When it comes to beekeeping clothing, there are various approaches adopted by beekeepers. Some prefer to cover their bodies from head to toe and others may be satisfied with a simple hat, veil, and gloves.
There are even experienced beekeepers that don’t use protective clothing at all! But, for most of us, it’s important to find which protective clothing works best and how to use it effectively. In this guide will examine this topic in more detail to help you make informed choices.
Bees do not want to sting you – in fact, honey bees will die when they sting a person. This is because they are unable to pull their stinger out again; it remains in the person’s skin, rupturing the abdomen of the bee. Unless bees become alarmed and seek to defend their colony with their lives, they will only sting occasionally or accidentally.
Do You Need Beekeeping Clothing?
Although it is amazing to watch a beekeeper work with no protective gear at all, this is a considerable risk and a single eye sting from a confused bee can lead to blindness. So, the vast majority of people wear beekeeping clothing to stay safe.
Let’s look at three reasons why you may want to consider wearing protective gear:
- Reducing Stings: If the bees become irate and they start to sting, you can significantly reduce the number of stings that you would receive if you’re wearing protective clothing. At the very least, you should have a hat and veil to protect your eyes and face from stinging.
- Increasing Confidence: When you open a hive filled with thousands of insects that can sting it’s an unnerving experience. Wearing protective gear will give you some confidence and you’re less likely to panic if you drop a frame or some other calamity occurs.
- Peace and Tranquility: If the beekeeper is calm and collected, the bees are more likely to do the same. The nature of beekeeping is to work slowly and methodically and you cannot work in this manner if you’re frightened of stings. Remember that the bees do not want to sting anyone, they are protecting their hive and if you are not a threat they will remain calm.
What Clothing should Beekeepers Wear
Beekeepers, at the very least, will usually wear a protective hat and veil. Many will wear a full hooded beekeeper’s suit.
The most important parts of the body requiring protection from bee stings are the face and neck, which is why a hat with a veil is so critical to be worn. This is because when bees become defensive, they are attracted to human or animal breath, and hence can easily sting the face of their beekeeper or another human.
Stings on the face result in more pain and swelling than elsewhere on the body and stings near the eyes can be particularly dangerous.
Beekeeping Clothing Options
There are four protective clothing options for beekeepers that can be used together or in a piecemeal fashion depending on how you want to work.
1/ Bee Hat & Veil:
A beekeeping hat and veil cover the face and head with fabric or wire mesh to protect against bee stings without degrading your vision. This is a critical piece of safety gear that should always be worn, even if you don’t want to wear full protective gear.
Although bee stings to the eyes are very rare, they are incredibly dangerous and they can cause permanent blindness in the stung eye. Bees will often focus on stinging the heads and faces of potential threats because they are vulnerable locations. A veil should sit away from the skin on your face to prevent a sting from passing through where it makes contact.
There are four different types of veils to consider:
- Round Veils: These are popular because they have a 360º mesh with a full range of vision and good ventilation. These veils work well with a hat or helmet and most have a single seam on the back with elastic or drawstrings for a secure fit. Round veils often have zippers to attach them to a protective bee suit.
- Alexander Veils: These are round veils that have an elastic headband and cloth top. These veils do not need a helmet or hat, but some keepers wear a cap underneath.
- Square (Folding) Veils. These veils fit over a hat or helmet and they have several seams which support the structure. The seams are kept far away from the face which gives the beekeeper a wide range of vision. As an added bonus a square veil will fold flat which makes storage easier.
- Hooded (Fencing) Veils: These veils zip onto a bee jacket or suit, the mesh facilitates viewing at the front and partially along the side. There is no mesh at the back, a fencing veil also has impeded airflow when it’s compared with other veils.
These veils are also available as “pull over” designs which combine a veil with a vest or shoulder covering which adds extra protection.
2/ Beekeeper Suits:
The body protection for beekeepers can be broadly divided into two different categories: suits and jackets. A beekeeping jacket covers the upper torso and a suit covers the entire body from the wrists down to the ankles. A head covering and gloves will still be needed for full coverage and these are typically sold separately.
When you look for suits and jackets, it’s important that they are made of thick nylon or cotton. These two materials offer excellent protection against bee stings, but they work in different ways. Nylon is a slippery material for bees to deal with, it’s hard to land on and they struggle to sting on it.
Cotton is thicker and it offers a superb defense against stinging. Most modern suits have multiple layers incorporating breathable mesh to make the beekeeper more comfortable as they work.
This protective clothing tends to be white and smooth to the touch. The reason for this is that it’s easier for the bees to differentiate between natural predators and the beekeeper. After all, there are no white skunks or bears wandering around the forest. So, the color white can actually calm the bees and they are less likely to treat the beekeeper as a threat to the colony.
It’s important to understand that there is no bee suit or jacket that is fully impervious to bee stings. However, the best equipment will deter most stings by providing space in the suit to keep the material away from the skin in most places. As you might imagine, beekeeping suits and jackets are available in a wide range of quality with prices to match. So, when you’re searching for protective equipment it’s important to look for quality at prices you can afford.
Here are eight things to look for to ensure that you get the best deal When Buying a Bee Suit:
- Thick Materials: All beekeeping clothing should be thick to prevent the penetration of a stinger. The best modern suits and jackets are a cotton/polyester blend or very thick cotton. Ventilation is recommended for working outdoors in hot weather and suits that have layers of vinyl, polyester, and cotton are ideal.
- Zippers: A suit with metal zippers will hold up better than plastic alternatives, but this will increase the price.
