Chainsaw Protection: Chaps, Trousers, Boots & More. Safety chainsaw chaps

Chainsaw Protection: Chaps, Trousers, Boots

When you are running a chain saw you should have the best protection available. The ANSI Z133 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations require chainsaw protective leg protection when running a saw on the ground. Climbers use chainsaw trousers to protect themselves while cutting in the tree. Chainsaw protective clothing could mean the difference between a stopped saw chain and a career-ending injury.

Scaffel Lite Class 2 Chainsaw Boots

Scafell Lite chainsaw boots have the highest-level of chainsaw protection of any boot we’ve carried to date, with a Class II certification. (Class 2 is for max chain speed of 24 meters per second /54 mph /4724 feet per minute.) In addition to excellent saw protection, the Scafell Lite boots have all of the properties you want in an excellent tree work boot.

Scafell Lite boots have a Steel Toe cap, a flexible, puncture-resistant midsole, and a Vibram sole. The Scafells are comfortable and durable, waterproof, and breathable. This boot offers not only superb protection but also great work performance.

Arborflex Modular Chainsaw / Climbing Pants

Unique chainsaw protection from Arbortec! Start with the base chainsaw protection pant, then layer the non-protective outer skin of your choice. The skins can also be worn on their own as non-protective pants. Customize this durable, modular protection to fit your work.

Ascend All-Season Chainsaw Trousers

The Ascend All Season pants by Clogger protect you year-round. Water-resistant coverage and a high-back make these the ideal saw pants for Fall, Winter, and Spring. In the Summer, open up the zipped vents for more airflow and cooling. Class C, Type 1 saw protection.

The pants are certified by UL to ASTM F1897-14 and rated to 3,500 ft / min.

Ascend saw pants use Arrestex HP advanced chainsaw protection system with dual-acting, ultra-high tenacity fibers, rated to saw speeds 20 m/s. These pants are tough, with durable stretch fabric, upgraded zippers, and extra abrasion resistance on inside of leg where spurs or bark may rub.

Clogger “Zero” MK II Lightweight Arborist Chainsaw Trousers

These premium chainsaw trousers are cool, light, and durable. Get great pant-style chainsaw protection without overheating yourself in the warmer climates or during Summer work. Well-suited to wear underneath rain gear without being too warm or bulky. Weight has been shaved off of these “Zero” trousers without sacrificing safety. The outer fabric has been upgraded to a stronger material with a rip-stop weave. They weigh in at less than 1kg (only 2.2 lbs!) but are still fully-certified.

“These are my first pair of chainsaw pants. I live in PA and it’s been 85 to 90 degrees out for the last couple of days with really high humidity. I was really apprehensive about trying these things in such hot weather, but they were absolutely wonderful. Don’t hesitate, just get them. The vents in the back of the legs actually move air all around your legs while you’re working. They really are cool and comfortable, even in dripping hot, humid weather. I wore them in the rain today and still they are comfortable. I don’t know how they will hold up over the long term, as my primary concern was that thy would be too hot to wear. I’m always nervous about lots of various material types being sewn together for something that has the be as the tough as this, just to make it look cool. However, I ordered a set of green scaffell lites and these pants match it, paired with a high vis green shirt, my ten year old boy said, “wow Daddy, you look more professional than August Hunike”! So if just buying these pants puts you in the same sentence as August Hunike, then it’s well worth the investment!”

Clogger “Elevated” Zero Chainsaw Trousers

Special edition of the Clogger ‘Zero’ chainsaw trousers. These Zeros are black with the ‘Elevated’ logo from Academy Trained, who brought the idea for a special edition to Clogger. 10% of the sale goes to support a sponsorship fund to help students get professional training at Academy Trained.

