Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: greenbtree on January 23, 2011, 08:01:47 PM

Title: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: greenbtree on January 23, 2011, 08:01:47 PM
I am in the process of picking out a beekeeper's suit and want some opinions.  I do a fair amount of cut-outs and have no suit - I have been layering sweats and well, sweating as a result.  A lot.  When you are checking your hives you can take a break most of the time, but that isn't always a option during a cut out.  The Ultra-breeze is touted as being cooler - is it?  How does it hold up?  If I am going to pay 3 times the price, I would like to know that it is actually better.

JC
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: specialkayme on January 23, 2011, 08:34:59 PM
If my memory serves me well, the inventor and producer passed away not too long ago. I'm not certain that the old Ultra-Breeze suits are the same as the new ones.

Or did I just totally make that up?
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: AllenF on January 23, 2011, 09:02:45 PM
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,30250.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,30250.0.html) 

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,28444.0.html (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,28444.0.html)
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: hardwood on January 23, 2011, 09:06:01 PM
I have a commercial beekeeper friend that swears by his. He has the full suit says he can work all day in it...even in our 95+ degree summers.

I've been trying to justify the $ for one for a while now.

Scott
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: BGhoney on January 23, 2011, 11:17:11 PM
I've Had the top for 3 years and its great well worth it, much cooler than a solid material.  I had heard Magnetmans daughter is still making them, but I'm not positive.
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: Michael Bush on January 24, 2011, 12:38:13 AM
The ultra breeze is worth every penny.  I'd buy the jacket.  Rubber band your pant legs and call it good.  But the full suit is nice on a hot day with shorts on.  It is, as the name implies, breezy.  It is ventilated and well worth it on a hot day.

Magnet man did not invent it, that credit would go to the Golden Bee Products guy, but Magnet man did improve it a bit and offer it in more options including the jacket, which is my favorite.
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: JP on January 24, 2011, 11:21:04 AM
I would suggest getting the jacket as well and do as M.B. says.

I have some information for anyone interested about Golden Bee and a new addition to their suit line. I will be discussing it in a new thread.


...JP
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: greenbtree on January 24, 2011, 03:27:43 PM
Thanks for the input everybody.  The daughter must have taken over, because they are currently taking orders.  Since my hubby is springing for the cost as a Christmas present, I think I will go for the whole suit. :-D  I am going to call them and see if I can get them to shorten the arms and legs though - since I am all of 5'2". :roll:

JC
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: bee-nuts on January 24, 2011, 05:08:04 PM
I would consider getting a pair of pants and get the jacket.  You will be glad you have a jacket once you use it.  Use the pants if you have a particular occasion that warrants the need for them. 

Jackets go on fast, and come off fast.  Just what the doctor ordered when your are hot and sweaty.  I have yet to this day absolutely needed my pants.  I only wear them when I have shorts on.  I have never been stung through my jean pants (yet).  I wear lose pants like 505 levis.  As long as you dont wear tight pants that are tight to the skin, you should not have a problem getting stung.  If you have a colony that is hot for some reason, break out the pants for peace of mind.  I had a colony go nuts on me last summer and only had my jacket on.  I had at least 50, probably a hundred or more stingers (never counted) in my jacket, and veil.  Probably some in my jeans too but I did not take one sting to the skin. 

Full suits are a pain in the rear.  I would rather take a sting to the rear once in a while then have a full suit.

Just thought I would give my two cents worth cause I alway feel sorry for this fella I know who has a full suit.  I can put my jacket in gloves on in less than a minute.
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: bud1 on January 25, 2011, 10:16:27 AM
i usuallly dont wear any bee gear, but the breeze is always in my truck and have to grab it about 2-4 times a yr. and cant believe how cool it is     hily recomend the jacket. JP is getting him a new jacket for his promotional of golden bee suit; but tried golden bee first, but they refused to talk about about a king size and the breese was modified and here in a week' highly recomend the breeze and the folks that make it
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: JP on January 25, 2011, 10:47:06 AM
Suzie says she will make any size suit and I specifically mentioned I have a friend that is kind of a biggin'. She said she would make a jacket to fit your big azz Bud!  :-D


...JP
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: bud1 on January 25, 2011, 09:14:09 PM
gona get my next one from memphis tent co.
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: JP on January 25, 2011, 09:58:43 PM
Quote from: bud1 on January 25, 2011, 09:14:09 PM
gona get my next one from memphis tent co.

:lau:

Hey, how's that diet going?  ;)


...JP
Title: Re: Is the Ultra-Breeze suit worth it?
Post by: Countryboy on January 25, 2011, 11:16:11 PM
I have had an Ultra-Breeze jacket.  After 2 years of heavy use, I had to replace the hood this fall.  The plastic veil mesh was starting to crack and make holes big enough for bees to get in.  I have been stung once through the jacket - I was carrying a plugged out super and the weight of the super compressed the jacket enough that a bee was able to sting me on the belly.  I don't wear a shirt under the jacket.

Since it is a jacket, I find that it pulls up over my beltline and I have to keep pulling it back down over my jeans to keep covered.  Occasionally when I pull the bottom of the jacket back over my jeans, a bee will get in.  I have been stung a few times from bees getting in, but only once from bees stinging through the jacket.