“Failing to wear chaps—and other protective equipment—when using a chainsaw is not only unsafe; it’s a mistake that can ultimately prove fatal.”
These words, first said by a former tree-cutting professional for a publication that specializes in consumer safety, underscores the utmost importance of chainsaw safety and the need for protective gear designed to prevent injury (or worse) when operating one of these powerful and potentially tragedy-causing tools.
Chainsaws and the errors made by those who operate them have resulted in thousands upon thousands of accidents in the last decade and beyond. And sadly, despite some of the recent safety measures manufacturers have taken to prevent them, these injuries continue to happen.
Perhaps even sadder is that many of these injuries—and in certain cases, deaths—could have been prevented had the operators been wearing all the proper safety equipment, including, but certainly not limited to, chaps (and/or protective trousers).
The first line of defense against injury, as always, when it comes to power tools, is education and training. With more people than ever from outside the logging industry purchasing chainsaws for personal use, self-education in safety and safety equipment is crucial.
So, let’s take a look at what we’ve found;
Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chaps – Best Safety Chaps For Professional Commercial Use
When it comes to chaps our Professional Use suggestion is the Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chaps. Made of 1000 denier polyester, coated in PVC and including several layers of Tek warp protection, they exude quality.
They have a felling wedge pocket and acetyl buckles for longevity. They meet ASTM f1897, ANSI z133.1, and OSHA regulations 1910-266, proving they are the best protection you can buy. They come in Black/Grey Orange/Grey and Black/Grey Colorways and fit a size 36-42in waist.
The only downside with a pair of trousers this ridiculously qualified is the price tag. But when the shit hits the fan and a chainsaw chain is heading towards your legs, these are the trousers I would want to be wearing.
Pros of The Husqvarna Safety Chaps
- 1000 Denier Polyester
- PVC Coating
- Felling Wedge Pocket
- 3 Color Options
- Meet Every Possible Regulation
- Tek Warp Layered Protection System
Cons of The Husqvarna Chaps
- Price (Worth Every Penny!)
Husqvarna 531309565 Chain Saw Apron Chaps – Best All-Rounder – Medium Commercial Use
Our best All-Rounder and Medium Commercial offering, again come from Husqvarna. Their Husqvarna 531309565 Chain Saw Apron Chaps, are only 80 dollars, much cheaper than the hefty price of their mighty older brother the 587160704’s.
In my opinion, however, you don’t get 1/3 of the quality. You get more. Meeting ASTM F1897, ANSI Z133.1 standards and also being UL Certified they are impressive for their price tag.
They come in blue, black and grey and will still protect you from mishaps. They are hand wash only and need air drying. They are much more lightweight then the 587160704’s so if you have a job where you don’t need all day top of the range protection these are your best bet.
Pros
- Excellent Value
- Moderate Protection
- Lightweight
- Good Color Options
Cons
- Don’t Offer Top-Level Protection
- Can Only Be Hand Washed
Forester’s Chainsaw Apron Chaps – Best Budget Chaps – DIY Use
Our no.1 Budget offering, come from Forester. Forester’s Chainsaw Apron Chaps are a budget or entry-level chaps. If you are just starting out or only need some chaps for DIY use, they are brilliant.
Incredibly for the price, they meet STM F1897, OSHA 1910.266 and are UL Certified. They come in one color, orange, and 5 sizes. Foresters chaps wrap around the lower leg and only weigh 3lbs. They have great reviews from customers and the protection offered by their 1000 denier and Kevlar mix is impressive. They don’t come with all the shiny bells and whistles our other two suggestions do, but they will protect you, and they will do it for a great price.
Pros
- Five Sizes
- Wrap Around Style
- Affordable
- Kevlar & 1000 Denier Cordura
- Price x Protection = Fantastic
Cons
- Fewer Features
- Less Adjustability
- One Color Option
Buyers Guide for Chaps
When a chainsaw slips during cutting, the after-effects can be devastating. If the chain action propels the blade towards the legs, the damage can be irreversible. Ranging from serious lacerations through amputations all the way to death.
