Last updated on August 2nd, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Staying sting-free while managing your hives is key to making beekeeping a pleasurable experience.
Beginner and amateur beekeepers are more likely to get stung as they familiarise themselves with how bees behave and act. We’d all love docile colonies that happily let us extract honey without lifting a wing, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.
New to beekeeping? Check out our guide on how to start beekeeping for an in-depth look at what is required to start this fantastic hobby.
Finding the best beekeeping suit for your requirements can be harder than you think, so we’ve done the hard work for you, testing and reviewing some of the most popular beekeeping suits available in the UK today.
The Best Beekeeping Suits Reviewed
Let’s take a closer look at some of the beekeeping suits available to beekeepers and how they stack up against the rest.
Moontay – Cotton Full Body Beekeeping Suit
- Super Thick Beekeeping Suit The anti-wasp suit made of high quality cotton cloth. The thickened…
- Elasticated Cuffs The sleeve elasticated straps are designed to wear and remove beekeeping suits…
- Hat Detachable Folding hat and the zipper design, strong rings keep the bees well away from your…
- Velcro Fastener There is a velcro patch is placed around the zipper of the hat and jacket. Three…
- Practical Working Suit. The bee-proof suit can not only as a bee-protecting smock but also can take…
Introducing Moontay’s Beekeeping Suit! Made of high-quality cotton cloth, it offers a great starting price for beekeepers starting their journey in the UK.
Elasticated Cuffs for easy wearing and removal, ensuring bees stay out.
Detachable Folding hat with a zipper design for safety and comfort. Great visibility, and you can remove the hat when resting.
Velcro Fastener around the zipper of the hat and jacket to keep bees away effectively.
Convenient pockets for storing tools and essentials.
This suit is not ventilated, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re based in the country’s south, where summer temperatures can get much higher.
User Feedback
Most customers have nothing but good things to say about this beekeeping suit, but some points to be aware of are:
- Zips can start catching and made need some WD40 later down the line.
- A little short on the body making for a tight fit.
- The mesh hood may need replacing after as little as 12 months.
Natural Apiary – Apiarist Beekeeping Suit
- PROFESSIONAL: Beekeepers Bee Suit with Non-Flammable Fencing Veil
- DURABLE: Made with 65% Cotton, 35% Polyester
- COMFORTABLE: With Elasticated Forearms & Ankles for a Secure Bee Proof Seals
- MACHINE WASHABLE: Machine Wash Suit at 30C – Hand Wash veil
- STRONG YKK ZIPPERS for Maximum Strength & Reliability
Natural Apiary has established itself as one of the top suppliers of UK beekeeping equipment.
The apiarist beekeeping suit is their mid-range model, offering high sting resistance. They do still recommend you wear underclothing for an extra layer of protection.
Despite wearing thin shorts and a T-shirt underneath, I have used this suit and didn’t suffer any stings, so I think they may just be covering their backs here.
The suit is available in five sizes and three colours, so variety is a key standout here.
The suit is made from polycotton incorporating a 65% Cotton and 35% Polyester blend designed to keep you sting-free and cool in the warmer summer months.
Each suit uses high-quality YKK zips and non-flammable veils alongside fully elasticated ankles, wrists and waist for a great fit and protection against bees entering your suit.
Apiarist suits are completely machine washable, making them easy to clean between regular hive visits.
User Feedback
Let’s see what users of this suit have to say:
- The sizing is larger than other beekeeping suits.
- It can get quite hot due to the heavy cotton, so not great for the summer.
- The thin screen on the veil is not as heavy-duty as others further down this list.
Check today’s price on Amazon.
BeeProGear – Ventilated Bee Suit
- Ventilated Double Zipper Bee Suit: BeeProGear provides you the extra-ordinary light weight and top…
- Detachable Round Veil: BeeProGear Double Zipper Bee Suit for Men comes with a Round style detachable…
- Premium Design Beekeeping Suit: BeeProGear Beekeeper Suit has been designed to give you maximum…
- Professional Sting Proof Compostion: BeeProGear Double Zipper Bee Suit for Women is made of 3X ultra…
- Weather Friendly Material: BeeProGear Double Zipper Bee Suit has been made with high quality mesh…
The BeeProGear Ventilated Bee Suit keeps you cool in hot climates. Beekeepers in the southern counties of the UK and Wales will likely benefit the most from this suit designed to keep the wearer cool.
This suit champions comfort; the self-supporting veil and hood remove any pressure from your neck and shoulders, making checking your frames a breeze.
The large open-face veil aids in visibility, giving you your whole range of vision (we like to call this the widescreen veil).
Equipped with five pockets, this suit sacrifices extra pockets to stay as lightweight as possible.
You can purchase this suit in a white or brown colourway.
User Feedback
Let’s see what other beekeepers think:
- These suits are smaller, so consider ordering a size up.
- Perfect for beekeepers who struggle in hot weather, the ventilation keeps you ultra-cool.
