Using protective clothing & equipment when beekeeping is a generally a good idea, no matter how calm your bees may often seem. Most bees in and around the beehive will defend their colony against perceived threats by stinging. The specialized bodies of workers and queens have stingers, however, drones do not. A worker tries to do their best to avoid stinging unless they feel seriously endangered as their barbed stinger and half their body remains in the “enemy’s skin”, thus ending her already short lifespan.
Keep in mind that any trip to your bee yard, whether completing a full hive inspection or not, does put you near or inside a box with thousands of stinging-capable insects! But bees don’t want to sting you unless they really feel that they must, so staying calm, moving slowly and carefully, and using your smoker (sparingly) can all help in avoiding bee stings.
But specialized protective clothing for beekeeping can help you feel much more at ease during any beekeeping tasks! Choosing the right protective gear is all about balancing safety and security with feeling comfortable enough to move around and work your beehive(s). When deciding what to wear, keep your beekeeping experience and anxiety levels in mind, especially when it comes to the possibility of bee stings.
Types of Protective Beekeeping Clothing
- Full Bee Suits
- Most beginner beekeepers getting started in the spring will opt for a full coverage bee suit. No matter the experience level, though, a suit’s full body protection (excluding the hands) provides great peace of mind to many beekeepers.
- Full suits can get pretty warm in the summer months; if you’re sensitive to heat, a ventilated suit may work best for you.
- Most beginner beekeepers getting started in the spring will opt for a full coverage bee suit. No matter the experience level, though, a suit’s full body protection (excluding the hands) provides great peace of mind to many beekeepers.
- Beekeeping Jackets
- Jackets offer upper body protection but don’t have pants connected to the zippered jacket/veil portion. As their comfort grows, many beekeepers switch from a to a jacket (often with overalls).
- Beekeeping Hats & Veils
- Most beekeeping suits and jackets will come with a hat and veil combo attached. Many experienced beekeepers feel comfortable enough to skip the suit, jacket, or gloves and choose to just wear a hat/veil to keep their face and head protected.
- No matter your level of experience and comfort, we strongly suggest you maintain protection of the face and head, at all times.
- Most beekeeping suits and jackets will come with a hat and veil combo attached. Many experienced beekeepers feel comfortable enough to skip the suit, jacket, or gloves and choose to just wear a hat/veil to keep their face and head protected.
- Beekeeping Gloves
- Gloves protect your hands—especially from accidental stings (like squishing a bee while lifting frames). Leather gloves offer strong protection but reduce dexterity, so some beekeepers prefer disposable nitrile gloves for a better feel.
- Protective Beekeeping Clothing for Kids
- If you’re beekeeping with kids, keeping them calm can be tricky, but keeping them safe is easy with beekeeping clothes specific to kids’ sizes. Learn all about beekeeping with kids here!
- Beekeeping Boots
- Agitated honeybees will look for gaps, even in full beekeeping suits and gloves. Tall rubber boots (and/or ankle straps) help close any openings and keep bees out.
If you or someone visiting your bee yard may have a bee sting allergy, even if it’s a mild one, we’d recommend keeping them fully protected from head to toe. And if bees seem agitated (buzzing loudly) when landscaping near your hives or mowing your lawn by them, it’s a good idea to keep your protective beekeeping clothing on during those tasks, too.