These premium chainsaw trousers are cool, light, and durable. Get great pant-style chainsaw protection without overheating yourself in the warmer climates or during Summer work. Well-suited to wear underneath rain gear without being too warm or bulky. Weight has been shaved off of these “Zero” trousers without sacrificing safety. The outer fabric has been upgraded to a stronger material with a rip-stop weave. They weigh in at less than 1kg (only 2.2 lbs!) but are still fully-certified.

Clogger Zero Women’s

These premium chainsaw trousers are cool, light, and durable. Get great pant-style chainsaw protection without overheating yourself in the warmer climates or during Summer work. Well-suited to wear underneath rain gear without being too warm or bulky. Weight has been shaved off of these “Zero” trousers without sacrificing safety. The outer fabric has been upgraded to a stronger material with a rip-stop weave. They weigh in at less than 1kg (only 2.2 lbs!) but are still fully-certified.

Defender Pro Gen 2 Chainsaw Trousers

Defender Pro Chainsaw Gen 2 Trousers provide the ultimate line of long-lasting defense. These Chainsaw pants are engineered for the toughest terrain and conditions, with Arrestex HP chainsaw protection and a durable 4-way stretch nylon/lycra covering. This advanced technical fabric provides both strength and stretch, delivering comfort and safety in equal measurement. These pants excel when cutting on the ground.

Gen 2 Defender Pros have been redesigned to be even tougher, with maximum durability, comfort, and flex. whether you’re climbing, flying a bucket, or working on the ground!

Ember Extreme Cold Chainsaw Trousers

Designed for arborists working in extreme cold conditions. Ember midweight chainsaw pantsfeature high strength and abrasion resistant outer fabrics with fleece-lined inner. These cold-weather pants are also popular here on the West Coast for people working in the rainy winter months.

Clogger TreeCREW Chainsaw Pants

CLOGGER’s entry-level chainsaw pant puts high-quality saw pro in reach of every crew member. The TreeCREW pants are comfortable, breathable, and feature 6 layers of advanced chainsaw protection. Streamlined to maintain quality and make affordable.

Breatheflex Chainsaw Trousers. Class I Type A

Breatheflex. chainsaw protective trousers that bring a new level of comfort and ease of wear for any serious chainsaw user.

When choosing a new pair of chainsaw trousers, most arborists are looking for light weight, and as comfortable and breathable as possible. Breatheflex trousers incorporate a multi-layered chainsaw shield system with Dyneema for ultimate protection, and use the lightest chainsaw stalling system available, to reduce fatigue when climbing. The trousers outer shells are made from Climasphere breathable fabrics which are also highly abrasion and snag resistant (a must for tree climbers) and the six-way stretch feature makes for the most comfortable arborists chainsaw pants on the market.

Type A (saw protection to the front of the legs only) version of Arbortecs Arborist Chainsaw Trouser, these pants share the same great features as their type C offering, but without full leg protection and with a Class I rating for saws up to 20 m/s.

Breatheflex PRO UL Chainsaw Trousers

The Breatheflex PRO Beige Chainsaw protective trouser combines advanced UL Rated front protection with a lightweight and comfortable pant. High-Viz version for additional jobsite safety. “Beige” pattern captures the classic look of denim work pants in modern materials.

Breatheflex Chainsaw Trousers. Class II Type C

Breatheflex. chainsaw protective trousers that bring a new level of comfort and ease of wear for any serious chainsaw user.

When choosing a new pair of chainsaw trousers, most arborists are looking for light weight, and as comfortable and breathable as possible. Breatheflex trousers incorporate a multi-layered chainsaw shield system with Dyneema for ultimate protection, and use the lightest chainsaw stalling system available, to reduce fatigue when climbing. The trousers outer shells are made from Climasphere breathable fabrics which are also highly abrasion and snag resistant (a must for tree climbers) and the six-way stretch feature makes for the most comfortable arborists chainsaw pants on the market.

These trousers are a great combination of serious stopping power (class 2 rating) flexibility, and breathability!

Type C trouser (saw protection to the front and rear) protection rated to Class 2 (24 m/s).

