One of the key things you need for successful beekeeping is a high-quality bee suit. The suit protects you from bee stings and ensures you enjoy and have fun while tending to your hives.
A bee suit works like a cover-up that you wear on top of your usual clothes. It covers the entire body and comes as a one-piece outfit.
A well-made beekeeping suit fits tight around the cuffs and ankles to prevent bees from crawling up.
Whether you are a beginner beekeeper or looking to upgrade your regular bee suit, check out these top beekeeping suits you can buy today.
Table of Contents
The Best Beekeeping Suits
1. Natural Apiary Apiarist Suit Outfit
This beekeeper suit is designed to last longer while providing the protection you need. It is available in different sizes to ensure you get a perfect fit regardless of your body size.
Key Features
- Durable poly-cotton
- Non-flammable veil mesh
- Clear, visible mesh
- Strong zippers
- Traditional bespoke design
The suit material consists of 65% cotton and 35% polyester. This combination is strong and durable while ensuring flexibility. It is thick enough to protect against bee stings and does not compromise on comfort. With the veil, you do not have to worry about bees stinging your face.
The non-flammable mesh that comes with the suit provides excellent visibility. The veil utilizes patented mesh to improve visibility while enhancing protection. With the YKK metal zippers, you can fasten the suit seamlessly.
This beekeeping suit provides you with a perfect fit, comfortable material, and flexibility to move around. And best of all, it is easy to wash and the best value for money beekeeping suit on the market.
2. Humble Bee Ventilated Beekeeping Suit
If you are looking for a comfortable bee suit to use in the summer, this Humble Bee suit is an ideal choice. It is ventilated to keep you cool on those sunny afternoons.
Key Features
- Heavy-duty zippers
- Medium weight fabric
- Tailored fit
- Unisex design
- Removable veil
- Comes with a carrying case
- Available in different sizes
The bee suit comes with heavy-duty zippers made from brass. Additionally, it has cushioned kneepads and double-stitched pockets for comfort and durability.
With the tailored fit, this bee suit ensures you are comfortable throughout. It is breathable and has an elastic waist, wrist, and ankles. The carrying case comes in handy for easy and safe storage.
This suit is made from high-quality material, provides a comfortable fit, and is ideal for hot climates.
It takes a bit of time to put the suit on, but it is the best to protect against bees. It is super comfortable and keeps you cool when working on hot sunny days.
3. Ultra Breeze Beekeeping Suit
This beekeepers suit from Ultra Breeze is the best upgrade if you are looking for a high-quality one. It is built to stand the test of time while giving you the comfort you need.
Key Features
- Comes with a veil
- Brass zippers
- Durable ventilated fabric
- Available in various sizes
The Ultra Breeze bee suit ensures you are comfortable while protecting you from bees. It features a durable heavy-duty fabric that lasts a long time. Additionally, the fabric is ventilated to keep you cool on hot sunny days.
It has brass zippers that open and close seamlessly. Plus, it is super easy to maintain, and you can toss it in the washing machine.
Ultra Breeze has the best bee protective suit for regular use in hot weather, thanks to the ventilated design.
4. Oz Armour Beekeeping Suit
As a beekeeper, finding the perfect fit for a bee suit can be challenging. Luckily, this suit from Oz Armour comes in a variety of sizes to fit different body types.
Key Features
- Triple-layer fabric mesh
- Round brim hat veil
- Leg-high zippers
- Elastic ankles and wrists
With this beekeeper suit, you can attend to the bees on a hot sunny day. The suit features a mesh fabric stitched in three layers for protection while keeping you cool. This feature makes the suit lightweight yet thick enough to keep bees away.
With the round veil it comes with, this is one of the beekeeping suits guaranteed to provide full coverage.
It is built to last long, thanks to the heavy-duty zippers, strong mesh hood, and rayon-reinforced pockets and knees.
Oz Armour beekeeping suit comes with gloves to protect hands against bees. It is easy to put on and take off and is one of the best lightweight bee suits on the market.
5. Mann Lake Economy Beekeeper Suit
You do not have to spend a lot of money on your first bee suit. If you are looking for the best bee suit at a cheaper price, you may want to consider this design from Mann Lake.
Key Features
- Quality fabric
- Elastic waist and ankles
- Heavy-duty zippers
- Collapsible veil
The suit is designed to protect your body while keeping you comfortable. It is made of 60% cotton and 40% polyester.
With the heavy duty zippers on this suit, it is a breeze to put on. You will love the self-supporting collapsible veil. It comes with a two-layer fabric at the back to provide full protection against bee stings. You can easily remove the veil and attach it back when needed.
If you take care of this beekeeper suit, it can last a long time. Mann Lake is known to offer the best professional beekeeping clothing at an affordable price.
6. Bees & Co U83 Ultralight Beekeeper Suit
When it comes to the functionality of a bee suit, the design matters the most. This beekeeper suit comes in a simple, well-tailored design to ensure functionality and flexibility when harvesting honey.
Key Features
- Comes with a removable round veil
- Elastic waistband
- Cotton cuffs with thumb loops
- Three pockets
- High-quality zippers
This Bees & Co suit comes in a variety of sizes available for a perfect fit. The design of this suit provides comfort in all the areas you need it the most. It has cotton cuffs, cotton knee pads, and an elastic waistband. It also comes with a round veil for full coverage.
