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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