I prefer the Sheriff jacket, light green.  Cool, bees don't seem to  mind, 
veil zips all way off.  If I'm on travel and I need a light jacket  for 
wind/rain - I'll pull it out.   Looks a bit dorky without the  veil, but saves 
extra luggage.
 
My actual favorite is just the veil with the mesh part that covers the  
shoulders.  Put arms through holes, mesh drops down  over chest.   Designed to 
go UNDER a standard jacket or coverall.  Easy to roll up and  stuff in kit, 
take when traveling.  Usually hangs out of my back pocket or  stuffed under 
my belt.  If I really need a veil, its there. 
 
My wife watches the Good Will, recycled clothing shops for light colored  
jackets/shirt, even the occasional coverall.  Big advantage with this veil  - 
use it alone over T-shirt when you just need a bit of coverage (when 
working  someone else's hives or moving bees).  Use it under any shirt, jacket,  
etc.  Therefore, you're not stuck with the choices of the bee suit  
manufacturer.  Button down pockets on shirts (Allen), deeper pocket for  hive tool 
(many workman/farm/painter coveralls have them.
 
I never buy full suits, and don't much like most jackets - just too heavy  
and hot.  Nylon suits don't breathe - light but really hot.
 
Sheriff suits are comfortable but not quite tough enough for heavy  work, 
like all day in beeyard - commercial crew type work.   You've  got to be 
careful abut the fabric catching and tearing.  Mesh  in veils particularly 
flimsy, easy to catch.
 
Mann Lake and some others now  have suits with mesh  OVER  cotton.  So its 
a double and really heavy.  Ditch the cotton, just go  with the mesh.
 
Ideal suit - a tough, light fabric that breathes and doesn't catch on  
everything - Sheriff almost has this right - some of the outdoor recreation  
fabrics should be looked at.  
 
Veils - cloth mesh can catch or melt, wire bends and breaks, and one  side 
to the other zippers are a pain when you want to just toss the veil back -  
the veil wants to fall over sideways.  I prefer two zips meeting in  the 
middle, can toss the veil straight back off my head so I can see.  The  
inventor who makes a veil that has a clear part in front of eyes that  doesn't fog 
will get my business.  
 
Elastic is good, but a velcro closer combined with elastic would make  
hand, feet, waist easier to deal with for putting on and taking  off.    
Something along this line would work for gloves.   Although I rarely wear gloves, 
or even a suit or veil, I still find colonies  that are nasty and will force 
even me into gloves.  The long gloves with  elastic save your wrists from 
stings, but again are hot and  hard to put  on/take off.  
 
I usually buy soft, light-colored, leather with a bit of a cuff - but  
gloves like this with a velcro collar at wrist would be better - keep bees away  
from crawling in, yet not  add more fabric on my arms.  Forearms have  had 
so many stings, don't even feel them there, so I don't need double layers of 
 cloth.
 
I agree with pockets that button (and are below the veil), a deep pocket or 
 loop for hive tool, a small pocket for pen or pencil.  As much ventilation 
 as possible - its the loose fabric that works, no fabric is sting proof - 
at  least, nothing you'd want to wear on a hot day.
 
And, while I'm on a roll - I wear a sweat band under a hooded veil.   
Again, I'm not particularly worried about wind pushing fabric back on my face.  
If its windy, I add a  cap with the brim facing forward.  Never wear a  
helmet - bald head plus plastic head bands = bad case of helmet rash.
 
I sometimes day dream about an air conditioned hat/veil.  Just can't  
figure out  how to avoid having to carry around the AC unit and how to  power it.
 
Jerry
 

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