In all our short experience with bees, I’ve already learned a thing or two about bee suits. They are really a necessary part of having a hive, unless you want to be stung more or be paranoid about that tickling on your neck the whole time you’re checking your hive. None for me, thanks. I’ll wear a suit. But what’s really important to know about bee suits? Well, here’s my experience.
1. You can get a full suit or just a jacket. The jacket is less expensive and easier to get on, but the bees can get up under the bottom edge of it.
2. It’s okay to have a bee suit that’s a little big on you. If it fits tight, the bees can sting through it and get your skin. A little extra space between the suit and your next layer of clothing is good. Size small people can wear size extra large suits, they’re just kind of like gangster pants with the crotch clear down to your knees, so be careful climbing over fences with your suit on.
3. Bee suits come with different styles of hoods or veils. The ones with the hat attached to the suit make it kind of hard to turn your head in the suit. The funny looking collapsible ones are actually pretty comfortable as they don’t sit on your head. Our bee friend has a fancy hat and veil with a flexible neck gaiter. Oh, and if you are wearing any of these while driving, you will garner some strange looks from folks you pass.
4. If you have hair longer than about an inch, tie and pin it up really well before getting the hood zipped on. Especially if there’s any kind of breeze. There is just no way to get the hair out of your mouth once the hood is on and you sure don’t want to be unzipping it once you’ve got the bees stirred up.
So there you have it. My beginner’s guide to bee suits from a beginner. Some things it just doesn’t take long to learn.
Keep preparing! Angela
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Somehow, I always just thought that the bee suit was bee impervious,stinger impervious. I really want bees, but am afraid. Plus, the city does not allow it…like I am afraid of flouting the rules!
This is interesting that your bee posts came along at the same time I am getting various stories about becoming an urban beekeeper. I’ll keep the advice about driving with my bee suit on in mind :-)
In a hot climate you cant always wear layers to keep the stingers from reaching you where the suit hangs on your body. I.E.: shoulders.
I have sewn some 1 inch padding into my bee suit where it rests on my body. Shoulders, arms, thighs, calfs, butt. I look lumpy but it keeps the stingers far away from my skin, unless they develop 1 inch stingers. Should that happen I will most likely have to develop an iron man suit or a stay puff marshmallow man suit…
Love it!
I started out with a full on suit, and gradually ditched it all except for the hat and veil. Tuck pants into socks so they can’t go up my pants, and a hair band around each wrist so they can’t go up my sleeves, and I’m good to go. I’ve been stung a time or two when I bothered them on cloudy, rainy days (they get grouchy then) but for the most part my girls are pretty mellow.