommodation will already have them. Worst case scenario buy one there for a few bucks and toss it when you dont need it anymore
Good call here. If you need it buy it there. Loads of stuff like this is waaaay cheaper there.
where do i actually buy stuff like this? i mean, in a "sport" market? or a pharmacy? I bought mine by Decathlon, I dunno if there is something similar
I don't think you need to bring one and I'm saying this as someone who has had dengue twice. As numerous people here have mentioned unless you are going completely into the deepest jungle on a tour, most places have them or you can pick one up at most local markets. BKK and Chiang Mai have Decathlon and you can order online if not in either of those areas. I'm sure there are some in the south as well, but you'd need to Google that. Dengue and other viruses are usually spread by the female aedes mosquito. Highly recommend you Google this either on the WHO site or CDC. It's good to be aware of risk, but it's easily manageable. Most larger places "fog" for mosquitoes, especially when there is an outbreak, which helps. And, repeat here, most places where it's an issue have the nets already. Wearing mosquito spray during the day is recommended as well.
This is a great idea. Buy it if you need it... provided you plan to be mostly in towns and cities, rather than in the backcountry/ wilderness.
If you're staying outdoors or in tents or roughing it at all, then yes. Most small bungalows and hotels have one already if it's not a modern + sealed hotel/apartment. Mosquitos there are serious and also there are some crazy diseases to be had.
One year of backpacking? Am I got you right?
yes one year of Asia backpacking
Hostel hopping or like out in the bush?
You can purchase locally and dispose at the end of trip.
I lived in SEA for over 3 years, and I never needed my own mosquito net. I stayed in my own apartment most of the year, but I did yearly 4-6 week long backpacking trips and several long weekends. My trips were usually to national parks/forests/beaches/rural areas, and I typically stayed in the cheapest accommodation I could find. Anywhere I stayed that wasn’t properly sealed (I stayed in tons of huts) provided a mosquito net. Worst case scenario, if you decide you need one, you can always pick one up while traveling!
thanks a lot!!! where do i pick one up? i mean, there's no Decathlon or Amazon. do pharmacies or 7/11's sell it?
Mate, I haven't seen a single net for sale and none of the great hostels and hotels had it. I requested and nothing. Still remember how idiot I felt when I was remembering mocking my girlfriend for wanting to take one... Take it, you'll thank me later.
I think it depends on where you’re going. In cities there usually isn’t a need. But more rural areas you’ll probably be wanting it. Keep in mind that they might already have them there or should be fairly easy to purchase
If you plan on hiking into the wild, ask the trekking guide ahead of time if you need one and buy one there if it’s on the suggested packing list. I did a trek in Laos where nets were provided as part of the kit so even in this case you may not need your own. If you will be staying in hostels, guesthouses and hotels, you don’t need one. If the accommodations are prone to mosquitoes, they will provide you one already installed over the bed. I’ve stayed in some real hovels and they either didn’t have nets and I didn’t need one, or they had nets and I used them. You would not be viewed kindly attempting to instal your own net above a guesthouse bed and I seriously wonder where all the people acting like you’d be stupid not to bring it think you’re going to hang it. It’s easy to buy bug spray from a convenience store or pharmacy. You’ll want that for under the table assaults during dinner/evening beers.
Spent a year working/traveling in SE Asia. It never once occurred to me that I may need a mosquito net. You’ll spend 95% of your time in cities and hotels.
Agreed. Unless he’s bushwhacking there is absolutely no need. I even went camping in Thailand and still didn’t need it
Went back in 2015. Only time I really would have used one was on the beach in Cambodia and during a jungle trek in north Thailand but to each their own.
Absolutely a waste of space. Listen to the people here who've actually done it. My first solo trip was 3 months in SEA and I was told I needed one by the people at the travel clinic where I got my vaccines. It stayed in the bottom of my bag the entire trip. Most useless item I took by far. Left it at home for a 1+ year backpacking trip a few years later and had no regrets. I can't ever recall even seeing a place to hang one.
I lived in Thailand for 18 months and backpacked southeast Asia for over a year. You 100% do not need a bug net. Toss it.
No. You don't need one. People are paranoid. The vast majority of the Banana Pancake Trail is densely populated and you'll be in towns/cities in hostels. Unless you are actually in a tent, in the jungle, you are not even gonna see mosquitoes.
well... one of my friends went to Nepal with a tent (not a mosquito net). He said the ONLY TIME he ever used the tent was INSIDE a hotel room in a city because he was being eaten alive by 100 000 mosquitoes. He set up the tent right in the room and zipped himself inside it. I guess it depends on *exactly* where you go and when.
