Hilason vs SmartPak Fly Sheet: A Texas Horseman's Take

By Travis Colburn | AQHA-approved judge, third-generation Texas horseman, lead field tester for Hilason since 2018 | Last updated: June 16, 2026

SmartPak is best known as a catalog retailer that also sells their own brand of fly sheets. They make a good sheet. They also offer a unique feature no one else has at the price: an insect-repellent infusion built into the mesh. Whether that is worth the extra $30 to $70 over a Hilason depends on how bad your fly problem is.

The Quick Verdict

If you have a standard fly problem in a typical climate, Hilason ADFS at $60 is the better value with better UV protection and durability. If you are in heavy coastal or lowland fly pressure (Gulf Coast, Florida, lowland Virginia) and you want an insect-repellent sheet that does not require re-spraying, SmartPak Deluxe with No-Fly Zone is worth the $90 to $130.

Price and Value

SmartPak Deluxe Fly Sheet (with No-Fly Zone insect-repellent infusion): $90 to $130. SmartMesh Ultimate: $100 to $130. SmartPak Stocky Fit (for wider horses): $80 to $110.

Hilason ADFS: $59.95. ADFS-NF with neck cover: $72. ADFS-FB with fleece boot: $75.

The SmartPak is $30 to $70 more than the Hilason. The premium is buying the No-Fly Zone infusion, which is a permethrin-based treatment bonded to the mesh fibers. The treatment lasts about 25 washes, which for a fly sheet that is washed monthly in summer, is two summers of use.

The math: SmartPak $110 / 2 summers = $55 per summer. Hilason $60 / 3.5 summers = $17 per summer. The Hilason is still cheaper per summer, but the SmartPak's insect-repellent feature is real and meaningful if you have a fly-pressure problem.

Materials and Build

SmartPak Deluxe uses a soft mesh designed for daily comfort. The No-Fly Zone treatment is bonded at the fiber level. The fit is standard. The construction is mid-weight. The mesh is not as heavy as the Hilason ADFS.

Hilason ADFS uses 1200D reinforced shoulders over 600D body. Heavier construction. Designed for 24/7 turnout in harsh conditions.

The SmartPak is a comfortable sheet for horses in light to moderate turnout. The Hilason is a workhorse sheet for horses in heavy turnout.

UV Protection

SmartPak: standard UV protection, no specific UPF rating on the Deluxe line. The mesh blocks UV but at unspecified rates.

Hilason ADFS: UPF 50+, 98% UV block. Certified and advertised.

If UV protection is a priority, the Hilason is the clear choice. The SmartPak will protect against sun but at a lower rated level.

The No-Fly Zone Feature

This is the one thing SmartPak does that no one else does at this price. The permethrin infusion is bonded to the mesh fibers. It does not wash off easily. It kills flies and ticks on contact. It is the same active ingredient used in sawmill-worker clothing and US military uniforms.

The downside: permethrin is toxic to cats and to fish. If your horse shares a barn with cats, be careful where you store the sheet. If you live near waterways, do not wash the sheet where the runoff goes into a stream.

If you have a horse that is allergic to fly bites (sweet itch, summer seasonal dermatitis), the No-Fly Zone is a genuinely useful feature. For these horses, the SmartPak is the better sheet.

Fit and Sizing

SmartPak: standard sizes 72 to 84. The Stocky Fit option is designed for wider horses. The mesh has a soft hand that drapes well on most body types.

Hilason: 7 sizes (66 to 84), cut for quarter horse. Gusset system for shoulders.

Both fit a standard horse well. The SmartPak has a slight edge on the wider, stockier horse (hence the Stocky Fit option). The Hilason has a slight edge on the narrow, athletic quarter horse.

Who Should Buy Which

Buy SmartPak if: Your horse has sweet itch or summer seasonal dermatitis, you are in heavy coastal fly pressure, you want the convenience of not spraying fly repellent on the sheet, you have a wider horse that needs the Stocky Fit.

Buy Hilason if: You need UPF 50+ UV protection, you are in 24/7 turnout, you want the best price, you are outfitting multiple horses, you have a quarter horse type.

Buy SmartPak for the allergic horse, Hilason for the rest. This is the pattern we see most often.

FAQ

Is the No-Fly Zone treatment safe for the horse? Yes. Permethrin is approved for use on horses and is the same active ingredient used in many spot-on fly products. The bonded-to-fiber application is safer than spraying because the horse is not ingesting or absorbing permethrin from a wet spray.

How long does the No-Fly Zone treatment last? About 25 washes, which works out to roughly two summers of normal use. After that, the sheet still works as a fly sheet, just without the insect-repellent feature.

Can I add No-Fly Zone spray to a Hilason? Yes. You can buy permethrin-based spray at any feed store and apply it to any fly sheet. The spray treatment does not last as long as the bonded treatment and has to be reapplied after each wash. The SmartPak's bonded treatment is more convenient but not fundamentally more effective.

Does the SmartPak come with a neck cover? Some models do. The SmartPak Deluxe with neck cover is around $130. The Hilason ADFS-NF is $72 with neck cover. The Hilason is the better value on this specific feature.

Which sheet is better for a horse in the Gulf Coast? The SmartPak. The No-Fly Zone is genuinely useful in heavy coastal fly pressure. The Hilason is fine for the same horse, but you will be spraying fly repellent on the sheet weekly to get the same effect.

Travis Colburn is a third-generation Texas horseman and AQHA-approved judge with 22 years training western performance horses. He has been Hilason's lead field tester since 2018. Travis writes the gear guides for hilason.com and uhorse.com based on what he sees actually working on ranches from South Texas to Montana.

Shop the Hilason fly sheet line: hilason.com/collections/fly-sheets | Free shipping on orders $49+ | Designed in Texas since 1995.