To save some reading. If you're a landscape photographer and find midges ( other biting insects are available…) an irritation, buy yourself a pair of these. It's that simple. There are countless other situations where these would be useful ( climbers on belay come immediately to mind) but I'm reviewing as a photographer.
The longer version still ends with ‘ Just buy a pair’. All of us have different levels of tolerance when it comes to midges and any photographers working in the North West of Britain between June and October are likely to encounter them on a windless day.
We all have different approaches to dealing with them ranging from lotions & potions, stoic endurance, arm waving, pipe smoking, smoke generators and clothing / midge nets.
Compact version without additional space for reading glasses. Also shows adjustable side arms.
My approach has always been to cover up completely right down to thin gloves (even in hot weather) and midge net. The trouble with a midge net is that it compromises clarity of vision through the viewfinder or of the rear monitor screen.
Some years ago an inventor in Fort William developed Netspex. These comprised a pair of clear plastic safety glasses with a midge net attached. See my review here.
They were a brilliant but flawed invention.
2024 sees the arrival of Midgespecs, the sons of Netspex, now being made by Tim Parkin in Ballachulish. Tim knows a thing or two about the needs of landscape photographers and has taken the original concept and fixed all the original flaws. For this reviewer, they now represent the state in the art midge defence. I’ve been trialling these Midgespecs since the start of the midge season in the Lakes and they have transformed the level of enjoyment that I’ve been able to find from photography on still mornings and evenings.
The basics remain the same. A midge net, NATO approved, that prevents midges from biting the skin on your face, head and neck. A clear vision panel provided by the, safety glasses. It is in the lenses of the glasses that the huge strides have been made.
The clarity of the lenses is significantly better than the old Netspex. For my purposes, they are close enough to perfect.
An anti- fog treatment has been pre-applied and in my case, in the conditions experienced, I found this completely eliminated fogging. Different physiology, temperatures and humidity may produce diffierent outcomes.
The new glasses design allow for compact reading glasses to be worn underneath.
The arms are adjustable to give the best fit.
Are there any disadvantages?
Wearing a midge net is, in my opinion, always a little claustrophobic. However set against being eaten by midges, that is inconsequential.
Depending where you wear your Midgespecs, you may get some funny looks or even frighten small children. If you're wearing them in August in Glen Torridon, you’ll probably not get a second glance. In Borrowdale, where ordinary midge nets are less common, on a June morning, folk do tend to stare…. Again, compared with being eaten by midges, a minor consequence.
Caution: Passers by may stare….
The specs are safety glasses made from polycarbonate and seem suitably robust. They come nicely packaged in a cardboard tube. There are two variants listed; the other being a slightly more compact version that is not intended to fit over other glasses.
In use I preferred to wear mine over a cap which helps keep the net away from the face. Others will prefer under a cap/ hat or without either.
Larger version Midgespecs giving space for reading glasses
My pair are are already a fixed part of my daily photography bag and will remain there until the first frosts. I can't overstate quite how good I think these glasses are, for some of us they are game changing. Just buy a pair.
