A relaxing evening outdoors can end quickly when mosquitoes arrive. The Bug Beater 2.0 tackles that problem by surrounding a folding chair with fine mesh, creating a screened place to sit without applying insect repellent. It also combines an adjustable sunshade, an armrest cooler and storage for small belongings.
The chair is intended for places where people tend to stay put: campsites, backyards, beaches, parks and sports sidelines. Its enclosure is the main attraction, but the net can be removed when bugs are not a problem.
How the enclosure works
The mesh hangs from the canopy to the ground and is long enough to lie flat around the chair. Four included 6-inch aluminum stakes can pin it down, helping close the gap where insects might otherwise enter. Bug Beater Chairs says the weave is fine enough to block tiny insects such as midges, as well as mosquitoes, gnats, black flies and wasps.
The canopy can be raised or lowered, and the company describes it as providing UV protection. No UPF rating is specified on the product page, so it is best treated as a source of shade rather than a substitute for other sun protection.
A cooler in the arm holds up to five cans with ice. There is also a side pocket for items such as a phone, book, sunglasses or wallet—useful when reaching outside would mean opening the screen again.
Size, capacity and what comes in the package
The Bug Beater 2.0 weighs 12 lb (about 5.4 kg) and has a stated weight capacity of 350 lb (about 159 kg). That is a 50 lb increase over the original chair’s 300 lb rating. The updated model also has reinforced grommets and a larger cooler; the original held three cans with ice.
The chair stands approximately 50 inches (127 cm) high, with a listed seat depth of 18 inches (46 cm), seat height of 16 inches (41 cm) and base footprint of 20.5 by 20.5 inches (52 by 52 cm). Its netting is listed at 50 × 48 × 48 × 20.5 inches (127 × 122 × 122 × 52 cm). Folded for carrying, the chair measures 36 × 7.5 × 7.5 inches (about 92 × 19 × 19 cm).
Each package contains the folding chair, its custom-fit removable net and drawstring bag, and four ground stakes. The company does not sell the net separately or recommend it for use with other chairs.
From prototype to updated chair
Bug Beater Chairs says the idea followed an insect-plagued camping trip. The concept went through sketches, a 3D design and multiple prototypes before the first model reached customers. According to the company, feedback on that chair led to eight months of work on the 2.0 version.
A Kickstarter campaign for the updated chair ran from April 16 to May 16, 2024. It raised CA$37,401 from 261 backers. Kickstarter lists the campaign figures and dates.
Where it makes sense
At 12 lb and three feet long when folded, this is a chair to carry from a vehicle to a nearby spot, rather than equipment for a long backpacking trip. The stakes also make the ground-level seal more practical where they can be secured. For car camping, fishing, picnics or an afternoon beside a playing field, the combination of a seat, shade and insect screen could save bringing several separate items.
Pricing and availability
Bug Beater Chairs is advertising an End of Summer Specials offer. The Solo Pack, containing one chair, is priced at US$119, down from US$129. The Partner Pack contains two chairs for US$218, down from US$258, while the Family Pack contains four for US$396, down from US$516. The advertised savings are US$10, US$40 and US$120 respectively. Each pack is marked as including free shipping.
The company says it ships to all 50 US states but not US territories. Its FAQ specifies free shipping for the contiguous 48 states and says charges for Alaska and Hawaii are calculated at checkout, so customers in those states should check their final order total. Bug Beater Chairs also offers a 30-day return period, with original shipping costs deducted from refunds where applicable.
Source: Bug Beater Chairs