Is A Screen Tent A Waste Of Money?
A good screen tent not only keeps out the biting flies, it acts as a wind, rain and sun shelter. I use to think a screen tent was a waste of money, but that changed when I realized all it had to offer... Avoid the bugs I don't know about you but I don't care much for mosquitoes or biting flies, and I'd rather avoid bug repellant unless it's necessary. I don't much enjoy rubbing or spraying stinky repellant all over my skin and clothing. Not to mention having to wash it off and reapply it every time you eat to avoid tasting the stuff. Not my idea of fun. A screen tent with no-see-um mesh to stop the tiny black/sand flies is a much better idea in my book. 
But the deer flies, mosquitoes and sand flies aren't the only pesky bugs. The hungry house flies, gnats and yellow jackets can be a hassle too when you're trying to eat. Besides, for some unexplainable reason a screen tent makes it strangely satisfying to watch yellow jackets bounce off the outside mesh as you enjoy a meal you know they would otherwise be crawling over. Besides the bugs...Room to move A screen tent comes in really handy if you have a small camping tent and it rains. Because now instead of being couped up in a tiny tent, you can move to the screen room where you can stretch and move around a bit. It's much nicer to read or play cards while sitting upright in a chair, than it is to lay on your side in a small tent for a few hours. Having enough room to move around a bit and even fit a picnic table to prepare and eat meals is fantastic. This point alone has made several of our vacations much more enjoyable. Ventilation How many times have you been couped up in your tent sweating because there wasn't enough air circulation? Screen tents offer almost as much airflow as sitting outside exposed... no not that kind of exposed. ;-) Seriously, they let the breeze in when you need it and can block the elements when you need the shelter. And this comes from a guy who thought they were a waste of money until his girlfriend picked one up to try. Needless to say, I like it. Score one point for the girls. :-) You can leave your hiking boots on Consider whether you really want a floor. Since you'll probably be in and out of it more than your camping tent, I'd skip the floor. Since there's no floor there's no floor to sweep, which can be really nice if you're tracking mud in because it's raining. The downside of not having a floor is that the local chipmunks and a small number of bugs might find their way inside, but it's not usually a big deal. To me not having a floor in a screen tent is actually a good thing. Just try to make sure that the stakes are well planted and to fasten the tent walls firmly to the ground and eliminate any gaps for small critters to get in. A few more tips.
Seriously, (uh-oh, there's that word again) it's a good idea to set-up your screen tent once before you need it so you know what's required. Also, since a screen tent is usually a bit large, they can be difficult for one person to set by themselves. Having two people for this job is definitely recommended. 2. Over-sized bags make for easier storage. 3. If you're looking to add a nice screen room to your collection of camping gear or hiking equipment, and you want one that will last a good while, I'd take a look at the Paha Que below. Review These guys have been in business for over ten years and their gear has a limited lifetime warranty. Pros: A very high quality screen tent that offers protection from the wind, rain, sun and biting bugs. The awning design is a nice way to keep out light rain while still letting the breeze through. No-see-um mesh, usually a feature on good quality camping tents, isn't always found on screen tents, but this one has it. A well-thought out screen tent. Cons: Rainfly available but not included. In short, if you're looking for a great screen tent this is it. BackCountry,
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