Commuting - Cargo/bungee nets?

Forgive my ignorance, but was wondering if there are certain qualities/features to keep in mind while shopping for one (wholly online- none of the LBS' here stock them)? I'd imagine that they are adjustable somehow, but kinda clueless as to how...

Iono how much to expect from a $7 net... Don't think about this one too much. Most of them are not adjustable.

Qualities to keep in mind:

Is it stretchy?

Does it have hooks?

If those are true, go for it.

I have a 7 dollar net from amazon. Works fine. Mostly use it like I would any bungee(with just the two side hooks tied down) but having the net part is nice for when I have a bag of stuff. if its not right, you're only out 7 bucks.

i use the little square ones made for bicycles the atv ones are too big for the baskets i have.
http://www.sunlitecycling.com/product_detail.php?short_code=Bungee+Cargo+Net&cl1=RACKS
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Forgive my ignorance, but was wondering if there are certain qualities/features to keep in mind while shopping for one (wholly online- none of the LBS' here stock them)? I'd imagine that they are adjustable somehow, but kinda clueless as to how...

I got a bungee cargo net from a local grocery store some years back. I guess to one degree or another by being made out of bungee cord that it is adjustable. It has four plastic hooks at the corners and can be spread out to cover a good sized area. I use it both to secure items on my pannier rack(s) (multiple bikes each with pannier racks) as well as over the top of my Yakima Big Tow trailer.

It was fairly "cheap" (I don't remember what I paid for it, but having come from a grocery store I don't see that I would have paid that much for it. Probably under $10.00. I'd have to say that as a commuter that it is/was one of the best purchases I'd made for my bike.

I have two of them, one with vinyl covered metal hooks & the other with plastic hooks. The metal one (I think) is a sunlite brand. The problem I had with cargo nets is that my backpack that was tied down would sometimes shift as I was riding. This could be particular to my pack, as it is an untralight backpacking one with a smooth nylon back. I never had trouble aside from that however. For my uses, Surly Junk Strpas worked out better.

Both nets worked out fine & did the job, but if I had a choice, I'd choose the one with the plastic clips, as they are a bit wider & seem sturdier.

Currently, I have two bags that I rotate- a large Banjo Brothers backpack and a Knog sling bag. My intent is to use the Banjo only on those days when rain is certain- as in when I leave for work. Otherwise, I'd prefer using the Knog. It can carry everything that I need (mostly) on a daily basis, but it's just a tad too small to handle the layers on the way home.

My intent was to just make a burrito out my clothes and use the net to hold them in place on the rack. Some thing like this may work better for my intended purpose: http://www.amazon.com/Eleven81-Triple-Bicycle-Rack-Strap/dp/B004Y02XLG/ref=sr_1_52?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1320177692&sr=1-52

Picked up one at REI with plastic hooks which were too wide to easily use with my basket. One of the hooks eventually broke, and I replaced it with a cheap, small, carabiner, which generally does the trick. I see now that Topeak has one with skinny, metal hooks that looks a little more robust and versatile than mine. Still, it's a stretchy net with hooks on it, and they all seem to come in under $10, so I agree that you might not need to over think it. But, given options, I would prefer coated metal hooks to plastic.

I have a few , keep one in my pannier, one at the office, one in the garage. One is permanently attached on one side by zip ties on to a front basket on my Schwinn speedster office / share / errand bike. They come in handy, and you never know when. Just go ahead and buy it, It'll be fine. No reason to over think this one.

Honestly, I have had better luck with the little bag of mini-bungees I bought at Home Despot than the cargo nets fronm the bike shop. More versatile.