13 products

Ventilated mesh or cotton?

Three-layer ventilated mesh is the better choice if you keep bees anywhere hot. The mesh holds the fabric away from your skin so a sting rarely reaches you, and air moves through it instead of trapping heat against your back. Cotton is cooler on the wallet, packs down smaller and is quieter in the wash, but you will feel a July afternoon in it. Most people who start in cotton move to ventilated within two seasons, so if you already know you will be inspecting through summer, buy the ventilated one first.

Suit, jacket or just a veil?

A full suit covers you completely and is what we recommend for a first season, for anyone with a sting reaction, and for anyone dealing with a defensive colony. A jacket covers you from the waist up and is what most experienced keepers reach for on a quick inspection in jeans and boots. A veil alone suits a calm hive and a confident beekeeper, and nothing else.

Getting the size right

Order for the clothes you will wear underneath, not for your shirt size. These are meant to fit loosely, because fabric held against skin is fabric a bee can sting through. If you are between sizes, take the larger one. The size chart has the chest, waist and height measurements for every size we stock. Children's suits are cut to the same pattern in smaller sizes.

Do not forget the gloves

Ventilated beekeeping gloves are the cheapest confidence you can buy, and they come in children's sizes as well. Add a smoker and a hive tool and you are ready to open a hive.