Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: windfall on March 16, 2011, 09:55:30 am

Title: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: windfall on March 16, 2011, 09:55:30 am
I am looking to buy a jacket with hood. older threads on this have folks putting in good words for both dadant and mann lake. at 50$, they are identically priced...can anyone expand on any differences in the two or are they pretty comparable? I am open to other suggestions in the same price range.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: Michael Bush on March 16, 2011, 11:29:01 am
The best thing out there is the Ultra Breeze jacket or the Golden Bee Products Jacket.  Much more expensive and well worth it.  They are basically sting proof and ventilated.  You can wear it with no shirt under it and feel every breeze cooling you off...
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: vmmartin on March 16, 2011, 12:47:44 pm
I agree with MB.  I know you said in the same price range, but my suggestion would be to save your money and get the ventilated style. I just got a Golden Bee and after using the Dadant last year........the Golden Bee is absolutely worth every penny.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: indypartridge on March 17, 2011, 07:35:06 am
The first six years I had bees I wore old white shirts from the resale store. Got an Ultra Breeze a bit over a year ago. Glad I waited!
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: BjornBee on March 17, 2011, 07:49:55 am
I am looking to buy a jacket with hood. older threads on this have folks putting in good words for both dadant and mann lake. at 50$, they are identically priced...can anyone expand on any differences in the two or are they pretty comparable? I am open to other suggestions in the same price range.

I use the dadant jacket. Since I wear a bee suit perhaps 12 hours a day for months at a time, I buy the zipper style jacket and go with what can be easily replaced. The Dadant jacket also does not come with a patch, which is on the Mannlake jacket. I'm not a walking billboard for anyone.

In fact, about 10 years ago, I bought something like 15,000 dollars from Manlake, and at the end of the season, they sent me a ball cap. A ball cap with their advertising on it. I called and asked them how much were they willing to pay me to walk around and advertise their company. Zero was the answer. And since they only knew I was a beekeeper, how did they know that I wore ballcaps? I could see giving a hive tool or other "gift" as appreciation, but the fact was they gave me a ball cap that was valueless to me. They gave me something not related to bees, and expected to advertise for them.  :roll:

Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: windfall on March 17, 2011, 10:02:39 am
Thanks folks,
I have seen everyone raving about the ultra breeze jacket...I bounced over to thier site but couldn't find pricing...???
I am just statring out, and really just don't seen ever having more than a half dozen hives so I don't anticipate spending all that much time in the thing and here in the mountains of Vt our summers are generally pretty mild in terms of temps.
I do usually like to save up and buy quality in my tools and equipment, but statr-up costs on this are really adding up and this is one place I can save cut costs a bit.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: danno on March 17, 2011, 10:46:09 am
Windfall
I was just about to reply that just starting out your money might be better spent on equipment plus Vt doesn't have the steady temps of Tx.   I use dadant but have been looking at the mann lake pollenator jacket.  I think either will work just fine for you.   I  would also suggest that you buy a helmet and hood because you will soon find out that most of the season you will be able to wear shorts and a teeshirt but ALWAYS cover you face. 
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: hardwood on March 17, 2011, 11:55:39 am
I use the econo jacket from Dadant (panama hat style). The open mesh in the back at least lets the breeze get to the back of my neck.

Any will work fine though.

Scott
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: windfall on March 17, 2011, 12:47:58 pm
Danno I should have been clearer, I was looking for a hooded jacket. Where in ludington area are you? I have family in Freesoil, and spent a lot of time in the area growing up.

Hardwood, your the first I've seen putting in a vote for the full hat, most everybody (reading old threads) seems to like the hood. but I see you are also in a pretty high sun /heat area yourself.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: danno on March 17, 2011, 01:02:16 pm
Danno I should have been clearer, I was looking for a hooded jacket. Where in ludington area are you? I have family in Freesoil, and spent a lot of time in the area growing up.

Hardwood, your the first I've seen putting in a vote for the full hat, most everybody (reading old threads) seems to like the hood. but I see you are also in a pretty high sun /heat area yourself.
I am actually in Scottville so just a few miles from freesoil.   My boss is a Hasenbank from Freesoil so you guys might be related.   Everyone is relate up there LOL    I did understand the jacket thing.   The pollenator from Mannlake come in either a full suit or jacket.   The reason I thought about switching from Dadant to Mannlake is in the pics it looks like the hood hold better shape and stays farther from the face and it also looks like it fold flatter when flipped back.  My Dadant is a pain driveing from site to site.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: windfall on March 18, 2011, 01:19:15 pm
An additional question regarding sizing...I see it commonly suggested that you buy a size or two larger than what you normally wear to insure a cer5tain "baggiiness"...would this still hold true for a tall skinny type (6', 155lbs)?
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: Kathyp on March 18, 2011, 01:39:23 pm
i use the Mann Lake jacket.  my only consideration was the shipping price.  Mann Lake is closer and cheaper.  i really like the jacket and it has held up well to cutouts, swarm catching, being left in a damp barn, washing, etc.   :-D  if i kill it i won't feel bad about buying the same again.

Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: danno on March 18, 2011, 03:57:51 pm
An additional question regarding sizing...I see it commonly suggested that you buy a size or two larger than what you normally wear to insure a cer5tain "baggiiness"...would this still hold true for a tall skinny type (6', 155lbs)?
I would suggest to take your measurments, height, chest and inseam and then call them.  Dadant has sized me up in the past.  Mannlake should do the same.  Jackets wont matter as much as full suits but they do need to be baggy.   
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: Michael Bush on March 21, 2011, 10:28:39 am
My second choice (not in the ballpark of the Ultra Breeze or Golden Bee Products) is a cotton jacket from www.beeworks.com (http://www.beeworks.com) with the English hood, not one that requires a helmet.
Title: Re: jacket: dadant vs mann lake...others?
Post by: tillie on March 26, 2011, 11:10:15 pm
I own the cotton BeeWorks jacket that Michael mentioned and I love it - the hood is easy and zips off easily - double zipper.  I gave my son-in-law the Mann Lake Pollinator jacket for Christmas and he's very comfortable in it and I like its hood.

Linda T in Atlanta