Last Updated on June 13, 2023 by Georgie Smith
Beekeeping is an expanding industry in the U.S. as honey is a valuable ingredient added into more products and medicines. You have probably seen beekeepers in your area. They are usually highly visible thanks to the protective gear they wear.
But, is it always necessary to wear gear from head to toe? Some keepers will say yes, as others pick and choose which pieces they feel safe wearing. One piece all keepers will agree is important is the beekeeper veil. The best bee suits and equipment also vary from user to user. What about the veil? Should all beekeepers wear a veil?
See Also:
- Beekeeping Supplies Near Me: Find the Best Places Near You To Buy (2023)
- Best Beekeeping Books: 2023 Reviews (Top Picks) and Guide
- Best Beekeeping Gloves: 2023 Reviews (Top Picks) & Guide
Are Bees Safe to Be Around?
It is highly possible to perform an in-depth inspection of your hive without the bees feeling threatened. In most situations, the bees will carry on with their jobs and not pay any attention to you at all. They will remain on the frames while in the box and even on the frames as you remove them for inspection.
Other than a small number of bees that may decide to fly around you, beekeeping can be very relaxing and enjoyable. There are different times however that the bees for some reason feel shaken a bit. That usually happens when there is more chaos around your beehive when the keeper removes boxes to inspect the frames.
The bees flying around your head are too busy worrying about you to do their job. Although most often there is no reason to panic or fear the bees. But, to remain on the safe side, it is suggested that you wear protective headgear when handling your bees.
It would only take one mistake to be a costly one leading to a few painful stings on your face or head. To prevent this, you should always be sure you have on a beekeeping veil. Like with other beekeeper clothing the cover is available in many models, shapes, and prices.
Wearing Protective Clothing is More Important for Some Than Others
Most beekeepers wear some protective clothing. Novice beekeepers typically wear a hooded suit or hat, gloves, and a veil. While experienced keepers often choose not to wear beekeeping gloves because they have enough experience in delicately handling the hives.
The neck, face, and head are the more important places to protect. For this reason, most keepers usually wear a veil. When a bee is is defense mode they become attracted to the person’s breath. A bee sting to the facial area can cause a lot more pain and swelling than any other region of your body.
The reason is the lack of accessibility to those areas. A sting on the hand is usually quickly removed by a fingernail, reducing the amount of venom injected. As a sting to the head, neck, and face is more time-consuming and allows for more poison which causes more pain and swelling.
Beekeepers’ clothing is typically light in color and made from a smooth material. The reason for its design is to be the total opposite of the bee’s natural predators such as skunks and bears which tend to be furry and dark colors. It is essential that you wash your protective clothing to prevent aggressive attacks.
Such attacks happen if a stinger remains in the fabric of a suit. Alarm Pheromone continues to flow which will attack the aggressive bees. Be sure to rinse your hands in vinegar to ward off attacks.
All About the Veil
The most significant obstacle between bee suits is choosing the right style of the veil. Selecting the perfect style will come down to which hat and veil suits you. The only way you will know which one is best for you is to try them once.
If you are lucky, you will have a store close by that offers beekeeper clothing and equipment. If not, you will have to pick one online and take your chance. In choosing for visibility, most beekeepers prefer the round version because they claim you get more visibility.
Then, there are others that find large brims awkward and cumbersome. The square veil is a favorite because it is usually the most economical option. It is simple with only two pieces; a hard hat and the mesh veil which you have to buy separately.
If you are on a tight budget, you can just by the mesh and use it on a hat you already own. Some users that so lack favoritism to the square version because of it being less secure and it tangles easily.
There are plenty of ways you can make your veil. It’s simple and less expensive. Be sure to Google, “home-made beekeeper veils for many examples to follow.
The hood veil beekeepers claim to be annoying because if it is not designed just right, the hood tends to hang too low making it difficult to see. The same goes for reduced peripheral vision being another customer complaint
Materials are a big deal to consider when choosing your Veil. There is a massive variation in the value of the screen used for various veils. In general, the more delicate the mesh, the better the visibility.
If you wear glasses, be sure to try on the veil with your glasses on. It is essential to test the material because often the screen characteristic combined with specific prescriptions can hinder your sight. These are important details to consider when choosing which veil is right for you.
The Main Basics of a Beekeeper Veil Design.
The facial beekeeper veil protects the beekeeper’s head, neck, and face from bee stings. The standard design is wire painted with high-quality non-shiny black paint. The inside lined with a smooth, soft cloth is usually not thick. The makeup is so that you can see well as well as providing protection.
On the front of some of the veils, there is a hole for smokers which closes by a shutter. Also, on some models, the front grid folds but in the summer heat, this will make it extra hot causing the user to sweat a lot.
Facial veil with helmet
The helmet made with the facial veil is like the regular front grid. There is the wire veil in the overhead and the ability for more air to circulate. With this model, the wire veil is not in direct contact with the beekeeper’s head.
There are two rims inserted inside, preventing the grid to make contact with the facial area. The veil and helmet are harder than others as well as being larger.