- Hoods: If a hood is included, it should have sufficient space to keep the mesh away from your face and a non-glare coating to improve visibility. For complete protection, there should be a velcro flap to cover the zipper.
- Thumb Loops: These are useful to keep the long sleeves from riding the arm.
- Ankle and Wrists: These openings should be fitted with velcro or elastic closures to keep the bees out.
- Pockets: It’s a good idea to choose a beekeeping suit or jacket with pockets to hold tools and other items when you need your hands free.
- Avoid Cheap Gear: There is a compromise to be found between quality and price. But, if you go too cheap and buy one of those thin cotton suits or jackets you will regret your decision. These outfits provide next to no protection and they tend to wear quickly.
- Check the Sizing: It’s a great idea to check the sizing information from the manufacturer before you purchase the suit or jacket. Check the customer reviews to assess the accuracy of sizing and to avoid returns. It’s important to remember that beekeeping suits and jackets need to be roomy for free movement and to prevent stinging.
There is a tradeoff between high-quality protective clothing and price, but if you search around it is possible to spend less and still get adequate protection against stinging.
3/ Beekeeper Suit or Jacket?
For an experienced beekeeper, the choice between a jacket or a full beekeeping suit is purely a matter of personal preference. But, many people have both on hand and they will choose between them depending on the specific situation.
We strongly suggest that all new beekeepers start out with a suit until they gain confidence and learn how to work around bees comfortably. When you gain experience a good alternative to a full body suit is a ventilated bee jacket.
These may have a hood and veil included and they have superior ventilation to prevent overheating when working in hot weather.
The bee jacket should have thumb hooks to insert the sleeve ends into gloves, a zipper to attach a veil, and durable metal zippers. If you switch to a beekeeping jacket, you should wear coveralls or jeans to protect your legs with thick breathable fabric. Bees can be kept out of boots and pant legs with velcro leg straps, cable ties, or even duct tape.
4/ Beekeeping Gloves:
A beekeeper’s hands will come into close proximity with thousands of bees during every hive inspection. So the best protection is a pair of beekeeping gloves, but this presents a second problem. The gloves must be sufficiently thick to protect against stingers, but if they are too thick, it will be a significant challenge to handle tools and frames.
Some experienced beekeepers will work barehanded, but all new beekeepers should wear specialized gloves.
When you’re choosing beekeeping gloves there are five things you need to consider:
- Forearm Coverage: The best beekeeping gloves will be long enough to cover your forearm. Because gloves will be worn with a jacket or full body suit these extensions will need ventilation to prevent a build up of heat.
- A Snug Fit: Although jackets and suits need to have room, the gloves need to be a snug fit to prevent them from sliding off your hands when you’re working in the hive.
- Goatskin Gloves: These are thin and supple gloves that are easy to use, but you must ensure that they have the thickness to block a stinger.
- Cowhide Leather Gloves: These are the thickest beekeeping gloves, they offer superior protection, but they are harder to work with.
- Nitrile Gloves: These are too thin to prevent a sting, but they do offer a deterrent and if a stinger does penetrate it will not become embedded in your skin. The main advantage of nitrile gloves is that keep your hands clean and yet it doesn’t even feel like you’re wearing gloves at all. These gloves have short cuffs and extra wrist coverage may be needed.
The beekeeping gloves, suits, and jackets need to be washed regularly. Any bee stings in the materials will emit an alarm pheromone which will make your bees aggressive and more likely to sting.
Frequently Asked Question about Beekeeping Clothing
Can bee stings penetrate a suit or jacket?
Beekeeping suits and jackets are made from tightly woven thick materials that offer a considerable barrier to a stinger. But, nothing is perfect and penetration may be possible if the suit is closely touching the skin or there is an area that has less protection.
Which color doesn’t attract bees or make them aggressive?
White works best, no predators that prey on honey bee hives have white hair or fur. If you’re concerned about attracting bees or making them aggressive, it’s a good idea to wear light-colored clothing, avoid floral patterns, and opt for White Bee Suits.
Which clothing fabrics can a stinger not penetrate?
Fabrics that are tightly woven like cotton blends and have a dense structure, such as denim, canvas, and leather, offer the best protection against bee stings because the fabrics are thick and harder to penetrate. These fabrics provide a physical barrier that can help prevent stingers from reaching the skin.
However, it’s important to note that some bees, like honeybees, can still sting through thicker fabrics if they are pressed firmly against the skin. Therefore, while these fabrics offer some protection, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution and avoid provoking bees to prevent stings.
Could a bee get in a full body bee suit?
The short answer is yes. There could be a small opening that has been overlooked where a bee could enter. For this reason, it’s important to check for and remove any bees that may be clinging to the suite before you leave the hive and remove it.
What is the best way to dress for beekeeping?
For beginners, we recommend a full body beekeeping suite with a veil and gloves. But, as you gain experience and confidence you may want to switch to a bee jacket, veil, and gloves of your choice. There is no right or wrong answer it all comes down to your personal preferences.
While protection is crucial, your comfort is important too. Look for beekeeping suits that have good ventilation to prevent overheating during warm weather.
Beekeeping Clothing In Conclusion
As a beginner, it’s a good idea to wear beekeeping clothing when you work in the apiary. As your knowledge, experience and even a tolerance for bee stings grows you may want to change your approach. You may feel comfortable working with a jacket, veil, and barehanded at times.
Remain relaxed and calm with your bees, wear your beekeeping suit, and your bees will also be relaxed, calm, and happy – and avoid stinging you.