The worst thing? It can happen in such a split second; users can’t always react quickly enough to stop it happening. This is why you need the best chaps on the market.
Chainsaw chaps are made of relatively lightweight material that can resist cuts and potentially save your leg from a moving chain. When the chain hits your chainsaw chaps, they should force the chain to bounce off or cut into the chaps at worst, this cuts the fibers causing the chain to come to a halt. With chainsaw leg injuries so severe, this makes a good pair of chaps invaluable.
We’ve given you our best 3 options but here are the important things to consider if you are choosing any pair of chaps to protect yourself. These chaps could save you from death, or a life-crippling injury.
Material
When looking for the best chaps, the material is key. A pair of chap’s sole purpose in life is to save your leg from the high speed rotating chain of a chainsaw. This means that you need to make sure the chaps you buy have materials that are up to the task. There are usually 3 important materials to consider.
As we spoke about earlier, Kevlar is one of the strongest fabrics used in protective equipment. In your chainsaw chaps, it is usually placed on top of your legs, layered order to provide you a chance of protection, when that dreaded moment happens.
Nylon is a strong synthetic fabric that is stretch and easy to breathe. It is used in the parts of your chaps that are not layered with Kevlar to provide mobility.
PVC coatings are a layer of synthetic plastic. PVC layers are usually applied to deflect water and oil.
A combination of all three provides protection from a variety of challenges a user will go through.
Sizing
Manufacturers of chaps have clear guidelines for measurements for chaps. They say you should measure from your waist to your instep. This may seem a bit long for a pair of trousers, but they have their reasons.
Measuring this way means that the bottoms of the trousers cover some of your boots, this protects you from debris and sawdust. Measuring this way also means your entire front is covered.
Ideally, you will be wearing protective trousers underneath or at least jeans. This means the straps are going to be adjusted to fit you tightly. Chaps should never be loose; this lowers the safety value of your chaps by creating slack that could catch the chain or other things around you.
Safety Regulations of Chainsaw Proof Pants
Your gear should always be certified by the relevant authorities, with chainsaw proof pants, that means UL Certified and meeting OSHA 1970 regulations. These accreditations mean that your gear has been highly tested and that they will perform as they should under danger.
Apron vs Wrap Around
Deciding which kind of chaps you need is important, apron-styles offer modest protection but don’t fully protect the calves, and wrap arounds are usually a bit bulky. We think that apron-style chaps are the best of both worlds for protection.
Apron Style chaps were designed to allow the user to stay cool, whilst still offering moderate protection. Working in high temperatures can cause users to make decisions rashly, so this should be a consideration if you are planning to do this kind of work outside.
Maintenance
Again, when you are working outside, using a chainsaw, cutting wood, you are going to get dirty. Chaps generally don’t need washing very often, when they do, make sure you read the care instructions. This will allow you to keep your chaps performing all summer long.
Compatibility
The chaps you will choose to wear whilst using a gas chainsaw, need to have a high level of protection. Compared to trousers marketed for electric chainsaws, the differences are vast. Both chainsaws use a different mechanism, so make sure you research into what type of chainsaw your chaps are made to protect you from.
Some Info Regarding Electric Chainsaws
There is plenty of discussion whether chainsaw chaps are effective for use with electric chainsaws.
Below are a couple of demonstrations found on youtube.
We make no inference one way or the other on the suitability of these products for use with electric chainsaws. You pays your money and you takes your chance!
Water Resistance
Just like with your gloves rain or snow will eventually catch you out. You are going to need to work in wet conditions. You are definitely going to need to keep your legs warm and dry. Make sure your chaps are going to allow you to deal with this in a safe manner.
Chaps should be worn along with other safety equipment such as a hard hat, hearing protection, and safety boots. Don’t risk injury through not being protected!
Conclusion
Now that you know what to look at when purchasing your chainsaw chaps, we suggest you look at our 3 top suggestions for chainsaw gloves in their different categories.
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
