Why I wear my chaps

[FXJenkins]

PPE to me is a no brainer.But I have cut with a beer on a cookie and flip flops.

We must be kin.

 

[diver64]

I'm looking hard at the Labonville chaps, made in the USA, Kevlar, and reasonably priced.

I've had a pair for a number of years I bought over at the store in Berlin, NH. They work. I was over there this summer to get a couple of ripping chains from the saw shop they run out back.

 

[WoodmanSr]

I'm looking hard at the Labonville chaps, made in the USA, Kevlar, and reasonably priced.

Love my Labonsville chaps. Do again in a heart beat. Over 25 years on 1st & original chaps. Prefer full wrap bottom. To me aprons would be too loose & snagging everything. Full wrap are impervious to what direction moving thru Bush or greenbrier. Full wrap also double as gators, keep chips & snow out of boot tops. Buy long enough to secure over your boot. There great.

Only time I snag my Labonsville full wrap bottoms is carrying saw. Outside spike grabs knee buldge (slack cloth). Just switch hands, flip saw end for end, or toss onto shoulder.

Edit clarification -- competition weight chaps are hot in summer. I really only cut below 40°F as comfort to myself & cooler for saws.

Look at Chaps product images closely. Some brands have illogical ankle snaps. Both legs right-side or left-side. Better if ankle buckles on outside; left on LH leg, right on RH leg. Seems intuitive yet some lower price apron chaps screw that up

 

[moxiemaul]

I have the Labonville apron style chaps- they work fine, but as above when the time comes for new I think I'll go for full bottom- same reason- when I'm deep in brambles they tend to work their way in between the chaps and my pants, or maybe sneak around back and stab from behind. The chaps make for great armor against thorns so I'm glad to have them.

 

[ram 2]

I was de limbing a tree today, nipped the chaps. Annoying. This very rarely has happened, but okay.
Take the 261 apart, clear the fibers from the sprocket, etc. put it back together. and the next thing...
the chain is like really loose... moment.
further investigation revealed that the clip was gone, the washer was found, the bearing was ejected but found.
Fetched the spare clip, put it all back together and sharpened up, back in business.

You never know when it will happen, wear your chaps.

chaps take my breath

 

[English Al]

I always wear my safety trousers, full stop. I have not tried chaps as trousers work fine for me. Currently we are all using pairs out of the Englebert Strauss catalogue, a German workwear mail order company which sells a wide range of good quality garments. I'm not sure ES is available in the States or Aus, but if it is it is well worth checking out. The style we are using is considerably lighter than previous pairs - mine replaced a Stihl pair which were like armour-plate compared to the ES. Although I haven't tried (because I've given up climbing), I feel sure the ES are light and comfortable enough to be worn when climbing - I would if I still was. They are rated to the full European safety specs as Class 1 (which is resistive to chain speeds up to 20 m/s).

Hope this helps.