What beekeeping clothing to wear in hot weather
THE VENTILATED BEEKEEPING SUIT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN A FEW WORDS
During hot weather, some beekeepers are tempted to use this type of suit. However, it’s rare that during such periods there’s a really cool draught capable of actively ventilating the garment. More generally in our regions, it’s a question of a warm draught, or heavy, leaden weather, which on the contrary significantly increases the temperature inside the suit. To cool down, the body sweats more, increasing the feeling of discomfort. This type of suit is often heavy and gives the sensation of being inside a suit of armor. It’s for this essential reason that when we designed our ventilated suit we only ventilated certain parts of the suit, so as not to expose the whole body as in the competing model shown in the photo below.
Ventilated suits are not suitable for hot weather. We recommend it when the weather is milder, in early spring for example. With global warming, we’re seeing more and more very high temperatures. The summer of 2023 set new records: (source: météo France)
- Carcasonne 41.3
- Lézignan corbière 41.9
- Lille 30
- Sallanche savoie 41
Have you ever seen a Bedouin in the desert wearing a ventilated suit?
Of course not! The garment worn by the Bedouin is loose-fitting and made of cotton!
We’re talking about protective clothing! When the sun is strong, it’s absolutely essential to protect your body from the heat, and cover it completely with a loose cotton garment.
In high temperatures, the APIPROTEC organic cotton suit is a must!
The organic cotton used to manufacture our protective clothing has not undergone any phytosanitary treatment. What’s more, it’s not bleached, so it retains all its soft, supple properties. The naturally ventilated mesh is silky to the touch and very comfortable to wear. We recommend a rather large size so that the garment is not worn too close to the body to generate internal ventilation (Bedouin style). We also recommend wearing a linen or cotton t-shirt under the large-size suit. Our wetsuits are made of abrasion- and tear-resistant twill.
The linen of our APIPROTEC T-shirts is a textile appreciated for its flexibility and lightness. Thanks to the insulating and thermoregulating properties of its fiber, the fabric keeps us cool in summer and warm in winter. As a natural fiber, linen is hypoallergenic and non-irritating to the skin. What’s more, it can absorb up to 20% of moisture, leaving us dry and fast-drying by rapidly transferring moisture to the outside. As one of the most resistant fibers, this makes it a quality, durable textile that won’t lint or warp. Although wrinkle-resistant, linen becomes softer with each wash.
