Choosing the right PPE can make hive inspections safer and more comfortable. In this post I share the bee suits, gloves, hive tools and smokers I actually use, what’s worked (and failed) for me, and simple tips to help beginners choose kit that fits, cleans well and lasts.

Wanting to start beekeeping? Learn from my first-year mistakes and successes: get hands-on practice before buying bees, choose mentors wisely, prepare 2+ new hives, practice shaking bees off frames, and prioritise disease spotting and inspection notes for confident, swarm-free beekeeping.