Facial veil tulle
Consists of a thin white or black tulle sewn to the front with the black tulle. Beekeepers compare it to a bag of tulle that you wear on your head to prevent it from touching your facial area. Wearing a hat is also advised. The facial veil tulle’s advantages are its simple to store and is lightweight.
A hat with a front veil
This hat designed with cloth has a steel rim that supports its broad fields. You can either sew a tulle veil into the hats fields or wear a free tulle veil. For clear visibility, the front of the tulle veil is black. There are lace “strings” where you can tighten the bottom of the net to prevent bees from entering.
The advantages to the hat are that is is easy to breathe and the beekeeper has excellent visibility without sweating. It is best to tie the hat under the chin area with a front veil when working with the beehive.
Top 6 Best Beekeeping Veils on the Market:
| PICTURE | PRODUCT NAME | FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
 | Mann Lake CL122 Stingless Binding Round Veil with String | – 14 x 14 x 8.1 inches – Stingless binding |
 | Natural Cotton Medium / Large Professional Beekeeping Beekeepers Hat Veil | – 16 x 16 x 2.5 inches – Hand Washable – Excellent design |
 | Novo Beekeeping Veil with Square Hat, Woven Straw Hat, Thickening and Encryption Veil, Wheat Hat and Black Veil | – Unisex design – Suitable for adults |
 | Humble Bee 221-ST Aerated Beekeeping Veil with Fencing Hood | – 100% synthetic fabric – Unisex design – 8.9 x 12.8 x 1 inches |
 | Mann Lake CL110 Stingless Binding Square Folding Veil with Zipper | – 10.6 x 10.4 x 8.5 inches – Stingless binding |
 | Humble Bee 220-ST Aerated Beekeeping Veil with Round Hat | – 13.2 x 13.2 x 1 inches – Professional veil – Unisex design |
1. Mann Lake CL110 Stingless Binding Round Veil with String
The Mann Lake CL110 is a round veil with a stingless binding. One of the best feature customers praises about this model is the ability to see clearly due to the seamless structure. To use this veil, you will need a helmet.
The veil comes with strings for tying around the neck preventing bees from making their way into an opening. With the string being in the front the user has easy access to tie and untie. The measurements are 14X14X8 1/8 inches.
The Mann Lake veil provides stingless binding to allow you to handle your bees worry-free. You can check the average cost on Amazon:
Buy from Amazon
2. Goodland Bee Supply: Natural Beekeepers Hat with Veil for maximum Bee Protection:
The Goodland hat and veil is made with natural cotton and comes in both medium and large. It’s the perfect design for a beekeeper to wear while maintaining a beehive.
This Finest quality medium/large veil is from Goodland Bee Supply. Its lightweight material offers ample protection against bee stings. Its perfect design gives you wide-ranging visibility while maintaining your hive. The material is hand washable and sized to fit every user comfortably.
The Goodland products material is glass fiber with a fire-proof coating. The veil will fit onto a standard baseball cap easily. Customer reviews on Amazon give the Goodland hat with a veil a 5-star rating. You can check the price on Amazon:
Buy from Amazon
3. Natural Beekeeping Veil with Square Hat, Woven Straw Hat, Thickening and Encryption Veil, Wheat Hat, and Black Veil
This is a woven hate made from straw with a thickened encryption with a black veil. This hat is a high-quality product made to protect your head, face, and neck area thoroughly.
The front is black with the remaining areas made from a wheat product. It is made to fit adults perfectly and offers complete protection from stings
The beekeeper can wear the hat and protective gloves comfortably without having to worry about it blocking your sight. Both men and women can wear the hat with a veil. Customers rate the product a 4-star on Amazon due to the protection it provides and the simplicity of wearing, removing, and storing.
Buy from Amazon
4. Humble Bee 221-ST Aerated Beekeeping Veil with Fencing Hood:
This product with a fencing hood is what makes it stand out from the rest. The humblebee is a high-quality grade beekeeper’s veil. The design is built to last as well as comfort. Humble Bee aerated products are all made with 100% synthetic material with a lightweight foam insert.
HumbleBee raises the bar with quality by adding resistant triple arches that keep the veil away from your face. The oversized mesh is to protect your shoulders and neck with elastic straps for your shoulders to hold the veil entirely in place.
Humble Bee is a unisex one size fits all product. Beekeepers will love the ultra-breathable fabric that allows air to flow freely keeping you comfortable and cool on hot days. Your protection is safe with this Humble Bee product.
Buy from Amazon
5. Mann Lake CL110 Stingless Binding Square Folding Veil with Zipper
The binding square folding veil comes with a zipper for easy removal. It has a square veil designed from 10 mesh steel wires. The Make Lake product has stingless binding and folds flat for easy storage.
Customer reviews offer praise for the veil’s ability to be sewn into your protective suit thanks to the cloth having both halves of a zipper. The average price on Amazon is about $$ with customers rating it a 4-star.
Buy from Amazon
6. Humble Bee 220-ST Aerated Beekeeping Veil with Round Hat:
This high-quality beekeeping hat with a veil is built to last for years to come as well as extreme comfort. The Humble Bee product veil is aerated and designed with 50% cotton and 50% synthetic cloth.
