What protection do you wear?

[simoncav]

My daughter just came back from the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers in Germany. Nearly 50 teens working open hives (sometimes between thunderstorms) for several hours in t-shirts with veils limited to those with long hair.

Not a single sting amongst them - Locally bred Carnica's with known linage that were all incredibly tame.... Sigh - It's the same across most of Europe as they care about breeding good quality Queens at a national level.

 

[beebopalula]

My daughter just came back from the International Meeting of Young Beekeepers in Germany. Nearly 50 teens working open hives (sometimes between thunderstorms) for several hours in t-shirts with veils limited to those with long hair.

Not a single sting amongst them - Locally bred Carnica's with known linage that were all incredibly tame.... Sigh - It's the same across most of Europe as they care about breeding good quality Queens at a national level.

My experience of them here is as above, but they were swarm crazy.

 

[Rosti]

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. A placid colony can turn faster than you can say 'ouch that bl00dy hurts!' or worse 'when did I become allergic to bee stings?'
Full suit, wellies and gloves for me.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Either half suit or full suit with fencer veil depending on the temper of bees or whether checking for BIAS or it is a Disease inspection t

also normally vinyl disposal gloves but Rubber gloves always in the car . Wellies a must because of sheep pooh not my bees

 

[yeogi75]

good tip leave willies on unzip slide down suit down to wellies step out of wellies into shoes lift wellies put in bag ready for next time or sort out when home

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

good tip leave willies on

I never take mine off actually - it may not be the biggest, but I'm fairly attached to it

 

[alldigging]

I have a full suit and a variety of hoods. Depends wht I'm planning to do. I think gloveless would be nicer but not brave enough.

 

[thorn]

Bee jacket with hat/veil and Kevlar lined biking jeans. They come down over my shoes so I don't feel the need for wellies. I've discarded my leather gloves and wear marigolds now.

 

[MuswellMetro]

I never take mine off actually - it may not be the biggest, but I'm fairly attached to it

 

[steve56616]

Today checked two nus in just in just a pair of shorts and no smoker. But that's because their in the garden and thought i'd quickly look while I was sitting there. I don't usually wear my suit and haven't lit the smoker for a while now... seems to make them mad. Have the veil just in case they start looking at me in that way.

 

[sunhivebee]

For going through a whole hive I wear a veil or if things remain nice and peaceful, a pair of onion chopping goggles as getting bees in your eyes is not much fun.
I totally understand that people wear gloves, but personally never wear them, as they always seem to get stuck on something and can make one a bit clumsy .... mind you, it took about three or four years to get there. One day one feels like taking the plunge, and there is no looking back, really, as everything is easier without gloves, particularly tasting the latest honey.
Goggles make you feel very safe, the cheaper ones are decorator's goggles which are larger and close around the eyes very well.

 

[Hachi]

I've just re-queened a nuc from a big hive full of nasty mean little beggars and was fully booted and suited... that was until the zip bust so off with the big guy and on with the smock.

They stung me on the inside of my left thigh well within striking distance of the crown jewels I closed up quickly and then as I turned to tactically withdraw (fast paced walk) one stung me on my left buttock the cheek little git then two escorted me off the Farm by following me into the truck. Glad I kept the veil on.

I am now waiting like an expectant father for my new Q to work her magic.

Don't you just love em nether the less?

 

[pargyle]

When I have been actually going into the hive so far its been full suit (fencing mask type) - gave up the wellies last week as they are such mild mannered bees. Still using surgical gloves but will graduate to bare hands soon I hope !

Not used any smoke, have a spray bottle with sugar water to hand but not really had serious cause to use it.

I can stand in front of the hive, lift the lid (without disturbing cover boards) and mess about drilling and screwing bits onto the hive without any protective clothing - as I've said previously, they are so chilled out I think they are on drugs. They really are not interested in stinging.

 

[Elaine]

For most regular inspections - full suit with fencing style veil, and boots. Mainly to avoid them accidentlaly getting caught in clothing/hair - which is bound to provoke a sting. I very rarely wear gloves, only if I'm going to be doing something that I think they might object to - eg re-housing, then I'll have my gloves with me. I occaisonally get a sting, (probably 5 or 6 so far this year) but it is usually my own fault for squashing one.

 

[Headnavigator]

Full Sheriff suit and wellies, with surgical gloves, although my bees are pussy-cats. I've come to realise that I may not fully concentrate on what I'm doing if in the back of my mind I am also anticipating being stung.
Even though mine have always been predictable I've found out the hard way that others' are not so. Since I can't predict when mine might become unpredictable - well, you get my point I hope.
Beekeeping kit is a bit akin to sailing gear - it's f...-all use trying to put on a life-jacket when you're already in the water and drowning.

 

[Anduril]

Full suit, gloves and wellies. After visiting the bees wearing shoes instead of wellies and a fencing veil vest getting home and finding 4 bees crawling up my jeans not a pleasant experience. This was early spring just checking the fondant stores, a few bees fly up find it is too cold and land on the ground and crawl to the nearest heat source. Me! Luckily I didn't get stung.

 

[Walrus]

Full suit & wellies, no gloves. Only one sting so far this year

 

[madasafish]

I must add although I normally wear no gloves, I always carry nitriles and Marigolds. Really nasty bees are no fun and a combination of both of the above is virtually sting proof.. but leaves some delicacy of feel.

Even the Association beekeeper who has been keeping since the 1960s bare handed wears gloves on bad colonies..



Apologies : I know the thread is not solely on glove wearing.

 

[Stiffy]

Since disposing of AMmeanies, no gloves, full suit and no stings for the season (so far ). Think I could stand in all together and they wouldn't be bothered, neighbours would though!
S

 

[Queens59]

Change between half suit with round veil and full suit with fencer veil - light nitrile gloves at home (with Mole Valley black/white gloves on hand...)

At Buckfast normally no gloves, but light nitrile on hand...