Handy Pak NetPlastic Handle Vinyl Pouch (HPTB Shallow Catch and Release)

I needed a travel net, and this one caught my eye. Not sure how it performs in the wild just yet, but I'm posting a review about folding it. Reading some of the reviews, I assumed I'd need hours of practice before I understood the folding technique and could execute it every time. In reality, it took me five minutes. Go to the manufacturer's website. The owner of the company posted a video with folding instructions, and Ed from the company also posted a video with folding instructions. Watch a few times, keep following along until you get it. You'll be fine. It's really not hard.

I've lost and found several nets on trails while fishing. I love this net because it stays firmly in its pouch and is able to be whipped out in one second. No fumbling around. Learning how to refold it took some time (watching several videos), but once you understand it, it's super simple. I highly recommend! Would make a great gift for your favorite fishermen/women

Yes, it's a light net but the plastic sheath's slots are too narrow to pas a belt through with buckles. Also, folding the net to place in holster is indeed a pain. Better just to fasten the unfolded net to the belt or stick it between belt and waders.

The reviewer who suggested making the rim as round as possible before creating the figure 8 is absolutely correct. I struggled with this thing and probably tried 75 times to get it right. The problem was that one of the three coils always stuck out like a sore thumb, making it impossible to stack the coils. I struggled with it so much that I thought I had damaged the metal band. But if you make it round before you twist, the coils stack easily. Now it’s actually kind of fun to fold instead of frustrating. I look forward to using this for remote and lightweight backpacking trips for mountain trout. I have not put it through the paces yet, so I’m giving four stars for old school innovation and USA quality.

You will not find a lighter, higher quality net for hiking into the backcountry. Like everyone else I did have to get on YouTube to figure out how to fold it back. I would definitely recommend spending some time at home with youtube and get the folding part mastered before heading into the backcountry and thinking you'll just figure it out (you wont).

It was a little tricky figuring out how to fold it, but finally learned. The sheath, however, is basically useless as trying to thread a belt is damn nigh impossible. Still not a show stopper. The stink after a successful day of Tenkara fishing catch-and-release, however, is a show stopper. The net smells bad enough all by itself, but with fish residue on the net the stink is nasty. Leaving the net out in the sun and wind doesn't have much affect. Dawn and hot water helps, but the net always smells bad - even after bleach. It is a fine net, however, so 2 stars.

The slots in the vinyl pouch are so narrow that a buckle from any belt cannot pass through. And if you could, the belt inside the pouch would make it more difficult to put the net in the pouch. Snapping belt loops should be on the outside allowing you to use any belt. Yes I could modified the pouch to make this fix but for the price this flaw should have already been addressed.The net itself is quite good once you get the hang of folding it. I had to return the net due to the impractical belt holes. Huge flaw that would be easily fixed.UPDATE: Contacted the vendor asking about having pouches include belt loops instead of the tiny slots. I never received anything to include acknowledging my suggestion. Look elsewhere for a net, not recommended.

Nice little nap that clip onto my belt when I want to go lightweight hiking mountain biking etc. to do some takara fishing up in high mountain streams. Wish I got to go snap instead I may have to do an upgrade. Twisting the net to store it takes a little practice but once you get it down it’s like riding a bike, you never forget