Veil Styles

KONASDAD · April 21, 2008, 11:39:10 AM

I am now in operation find a pollinator jacket mode. There are two styles of hoods offered. the clear view style and the "hoody" pullover style. Whats your preferance and why?

BeeHopper · April 21, 2008, 01:54:22 PM

I like the Clear View styles where you actually wear a hat and you have a peripheral view unlike the Hoody styles where in my experience the hood does not move, blocking some of my view to the sides, I find that very annoying. To each his ( or her ) own. :)

jimmy · April 21, 2008, 02:19:57 PM

I use the Alexander veil. It is cheaper ,does the job and I am cost conscious.
I like the draw strings to keep any bees from crawing inside my shirt.

Kathyp · April 21, 2008, 02:27:27 PM

http://www.mannlakeltd.com/catalog/page91.html

this is the one that i got. i have been happy with it. no stings where i was protected by the jacket and hood. cheap. got one for my husband also. visibility to the sides is not as good as with the hat and veil. a trade off for protection?

Robo · April 21, 2008, 02:31:20 PM

I had the zippered version of this one from Betterbee. I believe it is called the pollinator or something.

I found it very difficult to use for doing removals when in tight spaces.

I have since switched to this one from Dadant.

If you always in an open area, the Betterbee one is OK. If you ever foresee yourself in tight places I would recommend the Dadant one.

A few notes on the Betterbee Pollinator.

It's a girls jacket :shock:
Drives me crazy, zipper is on the wrong side ;)
and it always get snagged

I found the sleeves where way to short for me.

The quality was no where near that of the Dadant. Button on the elastic band in the hat fell out the 2nd time I used it.

asciibaron · April 21, 2008, 02:33:08 PM

Quote from: kathyp on April 21, 2008, 02:27:27 PM
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/catalog/page91.html

this is my jacket. the only drawback i see is in July and August it's going to be very hot - heck probably even in May and June. i tried the drawstring style and found that i could not keep it tight against my body as i moved which could allow a bee to enter the veil. i'd rather be sweaty than swollen from a sting on my face or neck.

-Steve

Kathyp · April 21, 2008, 02:35:54 PM

the one from mann lake has ring pulls on the zippers and it zips from both sides. it also has velcro where the zippers come together so that you have extra closure. the only think i don't like about it is the elastic thumb things. i don't use them. they are to tight. the sleeves are plenty long enough, so i can hold them as i put gloves on.

the betterbee veil looks like it has great field of vision.

steve, it is hot in the summer. there is a cure for that :-) and even in that state, i have not been stung through it. thank god for country living!! :-D

Michael Bush · April 21, 2008, 10:57:15 PM

I like the hood. I don't have to mess with a hat.

Doc · April 21, 2008, 11:01:53 PM

Quote from: kathyp on April 21, 2008, 02:35:54 PM
the only think i don't like about it is the elastic thumb things. i don't use them. they are to tight.

Yeah. The elastics are annoying. I've lost my gloves and was working without them and those elastics kept tickling my palms at aggrievating moments. I am going to cut them off.

Kimbrell · April 21, 2008, 11:08:29 PM

I bought the on with the helmet in it when I first started with bees. Then I bought my husband the mann-lake one so he could help me. I have since appropriated his for myself. I love not having that sweaty helmet slide all over my head.

heaflaw · April 22, 2008, 12:53:35 AM

I've always worn hat & veil but need something better. Last week I climbed 10 feet up in a tree with a pole saw to cut down a swarm. The limb swung the wrong way and the swarm came down on me. Several bees were able to crawl between my suit and veil. They were not in a stinging mood but still having bees crawling on my neck and face while I'm trying to climb down a tree without falling is not a good situation.
What are your suggestions for a jacket/zippered hood combination?

Michael Bush · April 22, 2008, 07:58:58 AM

>What are your suggestions for a jacket/zippered hood combination?

I have two of the ones from Beeworks.

JP · April 22, 2008, 09:18:07 AM

This is what I use also:

...JP

beekeeperookie · April 22, 2008, 09:29:17 AM

I use a full suit with a hood, like the english use

Cindi · April 22, 2008, 10:12:26 AM

Konasdad, I have the suit like JP's and Steve's, but mine is not just the jacket, it is a full body suit, I love it for when the weather is cooler. But when the heat of the summer comes, I like to work the bees with my summer clothes. Those would be tank tops and jeans. The suit is too hot. I have the veil that has the like safari hat, and the veil drapes over the hat. It has a chord that can be tightened at the bottom that tightens around my torso, so no bees sneak in. It gives me the freedom of coolness. I wish I had pictures, but none. Even with my bare shoulders and arms, I have never had a bee sting yet. But it surely does tickle when they land on my bare skin, that gives me the eeries, but I try to ignore them.

My mentor never wears any veils, I don't think that I can ever get into that. I do have concern about bees going up my nose and into my ears. Wearing that veil makes me feel protected and I can do anything. One of my mentors also always wears his shorts when he is working the bees. Now that is guts in my mind, I wonder how many bees have climbed up his shorts throughout his beekeeping years. Now that I wouldn't want to see a picture of, oops, this is a family forum, almost forgot that, hee, hee. BEautiful and most wonderful day, keeping the bees out of our shorts. Cindi

KONASDAD · April 22, 2008, 10:47:39 AM

Well, the local commercial beek is a Mann Lake drop site. They had one of the Commercial Pollinators w/ hood. Bought it. After last weeks removal, it is worth it! The hood is big and I can see it getting in the way, but I definately feel safer. I try not to use any protective equipment too, but I am glad I have it available for bad days and removals.
Now how do you clean your veil? The suit part can easily be washed, but the veil cant. My last veil is just covered through and through w/ honey and construction dust. I left it out for the bees to clean, but no luck.

Kathyp · April 22, 2008, 11:06:20 AM

if you bought the one that i linked to, you can wash it all. the veil does not come completely off anyway.

i wash mine in cold or warm water, gentle cycle, hang dry. it dries quickly.

it probably has washing instructions in it?

KONASDAD · April 22, 2008, 03:14:17 PM

I bought the commercial grade. Thicker, more expensive and veil detaches entirely. It has instructions, but I was conscerned the screen might not be washable, Just a thought. Appreciate input.

BMAC · April 22, 2008, 04:02:22 PM

So no more pulling off the side of the road for twenty minutes vomitting?

I use a complete suit with zipper veil. I also duct tape my cuffs closed to make it absolutely bee tight. No fun in being stung and it happens enough all on its own. No need to encourage it.

The folks I worked for in Texas run 3K colonies and highly recommend a Kelley veil. Which is supposedly aboslutely bee tight and comes with the 30 foot strings.

a wannabee · April 22, 2008, 10:08:12 PM

I bought a body suit off ebay for $9 new. The ebay seller has several of the same item listed. I've seen them sell for up to $25 but you should be able to get one much less if you are interested. I doubt it will last for many seasons but I dont see myself climbing in any trees with it and it has served it's purpose so far. I bought the safari hat and veil from dadant and they had the lowest prices from what I could tell.