I bought one of these in 1998 and wore it through a month of canoeing in Quatico Canada. The bugs were so thick you could not see your friend's face if they were 10 feet infront of you. This head net made every one unbelievably jealous. Theirs were much more difficult to use and much less effective. There are some more reasonable choices on the market now. But the metal ring around the front of the net allows you to move around and get things done without worry of the net coming into contact with your face. The weight of the ring is negligible.
on the down side the ring makes it all a bit more bulky and it can get in the way when not in use. Also the ring makes it difficult to use the net for other purposes like filtering water or using as an impromptu stuff sack. I dont live in an area now where I need a headnet except for in rare circumstances (and even then not for mosquitoes) and I think I want to use it more for alternate purposes than a head net so I think I will pick up one without a ring. but I gotta tell ya, I have only had to put a few stitches in the net and it is still fine fourteen years later. If you need a Dedicated headnet that you will be relying on AS a headnet EVERY day, Get This one. if your looking for something more multi purpose and less frequently needed go with one without the hoop.

I just got off a 1 week PCT hike in Oregon and I might have gone crazy without this! I have nylon clothing so cannot use DEET. My hands are a mess with so many bites but my face and neck are almost bite-free because of this head net. I love the ring-it keeps the little biters at a distance! When I left the trail I passed mine on to a thru hiker who did not have a bug net (now I need to get another).

I must admit, I haven't used this product very much. I bring it with me every trip, but it has to be pretty bad for me to break out the net. When I do, I always wonder why I need this silly ring.
The manufacturer says the metal ring keeps the net off my face. I would rather wear a rimmed hat and simply put the net over the cap. This way, I could pack the net smaller and it would be more likely to be kept in a more convenient location on my person.
But when weather is humid and the mosquitos are all over, you'll definitely be glad you brought one of these... or something similar.