Removable door for net tent

[Mike The Slug]

I have a net tent which i use under a tarp set up as an A frame. One end of the net tent has a solid nylon panel which keeps angled rain out during storms but the door end is net so I am wondering if anyone has made a detachable panel  or a Ray Jardine “bat wing” style door to help close off the end in a heavy rain. I dislike the idea of using; snaps, velcro or a zipper and wondering what folks’ thoughts or experience is with a magnetic attachment system?

[Franco Darioli]

A few years ago Big Agnes had the Fishook tents using magnets instead of zips.

They are no longer made.

Maybe you should try to find out why.

[Geoff Caplan]

Wondering if you’re in danger of over-engineering here?

Any magnet strong enough to stay closed when the wind gusts is surely going to be heavy?

I have a storm panel for my TrailStar that’s attached with bungee cord. The bottom chords are hooked onto the pegs that secure the door, and the top chords are secured to mitten hooks inside the tarp.

Simple, light, and hasn’t let me down yet.

[Lester Moore]

Any magnet strong enough to stay closed when the wind gusts is surely going to be heavy?

Not necessarily. A rare earth magnet with sufficient surface area should do a very good job of holding a door closed. These 0.5″ flat magnets weigh only 0.05 ounces and have a 2.5 pound pull force:

https://www.magcraft.com/magcraft-nsn0640

The closure would be even stronger by incorporating a protruding edge on the door fabric (maybe some shock sewn along the edge) to catch against the magnet when the fabric is being pulled apart by strong wind. One could even design a backup clip or two for very windy conditions to augment the magnets if very windy.

 

[BlackHatGuy]

zPacks uses a simply toggle/loop closure on some of their shelters, see here. Might work for you, and is very light.

[Mike The Slug]

Thanks for the reference Doug. This is a great solution.

[Author]

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