Humble Bee raises the bar when it comes to quality by mixing a soft round hat and reinforced bottom and top brims. It also has an added oversized mesh for extra protection of your shoulders and neck, and an elastic shoulder strap for keeping the veil entirely in place.
Feel free to maintain your beehives while wearing this Humble Bee Hat and Veil. It provides you with extra strength and safe protection against painful bee stings. Universal fit for all female and male body types
Humble Bee ventilated beekeeping veils come in one size fits all. With every purchase, you can make a difference. Humble Bee happily donates 10% of all earnings to charity. The average price on Amazon is about $$. Happy customer rate this product a 5-star.
Buy from Amazon
Continuing….
There you have it, the leading six veils for you to choose from for your beekeeping adventures. There is no magic formula to picking out your veil. Just like your protective suit, you need to try different ones until you feel you found the one that suits you.
Beekeeping is a long-term commitment. Therefore, you need to invest in quality protective clothing. Even though some individuals take the risk of not wearing head, face, and neck protection that is not a wise move.
Also, remember that washing your suit is essential due to the venom remaining on the suit which will alert other bees to attack. As mentioned above, if you are a smoker or a person that wears glasses, keeps these two things in mind when choosing the right veil.
Questions and Answers about Beekeeping
Q: Is it necessary to wear a full-head veil?
A: Yes! You should always make sure you have your head, face, and neck well protected. It will only take one bee making its way to your facial region to cause a lot of stings and pain. Make the right investment and buy a full hat and veil.
Q: Is Beekeeping dangerous?
A: Most people will agree and say no if you are careful to how you work your hives. It is vital that you maintain a calm atmosphere around your hive to prevent making thousands of bees angry. Paying close attention to the colony and understanding basic biology will make for enjoyable beekeeping.
Q: Why do some beekeepers clip the queen’s wings?
A: Some keepers clip the wings of a queen as a type of “insurance.”If a queen bee decides to swarm, thousands of worker bees will leave with her. If the wings the are clipped, then all swarms that occur will return to the colony.
Q: How do bees survive harsh weather?
A: Rain is not suitable for bees. It can damage or kill them by knocking them out of the sky. Therefore, when the weather is wet and rainy, the bees will remain in the colony. The bees in a colony survive colder weather by huddling together and buzzing to create warmth.
Q: Is it expensive to get started in beekeeping?
A: The will rely on the individual. Equipment can be homemade, and items are available used or new. And depending on the number of hives and the access you have to maintain them seasonally, the price can vary from $0 up to over $1,000.
Q: How many people die yearly from beekeeping?
A: You can die from a lightning bolt sooner than you will from beekeeping.
Q: Does the bee die after it stings?
A: Yes, if it’s a worker that stings it will die shortly after stinging. However, if you get stung by the queen bee, she is likely to survive after stinging. It is doubtful that a person will be stung by the queen bee.
Q: Is a permit or license required to keep bees?
A: This depends entirely on where you are. The number of hives you wish to have will also determine different permits. You need to contact your local agricultural department for this answer.
Interesting faq about bees
1). To make their distinct sound the honey bees stroke their 11,400 times per minute!
2). The honey bee does it’s zooming at 15 miles per hour.
3). The queen can lay between 600-800 or even over 1,500 eggs EACH day throughout her 3 or 4-year lifetime. So, let’s just “assume” she pumps outs 1,500 each day for four years and that equals 2,184,000 babies per year! Yeah, she deserves to be the queen.
4). The honeybee is the only insect that makes food for humans.
5). Honeybees will travel up to 3 miles from their hive.
6). Unlike any other bee, the honeybee dies after they sting.
7). Approximately 80% of all vegetables, seed crops, and fruits in the U.S. get their pollination from the honey bee.
8). Honeybees have hair that grows on the eyes. They must have a lot of hair because they have five eyes.! Three small ones on the top of their head and two large ones in front.
9). Bees do their communicating with each other by dancing around and using scents.
10). And, the big one-Honeybees never, ever sleep!
In Conclusion
Honey bees are no doubt, mysterious creatures, to learn about, The more you know, the more you want to keep knowing. So many do not understand the essential role of honeybees in our environment.
In this blog, we hope you know more about the beekeeper’s hat and veils. Just like with the other protective garments, the veil is versatile. To find what is right for you-you will need to experiment until you are secure you facial and head regions have protection.
If you can’t find shops in your area online, ask around the town, and if there aren’t any there, maybe some locals who also do beekeeping can guide you to a business that sells beekeeper products. The most important decision you can make is to educate yourself in beekeeping before you start buying equipment.
Knowing the protective clothing you will wear is essential but knowing all about honey bees needs to be your top priority. Learning about their habits, their biology, and their fantastic production of honey and how to retrieve it is vital.
You want to enjoy beekeeping, and the only way to do this is to learn all you can to be safe and productive. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the delicious making of fresh honey straight from the hive. Does it get any better than that?
If you liked this blog, please be sure to leave us a comment. Do you have questions about the beekeeper’s veil? Send us your questions, and we will be happy to answer them promptly. Thank you for visiting our page, and we hope you have enjoyed it and learned something.
As also, happy beekeeping!
