Heavy duty bee suit

[Erichalfbee]

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.

Michael Palmer posts on here as you know....but others might not
He has a little video on youtube explaining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0QB96RrGdM

 

[Newbeeneil]

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.

I agree about the ventilation. I could beekeep during the hottest weather in tee shirt, shorts and work boots ( + the Ozarmour of course) without melting.
TBH I only use it during the hottest weather or with a really nasty hive I'm trying to requeen as I much prefer slipping on my lightweight BeeBasic jacket in normal conditions.

 

[MartinL]

So far i have been stung 5 times in over 3 years

I have agreed to be more careful

I've had zero stings in 3 years

Are you sure you have Honey bees???

last year was one of the most sting free years I've ever experienced with 2 stings all year!

Michael Palmer posts on here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0QB96RrGdM

I still swell up and itch for days, although stings this year have been less itchy than some of the Mozzie bites we get in the garden!

The appeal is not 'a suit of armour' but VENTILATION
Three stings this season and each one due to trapping a bee

I agree that whatever you wear they'll get you in the end. Be it poor PPE or over confidence/ignorance.
However, I started my search after being stung through my suit so should now have the best of both worlds?
We all used to get stung as kids and most of us didn't keep bees then, surely a couple of stings every 15 months can't be too much for a beekeeper to worry about?

P.S.
If anyone from Sherriff, Oz Armour or BB wear want to send me a free suit I'm still happy to do a full comparison for them.

 

[Swarm]

Michael Palmer posts on here as you know....but others might not
He has a little video on youtube explaining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0QB96RrGdM

Yes, I was thinking of Michael's video and also accounts about family members. Off the top of my head, ITLD and oliver90owner.

My friend had a fairly severe reaction, ambulance, hospital, drip and was issued with epipens. That was a few years ago and he took a sting to his head recently, didn't need his epipen but felt unwell for the rest of the day.

 

[maddydog]

Michael Palmer posts on here as you know....but others might not
He has a little video on youtube explaining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0QB96RrGdM

When I read the original post I thought he doesn't get stung enough!

It's a rare day working the bees that I don't get stung. Nothing overly aggressive about any of them (nasty queens get squashed) but the odd squeezed one is inevitable when the colonies start multiplying.

 

[Millet]

I have had some pretty volatile bees in my short time with this hobby and like i have said before and i will say again the Oz Armour bee Jacket i wear is sublime..i have took many stings to my legs and hands through nitrile gloves but never ever through the jacket and that is with wearing nothing underneath it apart from my fat belly and man ****s.. .. i have not tried it against another suit apart from my cheap suit i started with simply because i feel it can not be bettered in any way...the ventilation is excellent the bees suit is 4mm thick a bee sting is 2mm..where can we go wrong..

 

[SWEET]

Unless you know someone who has tried both, how can you expect a comparison? .

Looks like i'll be buying all three then (including the BeePro) and posting a detailed review on here.

Fitting is clearly a personal thing but can compare how the suits seal and vision etc etc (and perceived protection) + ventilation; something i'm after.

 

[SWEET]

Yes, I was thinking of Michael's video and also accounts about family members. Off the top of my head, ITLD and oliver90owner.

My friend had a fairly severe reaction, ambulance, hospital, drip and was issued with epipens. That was a few years ago and he took a sting to his head recently, didn't need his epipen but felt unwell for the rest of the day.

i've come across this theory the past few days (anaphylaxis research) and was going to run it past my son (biomedical scientist/Neuro) to see if there are papers to back that up, very interesting and concerning!.

@MartinL - yep (zero) and even hand scooped a feral hive from the oak we chopped down last year (that was really fun), maybe just luck?

 

[Beefriendly]

@MartinL - yep (zero) and even hand scooped a feral hive from the oak we chopped down last year (that was really fun), maybe just luck?

Hats doffed to you....obviously the forums current "bee whisperer".

 

[SWEET]

Hats doffed to you....obviously the forums current "bee whisperer".

Clearly i need more stings, crush bees and inspect in pants tho...

Maybe i try to be super gentle, wear a full S36 with jeans/tee/fleece and expensive needle proof nitriles.

 

[Beefriendly]

and inspect in pants tho...

That would confirm it...or disprove it
I suspect it's more a numbers game, the more hives the more chances of being stung.
Plus if you kept the mongrels local to my area....well you wouldn't for long.

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

I only had 1 hive to this year and now i have 3.

The fault for the stings this year lay squarely on my shoulders. I could go into the details but all issues were mine. I take my time always and take the maximum precautions that make sense and on sat i didnt. I learnt from it and the suit is more to keep my wife happier. The sting was through the veil at the top of my head and i wasnt wearing my cap underneath

 

[maz0]

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!

That was a tough read. Remind me never to ask for suit recommendations or mention I have a grumpy hive.

 

[Millet]

i've come across this theory the past few days (anaphylaxis research) and was going to run it past my son (biomedical scientist/Neuro) to see if there are papers to back that up, very interesting and concerning!.

@MartinL - yep (zero) and even hand scooped a feral hive from the oak we chopped down last year (that was really fun), maybe just luck?

Remind me not to buy honey from you if that is what the extractor looks like,,or the melting pan of wax

 

[Angry_Mob]

Noticed a hole in the veil of my suit yesterday and a bee got in this afternoon so perfect time/opportunity/excuse to order myself a suit. Ordered one of the Old Castle Farm suits so hopefully a good upgrade on my old ventilated suit.

 

[maddydog]

Remind me not to buy honey from you if that is what the extractor looks like,,or the melting pan of wax

Inside of an oak tree?

 

[Frenchie]

I react quite badly to stings and have been stung numerous times in my 8 years of beekeeping. My reaction to the stings has not changed. I wear a good quality suit,with bottoms and jumper beneath, plus a deer stalker type hat. I've added extra Velcro at the hood where all the zips meet. This gives me great protection and confidence so I can work slowly without worry of being stung. My Wife, who helps with the bees occasionally, wears my old thinner suit, but she has almost no reaction if she is stung.

 

[bobba]

I am in my first year of bee keeping and have never been stung by a bee. Listening to what Mike has to say is quite worrying. I think I will start keeping my suit and hive tool in the shed.

I do however seem to get stung every year by wasps. I know wasps and bees have different venom, but does anyone know if my lack of reaction to wasp stings means I should be OK with bee stings?

Or do people who react badly to wasps also react badly with bees?

 

[Swarm]

I am in my first year of bee keeping and have never been stung by a bee. Listening to what Mike has to say is quite worrying. I think I will start keeping my suit and hive tool in the shed.

I do however seem to get stung every year by wasps. I know wasps and bees have different venom, but does anyone know if my lack of reaction to wasp stings means I should be OK with bee stings?

Or do people who react badly to wasps also react badly with bees?

I'm afraid there is no answer to that question, reactions appear to be quite varied.
I've had various reactions to bee stings, worst part is the swelling, but on other occasions, little or no reaction.
Been stung just once by a wasp and a similar, localised swelling. Apart from bees flying up my shirt or in my veil, mostly it's hands. The ventilated suit just stops me evaporating.
I don't go looking for stings and my bees are gentle but we all squash the odd one and a sting here and there just reminds us to be respectful.
Careful keeping your suit in the shed, those dreaded black spots of mould.

 

[SWEET]

Or do people who react badly to wasps also react badly with bees?

Good overall information (in layman's) about various stings;

https://insectstings.co.uk/beesting/

The bad news is that bee stings appears to contain more proteins than wasp venom and therefore there is a great likelihood of being allergic to bees than wasps!