One of the most important parts of beekeeping is safety. Every beekeeper remembers what it felt like to get their first bee sting, and it’s not an experience you want to repeat more than is necessary.
The right equipment, like a beekeeping hat and veil, is the best way to ensure you can enjoy beekeeping and avoid painful or dangerous stings. Even if you don’t wear a jacket, suit, or gloves, you should still wear a beekeeping hat and veil to protect your face and eyes.
Not only are stings generally painful, but bee stings to your eyes or other parts of your face can become a serious medical issue. Fortunately, you can wear gear that will keep this from happening.
Take a look at this list to find the best beekeeping hat and veil to keep you safe while you spend time with your bees.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Massive Bee Store Three Layer Ventilated Beekeeping Veil in Round
Best Budget:
HunterBee 2 pcs camo bee Beekeeping Veil
Best High-End:
Humble Bee 210 Polycotton Beekeeping Veil with Round Hat
Best Overall
Massive Bee Store Three Layer Ventilated Beekeeping Veil in Round
This beekeeping hat and veil is a great option for any beekeeper, regardless of your experience.
It’s reasonably priced and great quality. The material is lightweight and breathable to keep you cool but also thick enough to prevent stings with three layers of fabric.
This is a round-style veil with visibility all the way around. The reinforced brim and sturdy mesh will last a long time, and the universal sizing means you can invite visitors to come to learn about your bees safely.
The hat and veil are worn around your shoulders and chest to prevent bees from entering. Elastic creates a secure fit to prevent gaps.
You can choose from several different colors as well.
Pros:
- Full visibility
- Three layers of protection
- Stays put around your chest
Cons:
- It doesn’t come in a range of sizes
Best Budget
HunterBee 2 pcs camo bee Beekeeping Veil
If you’re looking to save some money, give this budget beekeeping hat and veil a try.
Beekeeping gets pretty expensive, but you can still get a quality hat and veil on a budget that will keep you safe. This model is simple and offers great face protection during hive inspections.
It’s also light enough to use when you’re outside to keep annoying mosquitoes and gnats away from your face. Get more use out of it while gardening, walking, or sitting outside.
The round brim lets you see all the way around and keeps the mesh, and the bees, further away from your face. Adjustable shoulder straps and a chin strap help keep the veil securely in place while you work and move around as you perform your hive inspections.
If you need to travel, you can pack this beekeeping hat and veil up without worrying about damaging it. Just fold it up flat, and you’re ready to go.
The mesh fabric is breathable and comfortable while keeping you safe from stings, and you can fold the mesh up to wear the hat on its own.
Pros:
- It can be used for other applications outside
- Shoulder straps can be adjusted to fit securely
- Travels easily
Cons:
- It only comes in one size
- Lighter material offers less protection
Best High-End
Humble Bee 210 Polycotton Beekeeping Veil with Round Hat
If you’re willing to splurge, your beekeeping hat and veil are a good place to go for a more expensive option.
This hat and veil are of great quality and will last you a long time, so it’s a worthwhile investment if you can.
Elastic shoulder straps keep the oversized veil low down on your shoulders for maximum protection from curious bees. The round-style veil has excellent visibility and creates distance between your face and the mesh, helping to prevent stings to your face.
Elastic around the bottom of the veil holds it tight to your body so no bees manage to sneak in anywhere.
The hat is soft for added comfort during hive inspections and lets your head breathe while you work. Choose from a few different colors.
Pros:
- The mesh veil has elastic at the bottom to prevent gaps
- Durable and comfortable
Cons:
- Pricier hat and veil option
- Shoulder straps aren’t adjustable
Luwint Folding Square Beekeeping Veil Hats
Storing all your equipment sometimes takes up a lot of space, so a foldable beekeeping hat and veil can be helpful.
The square style of this beekeeping veil is less common but can easily be folded up flat and put away almost anywhere. This style also gives you a great field of vision, similar to a round-style veil.
The sturdy mesh panels are ideal for keeping upset bees far away from your face, and you don’t have to worry about soft mesh pieces bending.
This veil is large and offers great protection over your shoulders and neck. Better coverage lets you be more confident around your bees and less stressed about being stung. The elastic shoulder straps make sure the hat and veil stay securely in place during hive inspections.
The hat is made from comfortable cotton that’s breathable and super easy to spot clean when needed. You can also remove the hat to make cleaning even easier.
Pros:
- Folds flat for easy storage
- Square style veil stays rigid with superior visibility
Cons:
- Not machine washable
- Elastic shoulder straps are not adjustable
Buyers’ Guide to Finding the Best Beekeeping Hat and Veil
There are so many options out there for beekeeping hats and veils, so how do you choose what will work for you?
A lot of it is personal preference, so you’ll need to consider a few important factors to decide.
First, think about your budget. Since beekeeping is known to get pretty expensive, it’s normal for beekeepers to find places to cut costs a bit where they can.
If you’re new to bees or a bit nervous around them, look for a beekeeping hat and veil that will make you feel the most confident and safe. Options that have more material will offer better coverage and reduce your chances of being stung.
There are two common types of beekeeping hats and veils: fencing style and round style. For some beekeepers, the fencing-style veil is more comfortable and fits better. Round veils offer a wider field of vision and usually keep the mesh further from your face.
Look for a well-made beekeeping hat and veil so you don’t have to worry about bees finding their way inside. The more confident and comfortable you are, the more smoothly your hive inspections will go for you and your bees.
The good-quality mesh prevents tearing and keeps angry bees away from your face. The hat portion should have substantial enough fabric to keep stingers from reaching your head.
A beekeeping hat and veil can also be used with a suit or jacket. If you don’t like the hat and veil that came with your jacket or suit, most hats and veils can be used in their place. If you already have a separate jacket or suit, consider the design and how it will fit with your beekeeping hat and veil.
Why Choose a Beekeeping Hat and Veil Over a Beekeeping Suit?
While a full suit or jacket offers more protection, there are still good reasons to have a hat and veil around.
Many beekeepers prefer to wear something else for comfort, range of motion, or temperature control. This is where choosing a hat and veil instead of or even in addition to a suit comes into play.
A beekeeping hat and veil are also a great and convenient option for quick inspections or swapping out feed when you really don’t need a full suit. They’re also a nice option to wear when it gets buggy outside while working in the garden or to go out for a walk.
Even if you already have a full suit or jacket, having an extra beekeeping hat and veil on hand can be convenient. For visitors who are interested in learning about your bees, you can have a beekeeping hat and veil they can wear to look inside the hive or watch you perform a hive inspection.
Feel Confident in Your New Beekeeping Hat and Veil
Beekeeping is fascinating and fun if you have the right safety equipment. Nothing spoils the experience faster than a painful sting!
Make sure you take the time to find the right beekeeping hat and veil to use so you can be safe and enjoy your bees as much as possible. Stings are inevitable, but keeping your face and neck covered is extra important.
Don’t stop now; for the best beekeeping experience, keep learning everything you can about what you need to keep honey bees!
- About the Author
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Hope Schwartz-Leeper is an avid reader, writer, and lover of all things nature with degrees in English and Philosophy.
Born and raised in the Northeast, Hope has always had an affinity for spending time outside. Growing up and attending college in New York, then living on Cape Cod and finally settling in Rhode Island has given her plenty of experience with the climate and environment of these areas.
She loves growing her own food and plants and is always trying to grow something new. She’s hoping her apple trees will one day bear fruit, but for now she’s excited about anything that comes from the garden.