Additionally, it has three arms-reach pockets and two more on the legs. These can come in handy to store quick-access tools and accessories that you need at the hive. The Bees & Co suit works well for both men and women between 5’11” and 6’ 1”.
7. Luwint Kids Ventilated Beekeeping Suit
Do you have kids and want to involve them in beekeeping? With this suit, you can include your little one in the beekeeping adventure. It is designed for kids and comes in different heights for a perfect fit.
Key Features
- Full-body design
- Cotton material
- High-elasticity bands
- Detachable veil
- Four pockets
This kids’ beekeeping suit has all the features of adult-size suits. It is made from lightweight cotton material for protection and comfort. Additionally, it has high-elasticity bands to keep the bees away around the wrists and ankles.
With the detachable veil, this suit is super easy to wear and remove. More to this, the zippers are built to withstand regular use. You do not have to worry about the suit breaking apart.
This bee suit is a great starter option for kids. It provides full protection against bees, thanks to the veil and elastic cuffs and ankles that are extremely well made.
Things to keep in mind when buying a beekeeping suit
Hat and Veil
A beekeeper’s hat only protects the head. The ideal hat should come with a veil. The veil covers the face and neck for maximum protection. Some designs have an attached hat and veil while others are detachable.
A hat and veil that come attached are easier to wear and much more comfortable. Also, these prevent bees from accessing the inside. The different types of veils available are a hood veil, a round veil, and a square veil.
The Fit
You want to choose a bee suit that is loose fitting on your body. Remember that you wear it on top of other clothes, so you still need room for flexibility. Luckily, bee suits are available in a variety of sizes to suit any body size.
Just be sure it is not too big to affect flexibility and not too small to fit tight on your body. Going up a size larger than what you are used to usually works perfectly.
Quality
Most bee suits are made from heavy cotton fabric. This material is sturdy, easy to clean and lasts a long time. However, it can be a little too heavy and hot when using it in the summer. However, it is tough and thick enough for bees to sting through.
If you live in a hot climate, choose a ventilated beekeeping suit. This type of suit is made from a mesh fabric that allows air to flow. Beekeeping suits made from this fabric have two or more layers to protect you while keeping you cool.
The quality of a suit also depends on the type of stitching used. High-quality suits have double stitches on the cuffs, ankles, neck, etc. This kind of stitching lasts long with regular use of the suit.
Design
The functionality of the suit depends on the design it comes in. For example, suits with an elastic waistband are much more flexible to use than regular ones. Also, the design of the cuffs and ankles determines how well it works with other beekeeping accessories.
When shopping for beekeeping suits, be sure to check the length, the design of the cuffs and how flexible it is. This will help you select one that meets your needs as far as the design is concerned.
Color
Typically, beekeeping suits are made from bright-colored materials. The idea behind this is that dark colors trigger bees encouraging them to attack and sting.
Also, bright-colored suits absorb less heat from the sun and can keep you cooler for longer.
Accessories
Before you settle on the type of bee suit, you need to consider the other accessories you need when attending to a hive. One of these is shoes. Boots are recommended and allow you to tuck in the suit for extra protection.
On a similar note, the type of gloves you have will determine how long the suit sleeves are. You want to choose a bee suit that reaches the wrist to keep it tucked in the gloves. One the suit is tucked-in around the cuffs, it provides full coverage against bees.
FAQ
Can you get stung in a beekeeping suit?
Bees can sting through a beekeeping suit if it does not cover the body properly. A high-quality, effective beekeeping suit should prevent bees from reaching the skin. On this note, the quality, size, and fit of the beekeeping jacket determine how well it protects the body.
What are bee suits made of?
Beekeeping suits are made from different materials. Most suits are made of cotton canvas which is tough and heavy. Others are made of polyester and mesh netting. Some bee suits have two or three materials to enhance protection and comfort.
How much is a bee suit?
The cost of beekeeping suits varies from one manufacturer to another. The full cost of a suit depends on the materials used, the size and the design. For example, a suit with a detachable hat and veil can cost you more than regular full suits. When it comes to the type of materials, cotton beekeeping suits are pricier but better than polyester ones.
What to wear under a beekeeping suit?
You can wear regular clothes in your beekeeping jacket. Depending on the weather, you can wear a full tee and pants as an additional layer of protection. However, if it is extremely hot, you can choose light clothes such as shorts, leggings, or vests.
Can you wash a beekeeping suit?
Yes. Beekeeping suits are made out of regular washable materials. However, it is important to follow the wash instructions that come with the specific suit you order. For example, you can wash your cotton suit in the machine without worrying about damage.
How to store a beekeeping suit?
After using and cleaning your beekeeping suit, you can fold it and hang it in your closet. Some suits come with storage bags that you can use for storage. Since most beekeeping suits come in bright colors, it is advisable to use a dust bag before storage. This prevents dirt and keeps them bright and clean until the next use.
Will a beekeeping suit protect from yellow jackets?
Yes. However, the beekeeping jacket should be thick and tough enough. If you need a suit to protect you from yellow jacket stings, then you might want to consider those made from canvas and linen. These materials are heavier preventing stings from reaching your skin. Also, it is advisable to wear full-size clothing underneath to maximize coverage and safety.
Conclusion
Choosing a beekeeper suit can be a challenge. But, with the right size and material in mind, you can purchase a bee suit that fits and works perfectly. The idea is to select a flexible material, a size up, and a secure veil. With these, you can rest assured of full protection and comfort.