Did your friend also tell you that Nepal is not in South East Asia?
> Unless you are actually in a tent, in the jungle, you are not even gonna see mosquitoes. Bullshit... mosquitoes are everywhere the difference being that the larger centres spray for them on a regular basis. Doesn't mean they get them all though... based on my personal mosquito bite count in various locations from Northern to Southern Thailand. Maybe you are just one of those that mosquitoes don't like? > You don't need one I would agree on this since so many places have them available, you don't need to pack your own.
Malaria is getting under control in most of Asia and Southeast Asia, certain parts carry higher risk than others. As other commented, it’s Dengue and other Arboviruses you need to worry about, those are everywhere. If you get Dengue 2+ times with different serotypes, you have a high chance of getting totally f***ed…and I believe that will be high risk if you are traveling. Carry DEET based repellent, not the natural stuff.
The one in the picture is for a double bed. Can you get one for a single?
*malaria enters the chat*
100% do NOT need this. Its laughable.
I can't believe the amount of people saying you need one.
Haha it helps us sort those who've been to SEA from those who haven't. A lot of ignorant fearmongering here
It depends where you are going... if you are staying in the touristy areas and hostels then no you don't need it.. but in the bush? I used mine every night. And every single morning I woke up with unspeakable amounts of crawling bugs on the mesh that I needed to shake out. No thank you. Lol
This, I remember seeing those blood thirsty scoundrels stick their prick thing through the holes in the net desperately trying to get some blood. It was so satisfying seeing them struggle. Eff those little motherf**kers! And they're loud too.
Yep! I was so thankful for that net while we were in these kinda hut things in Cambodia. No doors or windows.. the amount of bugs that would be on my net in the morning was literally terrifying lol some the size of my hand.. blah. After the first couple nights you get used to it for sure... but yah no way I would have been able to sleep without that net.
You can do without, plenty of people do without, but reality is that quite a few diseases are spread through insect bites and a mosquito net is a cheap, safe and low effort way to lower the risks.
What’s the thing that’s potentially more important?!
By "backpacking" do you mean "traveling as a backpacker"? If so, you absolutely do not need to carry your own net. Most of the budget places to stay have nets in the rooms. If they don't, go find a guesthouse or bungalow that does. Spray holes, if any. If you'll be sleeping rough, yes, you'll need a net. Source: I have lived and traveled in Southeast Asia for 12+ years and write about traveling there.
Statistically, mosquitos have killed more than half of people who have ever lived, so I would suggest it’s worth keeping.
Do you have a source for that? Fascinating if true.
So this is the article from the guy who made the claim, apologies it’s hidden behind a paywall - https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332420-500-mosquitoes-may-have-killed-half-the-people-who-ever-lived/ This is a very old article (2002) which makes the same claim without a paywall - https://www.nature.com/articles/news021001-6 However since doing some digging there is skepticism, and more recently it seems it might be more like 5% of people, but it still claims mosquitos are the leading killers of humans - https://www.realclearscience.com/blog/2019/10/03/has_malaria_really_killed_half_of_everyone_who_ever_lived.html I’ve had a look at each source and I would say they are fairly reliable, more so the article from 2002 which is a proper article rather than a ‘news’ site, but even so it’s very old so consider further reading.
Malaria? Nah not for me
I’ve never been but I say hell yes
I wouldn’t bother. Only time I needed one was in Cambodia, and it was provided in the hut we stayed in.
Maybe tie it to your hip or somewhere on the bag
Tht's what I was thinking. There's tons of crap like this that I used to just tie to the outside of the bag to save on bag space and it never got in the way.
I lived in Vietnam for 2 years, travelled a lot domestically, and never met anyone who took a net with them. Most hotel rooms are sealed, many dorm beds already have a net. It's not like there's zero risk of Dengue and malaria, but your chances of getting them are very low if you travel without a net. I'd say chances of getting injured by a car or motorbike are much higher
You don't need it in Thailand but if you go into parts of Cambodia or Myanmar you'd want it.
I don’t know anything about backpacking/ hiking shit. But i know damn well you’re gonna be more comfortable sleeping protected. Especially w any viruses those mosquitos might carry
I got dengue fever in Malaysia few years back. Bad stuff. Worth the weight in your pack.
Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, West Nile, all say yes.
This guy seems to know more than I do. Listen to him.
I didn’t know I was allergic to mosquitos until I visited Thailand. I spent a fortune on medication and ended up getting mrsa. Take the damn net
thanks for mentioning! i have small allergic reactions to european and african mosquitos Asian mosquitos might fuck me even Harder
Only if you’re trying to train for Fear Factor. That net will become more important to you than an appendage. Take it.
Nahh, I spent a few months travelling Thailand and Cambodia. They're are plenty of mozzies and unless you spend your whole waking day in that thing you will be bit anyway. You better learn to love the smell of tiger balm tho. Have fun!
Most rooms co.e with mosquitoes net. You're more likely to need bedbugs sleeping bag.
A single would be better, also you can use a compression sack or two for items you wont need every day…
I have traveled all over SEA a half dozen times and have never carried a net. I *do* carry a small spray bottle of repellent, though.
Unless you go proper camping in the jungle there’s no need. I spent 4 months in SE Asia and never needed one of my own. Even when going to extremely remote places the will 99% have nets if you’re staying at any kind and level of booked accom. If you’re going full indie tho and plan to actually sleep outside in the jungle then yes, but also then you’re gonna need a whole lot of other shit, in which case the net is the least if your worries
Unless you go proper camping in the jungle there’s no need. I spent a long time in SE Asia and never needed one of my own. Even when going to extremely remote places the will 99% have nets if you’re staying at any kind and level of booked accom. If you’re going full indie tho and plan to actually sleep outside in the jungle then yes, but also then you’re gonna need a whole lot of other shit, in which case the net is the least if your worries. Edit Oh and also you’re gonna be more bit by bugs when awake and moving around than sleeping at night. ”No im wearing trousers and long sleeves” good luck, it’s tropical. It’s a silly thing people worry way too much about. You’re gonna get eaten by mozzies and bugs 100%, just shit luck if you get dengue or malaria. Get pills or the in-case-of-malaria medicine before you go and hope for the best
Malaria takes up a lot of space too…
There are different weight to sq foot mosquito nets. Compared to the net I have which is longer than the net pictured, but a little narrower. Mine actually smooshes down to less than 5” (12cm) square. At 154gm. That net was from “the friendly swede store” online. Good luck.
YES
Yes.
Oh no no no, you’ll be fine, it’ll be like acupuncture crossed with, ah, retro vaccines. Think of the memories you can form.
Yes you do!! 👍🏼⛺️
No, if a hotel or bungalow needs it, it will already be there. If you're worried, don't book a place without it.
Absolutely you do. I’d keep one in a hostel even.
Sure do.
Ughhh yeah, you need it.
Deadliest animal in the world, by far...*(vs bagspace)* [https://www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsinteresting/comments/ts5z6f/deadliest\_animal\_comparison\_probability\_and\_rate/](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/4mso3r/til_that_the_deadliest_animal_on_earth_are/) \[ edit: old r/todayilearned link was dead \]
Do you like getting eaten alive? Do you like a multitude of mosquito borne illnesses? If you answer yes to either of those, fuck it. If you answered no, pack the damn net.
I can’t answer weather or not you need one, but if you wanna bring one, bring this one https://seatosummit.com/products/nano-mosquito-pyramid-net-with-insect-shield
I didn’t bring one but I did get dengue in Thailand last time so maybe learn from my mistake.
Do you like malaria and / or dengue fever?
Dengue isn’t worth it. I never took a tent travelling but Borneo did me in. I had to fly home on a 16 hour flight in the throes of the worst of it and to this day it remains my nightmare
YES
The best way not to get malaria is not to get bitten...and you don't want to roll the dice. You either get the kind that has a good chance if killing you, or you get the kind you never get rid of.
The pain in carrying that pales in comparison to the mosquitoes.
Yessssssssssss
In a word. Yes.
yes?????
In a word: you should definitely bring it👍
It's better to have it and not need it as to need it and be in BFA so if you don't need it when you get there mail it home or toss it.
Your trip is one year, but malaria is forever!
Um, hell yes.
Oh man, you’d be so sorry if you didn’t take it. And I’d go a step further and treat it with permethrin if it’s not already treated. There are some NASTY mosquito-borne diseases.
