Bee Suit

[Ricko]

Seems bee suits can get kind of expensive these days. I was going through my Gempler's catalog and came across their Tyvek suits.
The cost seems right,they should be tough too. Check it out and let me know what you think. I'm thinking of trying a couple out myself next spring. http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/produ...26194371462650

[Michael Bush]

I've used them before. They provide adequate protection. The bees have some trouble clinging to them (a good thing) but they don't breath well and are very hot on a warm day. But then any bee suit (except the Golden Bee Products one) is very hot on a warm day.

[madbee]

So these should work out well as a suit? I'm starting into bee-keeping as a hobby in the spring, the suit looks affordable and durable.

[Michael Bush]

Let's talk about levels of protection.

Just a veil. A veil will stop the ones that are trying to nail your face. They will still, if provoked, burrow under the edges of the veil, or hit any exposed skin, and/or crawl into gaps where you shirt buttons, or, if a lot land on the ground, crawl up your pant leg.

A veil with a bit more protection (I assume this is what your thinking with the tyvek coverall?). Same problems with burrowing under the veil. Less problems with they clinging to your clothes (the tyvek is slick) No problems with the openings where your shirt buttons (the coverall is zippered) If you put rubber bands on your cuffs, no problems with them crawling up your pant leg.

A zippered viel on a jacket or suit. This keeps them from burrowing under the edges of the veil and usually have elactic on the arms and legs (or in the case of the jacket the bottom of the jacket). They are reasonably bee proof, although a lot of determined bees over a long period of time will eventually get in somewhere.

Unless you sew a zipper on the tyvek suit and on the veil, you will not get equal protection to what a beesuit with a zippered veil offers.

With a calm hive on a good day you can work with just a veil. With a really hot hive on a bad day, you can't get too much protection.

[magnet-man]

One thing about this particular suite is “New Tyvek feels dramatically softer”. Does that mean the bees can grip it better? I don’t know, but they say it breaths 4 times better.

[Hillside]

All Tyvek is non-woven, so it's really more like paper than cloth. Even though it's quite strong, it's not as durable as a real cloth suit.

There are different types of Tyvek suits. Some are made of standard Tyvek while others are made of coated Tyvek. The coated material is more durable, but breaths less.

I've never had much trouble with bees crawling into my veil -- only one time that I can remember, but I have had some get up the legs. I've never had them crawl up the arms. Instead of crawling up there, they tend to just sting the hand first.

[Ricko]

Madbee, If you're just starting out with bees, then I think this suit would be just the ticket! It does indeed require a separate helmet and veil. It claims to breathe and let out body heat, which is a plus! It comes with elastic wrist and ankle cuffs. Working your bees on a hot sunny summer day should give you no problems and still give you the beginner's confidence you're looking for in wearing a bee suit. If nothing else, the price is right which will allow you to try it out at no great loss. Should you after a time or two, require the "zippered suit of armor", then you can always order the more expensive Golden bee suit.
If you take your time and enjoy your new found hobby, you'll find that before you know it, you'll be down to tan work pants, a white tee shirt and veil. Then again, if you insist on working your bees with little regard to common sense, like during cold rainy weather, placing inspected frames at your feet with open cuffs while going for another frame, and just plain rushing through the hive like a "bull in a china shop" well then maybe you had better think about that zippered armor!

[Hillside]

This idea of working in shorts and a tee shirt is all well and good for spring through mid summer, but in my experience when it is time to pull the honey in the fall, you better be ready to suit up.