Bee Suit vs. Jacket vs. Veil: How to Choose the Right Beekeeping Protection

I wanted the swarm, and it was a small cluster of bees, so it should’ve been calm, right? Wrong! This swarm was the feistiest swarm I’ve ever been around. It couldn’t have been bigger than a cantaloupe, probably smaller, and yet I got 32 stings in my gloves alone. The air just smelled like banana laughy taffy from all the sting pheromones!

I was in my full suit and gloves, and as a result, I was able to focus on what I was doing. Even so, my suit was covered in stingers.

I’ve invited others into the bee yard to be able to get up close and personal with insects most people spend their lives running from. And when they’re wearing my full suit, I know they’ll have a positive experience, since they won’t get stung. They will probably be hot and sweaty, but not stung!

I’ve had other bees that were so gentle I’d do a full inspection in jeans and a tank top. Hair down, and gloves off. However, I have come to the conclusion that this was a bit fool hardy. A veil would’ve been just enough of a protective measure to ensure I didn’t get stung on the very sensitive regions of the face, like the eyes or nose.

Most of the time I wear a jacket, and goatskin gloves since I have a poor reaction to being stung. If the bees are calm, I’ll wear no gloves. This is the best middle of the road approach I’ve found works for me, but that is after being a beekeeper for thirteen years. When I first started I really appreciated my full suit, and I still like to have it as a backup sometimes!

What beekeeping PPE should I get first?

When you’re first starting out, it can be daunting to try to decide what Personal Protective Gear to get. Today, I wanted to break down the different options, along with the pros and cons of suits, jackets, and veils. This post doesn’t get into the material or brands, but just the main type of PPE.

A full suit

Let’s start with the most protected type of PPE.
If wearing gloves and boots, along with a full suit, it’s practically impossible or at least highly unlikely (depending on suit material) to get stung, when wearing a full suit. This suit is like a pair of coveralls, with an attached hood and “face shield”, commonly called a veil.

This is the hottest option, as well as the spendiest. But you are fully protected.

A jacket

A jacket is helpful for working your average hive, if you have an average sting reaction. You will need to also have a pair of pants you can work bees in. I never like to work them in nice jeans, since they can easily become stained. You can be stung from your waist down.

A veil

And veil is the third option, and is the least protection. It is also the cheapest option, as well as being the coolest option. Here, only your head and neck are protected. In addition to pants you don’t mind staining, you’ll want some shirts for this purpose as well. For this purpose, a white or light colored shirt is best, with either closed or form fitting openings, so bees don’t crawl under your shirt, and then get pinched or scared because of feeling trapped, and sting.

What beekeeping PPE do I actually need?

If you’re a cautious or nervous beginner, or someone who works bees near Africanized genetics, I would recommend choosing a full suit. If you’re a confident beginner, or someone who is on a budget, and feel you wouldn’t take the time to get into a full suit, I’d recommend a jacket. And if you’re an experienced beekeeper, who has calm bees, a veil might be the perfect option for you. Eventually, you’ll probably want all three.

Whatever you choose, remember it’s better to be safe than sorry, and some level of PPE is a great idea.