Heavy duty bee suit

[Newbeebeekeeper]

Hi everyone

After getting stung on the top of my head and my face swelling up the good lady has thrown a head stagger and now is alot less keen on me keeping bees.

Is there a heavy duty bee suit out there?

I am fully aware of my shortcomings this time i took risks and ignored the signs. So far i have been stung 5 times in over 3 years because i have good natured bees and and very cautious.

I have agreed to be more careful but i feel that something tangible might help put her mind at ease more.

Thanks

 

[steve1958]

Yes, look for one of the triple layered suits.
Also if your head is a high risk spot wear a hat/cap as well as your suit.

If you Google triple layer bee suit you should get plenty of options.

 

[Angry_Mob]

Something like this: https://www.oldcastlefarmhives.com/product-category/clothing/

 

[philipm]

I always wear a baseball cap under my suit it stops my follicly challenged head getting stung, it also helps on a windy day keeping the veil off my face.When I had bad tempered bees I used to wear a boiler suit under my bee suit and two pairs of gloves.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

5 times in 3 years..... Mwahaha... Rolls on floor

 

[Rooster007]

Yes, got to agree, 5 times in three years is good going. I think I've been stung around that in the last 3 months and all through a good suit but me only having a thin T-shirt on underneath and me sweating too much in the hot weather.
Definitely wound them up and had a couple on the arms and couple on the hands through the rubber gloves.

Not the bees fault but my own but the reactions are getting less for me now at the moment.

 

[Ian123]

Check out the sheriff full suits proven over many years and great repair service and obviously now you also have available those multi layer versions.

 

[SWEET]

Check out the sheriff full suits proven over many years and great repair service and obviously now you also have available those multi layer versions.

Sheriff standard suits and lovely but offer little protection if dressed in pants!, they make the £400 BEEPRO version tho, I've ordered an OZ 3 layer suit as need to deal with a rather nasty hive asap.

 

[SWEET]

5 times in 3 years..... Mwahaha... Rolls on floor

I've had zero stings in 3 years

 

[Poly Hive]

The circular hard hat from Manlake as sold by Thornes is good as it keeps the hood well off the ears and neck whilst bending. Shame about the inner suspension though as they are pretty poor quality.

PH

 

[MartinL]

So far i have been stung 5 times in over 3 years because I have good natured bees and very cautious.

Your average is well below what anyone would expect for the most cautious amongst us.
Even with a space suit, there are going to be times when you get caught out. Lets say their temper changes for some reason or you get one or two on your suit after an inspection?

Tell here to wake up & smell the coffee!

Something like this: https://www.oldcastlefarmhives.com/product-category/clothing/

Had mine delivered last week (prezzie form SWMBO).
Waiting to try it on my most defensive hive! Looks good though (went for the round hat version).

 

[SWEET]

^^ would like to know how that compares to the OZ.

 

[MartinL]

^^ would like to know how that compares to the OZ.

Wouldn't we all, I tried this couple of months back,
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44597


Recommendations are and can never be accurate comparisons!

N.B.
If any of the competitor suit manufacturers would like me to compare theirs against my Castle Farm "Sentinel II" I'd happily accept a free suit from them!

 

[thorn]

Had mine delivered last week (prezzie form SWMBO).
Waiting to try it on my most defensive hive! Looks good though (went for the round hat version).

We await your report.
Did you get the gloves too?

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Oz armour triple layered suit is superb

 

[MartinL]

Always been happy with my gloves, they looked to be a little cumbersome?
Did just dust bare hands with baby powder for a time but bees changed!

 

[Swarm]

Unless you know someone who has tried both, how can you expect a comparison? The best you can expect is an honest appraisal of the suit worn.
I can say that the mesh on the Sentinel offers clearer vision.

I suspect the facial swelling alarmed the OP's wife more so than the occasional stings to hands, etc.

Best advice, rather than look for a bomb proof suit, is to be more careful and take fewer risks.

 

[Walrus]

Obviously people can wear what they want but I'm quite surprised by the popularity of the "suit of armour" type of bee wear.

You can't really expect to keep bees and not get stung. I think a veil is essential because stings to the face/eyes are bad. Many beekeepers think that if you hang around bees a lot but don't get stung often then you are more likely to develop an allergy. I don't know if this is medical fact - just something that I've heard a fair bit.

My bees must be little angels because I rarely get stung (it happens more in early/late season). If I get a hive that is consistently grumpy then the queen must die.

 

[Swarm]

Obviously people can wear what they want but I'm quite surprised by the popularity of the "suit of armour" type of bee wear.

You can't really expect to keep bees and not get stung. I think a veil is essential because stings to the face/eyes are bad. Many beekeepers think that if you hang around bees a lot but don't get stung often then you are more likely to develop an allergy. I don't know if this is medical fact - just something that I've heard a fair bit.

My bees must be little angels because I rarely get stung (it happens more in early/late season). If I get a hive that is consistently grumpy then the queen must die.

The appeal is not 'a suit of armour' but VENTILATION The wind picked up a bit on Sunday and I even started to feel a little cold at times. That's a first.
More than one beekeeping source suggest it's not a good idea to not pick up a few stings and for non beekeeping family members around your beekeeping stuff, too.
Like you, my bees have a lovely temperament and I possibly don't get stung enough (?) Three stings this season and each one due to trapping a bee, mine like to get between the hive tool and my fingers and there's no triple layer there.

 

[Walrus]

The appeal is not 'a suit of armour' but VENTILATION

Ahh, didn't realise!