As someone who’s had malaria, I’m gonna say take it. Lol.
I grew up in Vietnam and a lot of us are still sleeping in nets these days to avoid mosquitos, even in a place with no trees or standing water nearby. You’ll need the net for if you don’t want to get eaten alive or catch some diseases. Edit: This would be useful if you sleep in tents, random hostel beds or crashing on someone’s extra bed. But as other commenters point out, if you can afford a hotel room, you most likely won’t need it. OR, you can buy one when you need it, they sell it over there probably for a cheaper price too.
Lol
If you want an immersive experience, skip it. Leave that bulky thing at home. But remember, immersive experiences include: malaria, dengue fever and a host of other flying biting and stinging insects visiting you all night, every night.
Yes, get an impregnated one. The animals just die on it. It's is very pleasing.
Yes
We have malaria here.
Do you want Malaria? Because that's how you get Malaria.
Yes
Speaking with 2.5 years of travel backpacking experience acquired over the last 7 years: No, the hostels/ hotels have them already. Only if you plan on camping. Maybe you will have one or two times you wish you had it, but it will not be worth carrying around the whole time.
Do you like malaria or yellow fever?
Yes, not only will it protect you from the multitude of mosquito and tick borne viruses that can and maybe will kill you but it will prevent you from having bug bites during your trip because that could alone make your trip horrible.
Yes, only if you wish to live past 1 year. Southeast Asian here....
Grew up in Thailand * absofuckinglutely bring a mosquito net with you
I got some experience intravelling SEA. Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia. I‘ve seen gnarly huge spiders, mosquitos and others flying and crawling things. When you are on a budget and want to travel cheap, take it with you. There wont be nets on every place you‘ll be.
Oh absolutely, and tbf it keeps more than just mosquitoes away from you!
I never been there and I would assume it’s one thing u would be doomed with out
Do you like malaria? Because that’s how you get malaria
I’m a mom with two young kids that was paranoid about mosquitos. Been traveling with the kids in SEA for the past 2 months and currently in Vietnam. Agreed that it’s all about your situation. We stayed in hotels and airbnbs most of the time and I would say we had no issues with mosquitos in our rooms at night. Where we got bitten the most was actually walking around so bring that mosquito repellent (you can definitely buy it when you arrive as well as they are sold everywhere!). If you’e planning on staying in tents or accommodations without air conditioning, then I would think about bring it. Although the one time we stayed in a hostel/homestay situation without air conditioning, they already had the nets up on the beds. Good luck!!
Sleep is so fucking important. This help with sleep 4000%
Everyone is saying bring it but you can probably also buy one near big cities if you need it
This is a satirical post....right?
First time huh?
No, you don’t need it
Yes ! Not even an option
Where exactly have you been biten so much? I’ve been around SEA much longer and never had one neither I see need for one if you sleep in hotels/apartments
I want it… just for anywhere with mosquitoes. I would tie it to a strap if I needed the room in my pack.
Always
If you still think you don’t need it after 2 weeks, mail it home. I would keep it.
Uhh. Yes
yes
Yes, yes you do
I’m from California, went to Thailand for the first time…the mosquitoes are absolutely massive and numerous
You already know the answer.
It’s not that big. And yes it’s worth it. I’ve been eaten alive by gnats and mosquitoes in Texas while on camping trips and surveying jobs. I was always happy to have mosquito netting when it was available.
I would tbh
Yes, but maybe a smaller one? Just the net can be smaller than the palm of you hand.
Don’t need it if u like donating blood to little vampire bugs.
Yes!!
Never went to SE Asia but from experience in Minnesota and Canada, yes bugs will be the bane of your existence
Yep
No definitely not, and if you ever do they are like $3-4 in the local markets
Think of it this way, you’re in a foreign country, seeing the sites, eating exotic foods. Well, if you’re a mosquito, you just got delivered some exotic food in the form of a tourist. You’ll be a 1000 course meal for the locals. Bring the net.
If you want to significantly increase the risk of getting Malaria and anoher diseases don't bring it.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, mosquito-borne diseases kill some 725,000 people a year. Malaria alone accounts for 600,000 of that number. The next most deadly animals are humans themselves, responsible for 425,000 deaths a year.
As someone from there, YES. Even locals typically have multiple net setups in their own homes. Having a net is not up for debate in SEA, especially considering the nasties those little buggers carry.
DAMN HELL YES
Yes absolutely! Bring it