- Arrive with matching beekeeping gloves.
Humble Bee – 420 Aero Beekeeping Suit
- Aerated beekeeper suit with self-supporting round veil, heavy duty brass zippers, durable…
- Ultra-breathable 100% synthetic fabric (220 gsm) is aerated to keep you cool in hot weather…
- Tailored fit with an elastic waist, elastic wrists, and elastic ankles, plus thumb and foot holds to…
- Unisex design for men and women between 5’7″-5’8″ (168cm-173cm), with removable veil for easy…
- Humble Bee supports not-for-profit organizations that encourage local beekeeping activities and…
The Aerated Beekeeper Suit features a self-supporting round veil, heavy duty brass zippers, and durable polycotton-lined pockets conveniently stored in a deluxe canvas carrying case.
Stay cool in hot weather conditions with ultra-breathable 100% synthetic fabric (220 gsm), while a lightweight foam insert ensures exceptional protection against bee stings.
The suit is tailored with an elastic waist, wrists, and ankles, complete with thumb and foot holds for comfortable wear.
Designed for both men and women, this suit has a whopping eight sizes, and the suit’s veil is removable for easy cleaning and storage.
I love that Humble Bee proudly supports not-for-profit organizations that promote local beekeeping activities and work towards bee conservation efforts making it a firm favourite here at Revive a Bee.
User Feedback
Let’s see what people who have used the suit say:
- The design of the suits means the veil sits fairly close to your face.
- Great ventilation keeps you cool on the hottest of days.
- Great for larger body sizes with plenty of extra room.
AGS – Ultra Ventilated Beekeeping Suit
- 🐝PROTECTION – Bee Suit – 3 layer Ultra Ventilated Suit – bee proof clothing. An extraordinary…
- 😍COMFORT – This bee suit is tailored to fit with the elastic ankles, waist and cuffs, to fit…
- 👀VERSATILITY – Large pocket with YKK zip to look after your beekeeping supplies.
- 💪STRONG BRASS YKK ZIPPERS for Maximum Strength & Reliability of these bees suits
- 👍3 LAYERS – Three layers ensuring that your body will stay protected even when the material is…
Introducing the AGS beekeeping suit, an extraordinary 3-layer Ultra Ventilated Suit with ventilation throughout the suit from top to bottom for maximum comfort.
The suit is tailored to fit and has elastic ankles, waist, and cuffs, ensuring comfortable wear. It also includes feet and thumb holds to keep the bee suit in place.
This versatile suit features a large pocket with a strong Brass YKK zip, providing easy access to your beekeeping supplies.
They use Brass YKK zippers for maximum strength and reliability, a little extra touch we love!
With three layers of protection, the material offers a minimum 5mm safeguard, providing ample defence even when close to your skin,
Stay protected and comfortable throughout your beekeeping activities with our exceptional bee suit!
User Feedback
Let’s see what other beekeepers think:
- A little on the tight side, so consider ordering a size up.
- Perfect for beekeepers who struggle in hot weather, the ventilation keeps you ultra-cool.
What makes a good beekeeping suit?
Looking for the best beekeeping suits is hard work. A wide range of options are available, with many technical features.
Forgetting about brands and manufacturers, let’s take a quick look at what makes a great beekeeping suit and the elements you should look out for when purchasing your next suit.
Fit – Getting the fit of your suit right is critical. Wherever you buy your beekeeping suit, try it at home before using it to actively manage your hives and colonies.
Check you can easily bend down and move freely without the suit being overly tight. Beekeeping suits create a gap between the suit’s surface and your skin.
This is critical because any areas the suit is pulled tight to your skin will be vulnerable to potential stings.
Functionality – Your suit should allow you to carry out all the necessary activities to tend to your bees. Suits that severely limit visibility can be dangerous, particularly when using a bee smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s look at some of the most common questions we hear when people are trying to pick the right beekeeping suit.
What is the best material for a beekeeping suit?
A half-and-half cotton and polyester synthetic blend will provide the best compromise between comfort and protection.
It will allow proper airflow to keep you cool in the warmer months and ample protection from potential stings.
Do you still get stung in a bee suit?
While it is doubtful you’ll be stung through a beekeeping suit if a bee stings you while the material of the suit is pushed up against your skin, there is a possibility the stinger will penetrate through to your exposed skin.
Does my suit need to be white?
We always recommend purchasing a white beekeeping suit.
Bees have developed a wariness of animals with dark-coloured fur due to animals like bears and badgers raiding nests for honey stocks and larvae.
Wearing a darker suit can cause the colony to become agitated in the expectancy of an attack on their nest or hive.
Will a beekeeper suit protect you from wasps?
Yes, beekeeping suits will effectively protect you from wasps and bee stings.
Are there any other options for protection while beekeeping?
Yes, you can opt for a beekeeping jacket which protects your upper body. Check our article on beekeeping suits vs beekeeping jackets to find out more.
