23/10/2022
WHAT STYLE HOOD IS THE SAFEST?
Like a lot of things in beekeeping, beekeepers have strong personal views of which type of hood suits them best. I have had many suits, with both the round and fencing hood style and in this article, I try and point out the pros and cons for you to consider when buying a suit.
The round hood sits on the top of your head like a hat. The top and bottom hoops hold the veil well away from your face. Typically, the hoops are 45cm diameter for adults and slightly smaller for children.
Benefits of the round veil:
1. typically the veil goes all the way the hood, allowing full air flow around the head to keep you cool
2. wide unobstructed view
3. the hood can be held in place with a secure chin strap (important on a windy day, or when looking up, down or sideways
4. large protective space all around the head, importantly around your face
5. sun protection, especially if the top of the hat is thick cotton (beware as some use an open mesh)
Disadvantages of the round veil:
1. it can be slightly warmer sitting on the top of the head, although it is comparable to wearing a baseball cap with the fencing hood
2. one size fits most. For those with very small heads, an under-chin elastic strap will hold the hat secure on the head. For those with very large heads, the hat will sit a bit higher on the head, again held in place with the elastic chin strap
3. if the top of the hood is only single layer cotton, bees can sting through it, which is a problem for those who have follicle challenges. Normally there is a sting proof cover on the inside of the hat, otherwise wearing a baseball cap is recommended.
The fencing veil is designed to sit above your head, supported by stiff rib type material that arches over your head. Unfortunately, they cannot utilise an under-chin strap, so the hood will move around and the veil material can easily touch your face with dire consequences.
Fencing veil benefits:
1. they can be cooler as they do not sit on top of your head. However, this is nullified as you need to wear a baseball cap to prevent the veil falling back onto your face when you look up
2. the front of the veil can have a full zip to allow you to fold it down
3. the fencing veil is narrower, so it can be better for working in tight spots, like removing bees from inside the floor joists in a house
Fencing veil disadvantages:
1. the use of the front zip to open the veil is problematic, as opening the hood in the bee yard allows bees access to your face
2. when you look up, gravity will cause the fencing veil to fall back onto the peak of the baseball cap that you are wearing or your face. If you don’t wear a baseball cap, the veil will hit your face and bees can sting you
3. when you bend over sideways, the side veil will hit your face, as the baseball cap peak won’t stop it
4. the hood can easily be blown onto the side of your face on a windy day
5. limited peripheral vision, as the veil does not cover the entire circumference of the hood
6. the hood does not move with your head, so you need to move your body to increase your viewing range
7. there is less sun protection on your face (and some hoods use mesh at the rear of the hood, allowing additional UV pe*******on)
8. as the veil doesn’t go all around the hood, air movement through the hood is restricted
Conclusion
It really is up to each beekeeper to evaluate the pros and cons of the two hood styles and decide for themselves which veil that they feel most comfortable in and which one best suits their needs. Most suits can be purchased with either hood type (or both), just ask your supplier.
Personally I strongly recommend the round hood to newbie beekeepers, as they can feel more secure at all times and not have to worry about the veil falling back onto their face and getting stung. Getting stung takes the enjoyment out of beekeeping.
