What is the best beekeeper suit?
It goes without saying that a bee suit is very important, especially if you are just starting out keeping bees. You will often see pros who don’t use bee suits, but they probably didn’t start that way!
The most important thing is that it’s a sting-proof bee suit – otherwise, what’s the point?
Bee Suit Reviews
There are a number of things you need to look for in a quality bee suit:
- Ventilation – it needs to have good airflow and not be too heavy
- Removable hood and veil – when having a break it’s easier not to have to totally strip off
- Sting-proof design – the more layers and better the material, the more sting-proof it will be
These are our top picks for the best bee suit.
 | Humble Bee 420 |
| View On Amazon |
 | Humble Bee 411 |
| View On AmazonAmazon Alternative |
 | Natural Apiary Suit |
| View On AmazonTractor Supply Co. Alternative |
The following video demonstrates that you can go with a full bee suit or just a jacket.
A complete beekeeping suit is bulkier and harder to get around in, while a jacket with a hood and veil can give more freedom of movement.
Your budget and particular situation will play a part in which is the best bee suit for you, but those are a few key things to keep in mind.
Remember that you will have clothing on underneath your bee suit and will likely need to pick a size up from what you usually wear.
Sting-proof bee suits don’t need to cost the earth, but it is better to invest in a quality product that will last for years. A cheap beekeeping suit will likely be uncomfortable and won’t last as long.
If all you need is a cheap bee suit, consider the Harvest Lane Honey Beekeeping Suit from Tractor Supply Co (pictured right). At only $69 is has a range of great features that will protect from bees.
1. Humble Bee 420 Beekeeping Suit
The Humble Bee 420 is our pick for the best beekeeper suit.
This suit is on the more expensive end of the range, but there are good reasons for that. It is a high-quality, durable, and ultra-breathable bee suit.
This suit has a layer of lightweight foam between two layers of breathable 100% synthetic fabric. This makes the suit both lightweight, breathable, and sting proof.
- Triple layered
- 100% synthetic clothing
- Elastic waists, wrists, pants
- X Small to XXX Large size
- Unisex design
- 10% earnings go to non-profits
The elastic bands on the wrists, waist, and ankles, grant peace of mind that no bee will wriggle its way into your suit. It has been expertly tailored to fit well at each size level.
2. Humble Bee 411 Beekeepers Suit
The Humble Bee 411 is one of the best sting-proof bee suits at a mid-range price.
It’s not quite as good as the suit above, but it’s certainly worth considering if you need a cheaper option.
The main differences are the fabric used and hood style.
This suit is a poly/cotton blend that is not as light and breathable as the previous option. The hood is different in that it is not so fitted to the head, and does have a tendency to shift around a bit (unlike the other one which is more settled).
That being said, this bee suit has some quality features like brass zippers and a carry case. It is a durable suit that can be spot washed, but not machine washed.
- Four tool pockets
- Medium weight (280 gsm)
- Polycotton cloth
- Full range of sizes
- Collapsable veil
- Full face mesh
3. Natural Apiary Honey Bee Suit
This Natural Apiary Bee Suit is a good cheap beekeeping suit.
It’s at the low end of the price range for full bee suits, and so it is missing some of the bells and whistles. Yet it provides adequate protection from bees and has some breathability.
It’s 65% cotton and 35% polyester, so it is heavier than previous suits. The fencing veil is fully zipped 0n/off, making this suit machine washable.
This suit is also available in 5 different colors:
- White
- Pink
- Camo
- Khaki
- Sand
Bee suits have traditionally been white because it’s said bees don’t notice this color. However, there are beekeepers who will tell you this does not bear out in reality.
4. VIVO Professional Bee Keeping Jacket
The VIVO Beekeeping Jacket is for those looking for protection only for the top half.
This includes a jacket with a fencing-style hood. Some people prefer just wearing jeans or other heavy pants when beekeeping, and don’t need or want the full suit.
This selection is on the cheap end but is a popular option as a backyard beekeeping suit jacket. It has been very well-reviewed and has many fans.
It is only available in a kid’s size and an adult’s size. The measurements are:
- 45 inches from hat brim to the elastic waistband
- 29 inches from shoulder to elastic sleeve
- 30 inches from hood zipper to the elastic waistband
It is lightweight and comes with a semi-detachable hood.
5. Children’s Bee Keeping Suit
The Bee Smart Children’s Bee Suit is a great option for protecting your children.
You want to keep them safe while they help out and watch you take care of honey bees. And, it’s so cute as well seeing them dressed up as mini beekeepers!
This suit is a quality option for peace of mind that bees will not get through the protective layers.
It’s a tough poly/cotton blend with a removable hood and veil. It has heavy-duty zippers and plenty of pockets for them to store any treasures they might find.
It has elastic in all the right places, along with thumb straps to ensure the sleeves stay down and don’t shift up. This is one of the best beekeeping suits for children.
How To Choose A Bee Suit
Here are many more tips on how you can choose the right beekeepers suit for your needs.
Make sure you watch the video above for some really great advice on what to look for in a bee suit. Next, we’ll expand a little on the factors we’ve mentioned already.
Breathable Bee Suit
Breathability is one of the most important factors for being comfortable in a bee suit.
You will be inspecting your hive at all times of the year, and it could be hot while harvesting honey.
Ask these questions when buying bee protective clothing:
- how heavy is the fabric?
- how much air can circulate around the suit?
- what material is it made out of?
- how cool can it keep me in hot weather?
What is the best fabric for a beekeeping outfit?
Generally speaking, you want it made from synthetic fabrics as these tend to be much lighter and more breathable.
A 100% cotton bee suit would be horrible in the summer, while a 100% synthetic aerated fabric will be quite pleasant.
Many bee suits will be a blend, for example, this 50/50 cotton/synthetic beekeeper suit.
Removable Hood & Veil
It is also good to get a beekeeper’s suit that has a removable hood and veil.
This ties in with being comfortable in the heat. However, even in cooler weather, it’s good to be able to remove the hood separately from the rest of the jacket while you are away from the bees.
Most good bee suits will have this feature.
Sting Proof Suit
The primary reason for wearing a beekeeping suit is to be protected from bee stings.
This means having elastic wrist, waist, and ankle bands the prevent bees from sneaking into the bee suit. Better bee suits have other sting-proofing features like having a foam layer.
This suit has ‘a lightweight foam insert is woven between two layers of ultra-breathable (220 gsm) fabric.’ Extra measures like this will ensure you are not stung when working with bees.
Features Of Good Bee Suits
Other features that you should look for or keep in mind are:
- Is the suit well-tailored or just baggy all over?
- What is the quality of the zippers?
- Is it machine or hand washable?
- Does it come with a storage bag or case?
- What is the guarantee/warranty like?
- Is there elastic around the wrists and legs?
Knowing all of these things to look for in bee protective clothing, you should now be able to choose the right suit for you!
Best BeeKeeping Suit
Those are our recommendations for the best beekeeping suits.
What is your particular situation? What type of bee suit do you need?
Consider the questions we’ve asked and you’ll be able to find the best bee suit for sale for your needs.
If you have any questions, please ask away in the comment section and we’ll get back to you asap!
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