Keeping bugs at bay makes for more relaxing vacation

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Published: August 6, 2015

The Outbound screen house cost $75 but it was worth the comfort.  |  Kim Quintin photo

Few things can ruin a relaxing day camping more than aggressive insects. Mosquito coils and personal insect repellents can sometimes do only so much to keep the bugs under control.

A good screen house tent is another layer of protection.

I bought an Outbound screen house and took it on a week long family summer vacation at Greenwater Provincial Park in northeastern Saskatchewan.

The square base of the screen house measured 12 feet on a side, which was enough to surround the average picnic table and provide some room to move around the periphery. It was high enough for occupants taller than six feet to stand comfortably.

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The screen house created an almost completely bug-free zone around our picnic table, which made for good outdoor cooking and dining experiences. It was also small enough that it did not dominate the overall campsite.

Erecting the screen house was easy and took less than 10 minutes. It used two shock-corded fibreglass poles for a support frame. Eight tent spike positions were evenly spaced around the base for grounding.

Each corner of the screen house had cord to further ground the structure with tie-downs and additional tent spikes, but I did not find them necessary in average summer weather nestled in our treed campsite.

The wall mesh of the screen house was tightly wound. The polyester roof resisted sun and rain well. The base had additional material to reduce ground insects.

Taking down the screen house took slightly more time than setting it up because we had to fold and roll it into a sufficiently tight package. However, it was still easy and quick.

The screen house came with a carrying case that was large enough to accommodate the screen house, fibreglass poles and ground spikes. The entire package weighed slightly more than 10 pounds and was small enough that it could be easily transported in the trunk of even the smallest subcompact sedan.

Minimalist campers may consider a screen house a luxury, but for those planning longer stays at front-country campsites, you cannot go wrong with including one in your gear. For families with children, a good screen house is almost a necessity.

The 12-by-12 foot Outbound screen house cost me $75. The investment was worth the comfort and pleasure of my family’s vacation. It enhanced an already good campground experience.

Kim Quintin is a Saskatoon outdoor enthusiast and knife maker. He can be reached for column suggestions at kim.quintin@producer.com or 306-665-9687.

About the author

Kim Quintin

Kim Quintin is a Saskatoon outdoor enthusiast and knife maker. He can be reached for column content suggestions.

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