Clogger Braces

Heavy-duty braces fit Clogger trousers and can also be used on other pants. Constructed of high-quality 1.5″ wide elastic, these suspenders use alligator clips to connect. Adjustable between 30-40″ from clip to clip.

Clogger “Zero” Lightweight Chainsaw Chaps

A breath of fresh air in chap design. Designed to protect against not only chainsaws but also the unrelenting gaze of the sun and heat fatigue. Zero chaps are lightweight and breathable, adding protection rather than weight and helping you stay cool as the work becomes hot and heavy. Protection is now a breeze.

• Arrestex HP chainsaw protection
• Lightweight breathable high tenacity outer covering
• Soft poly-cotton lining
• Inner lining
• High visibility panels
• 50mm (2”) wide belt with quick release buckle

• Small overall length 94cm (37″)
• Medium overall length 99cm (39″)
• Large overall length 104cm (41″)
• All sizes have max waist circumference 126cm (49”)

Defender Pro Chaps by Clogger

The Defender PRO Arborist Chainsaw Chaps are tough, practical, and ready to defend.

The all new Defender PRO Arborist Chainsaw Chaps bring together the latest in technical fabric and design. In addition to Chainsaw Protection, these tough chaps are perfect for protecting against blackberry thorns, rough brush, and other abrasions that can cause compromising tears. The outer fabric is constructed from a new grade of specially developed nylon, increasing cut and abrasion resistance. Added to this is an oil and water resistant coating plus an internal for convenience.

Please note: these are mistakenly listed in the 2019 catalog as providing 360-degree protection. These chaps do not have saw protection to the back.

How Do Chainsaw Chaps Work? A Quick Breakdown

The most essential safety equipment you can wear when using a chainsaw is chap pants. This is coming from someone who, early in their career, was ignorant of the importance of chaps and managed to cut themselves. Now I won’t use a saw without them. So let’s find out how chaps actually work.

Chainsaw chaps work by jamming the chainsaw with layers of thick Kevlar threads. On impact, the threads plug the saw, stopping it immediately. The jamming of the saw happens before the saw passes through all layers of the chap pants. This protects the user’s leg from harm.

To help you understand things further, I’ll go into a little more detail about how this process actually works. There’ll even be a video of someone testing some chaps. I’ll then compare some different varieties of chaps and give some information on protecting other parts of your body.

How Do Chainsaw Chaps Actually Work?

The material used to make the protective layer of chaps is like Kevlar. It contains many long fibers, which will help jam the chainsaw.

To help protect the user’s leg, many layers of this material are sewn together. The more layers, the better. These layers will form a nice cushion around the wearer’s leg.

When cut, the Kevlar will jam chainsaws. This is because all those fibers in the material will get tangled in the saw. The saw will get so tangled, the chain won’t be able to spin.

Chainsaws work by spinning a chain around a bar very fast. How fast? On average, almost 90ft per second. Knowing this, we can understand how quick the saw jams, protecting our leg.

Once those threads get caught in the chain, the chain will take the threads right to the sprocket, causing it to jam. This happens in milliseconds.

Want to see someone test some chaps? Check out this video below.You wouldn’t catch me doing this

Can You Use Chaps After They’ve Been Cut?

If cut, the Kevlar will be too damaged to fix. The saw will tear most layers of the Kevlar apart. Luckily there are many layers, so your leg shouldn’t get touched.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use chaps that have been cut. Instead, you will need to get rid of them and get a new pair. There’s just no way anyway could stitch all those fibers back together.

Quality chaps can be pretty pricey, so throwing them away can be frustrating. But it’s much cheaper than the hospital bill after cutting your leg.

Can You Use a Chainsaw After It’s Been Jammed by Chaps?

The good news is you can still use your chainsaw after it’s cut through chaps. You’ll need to remove all the fibers, but this isn’t too hard.

To clean your saw, you will need to take it apart. First, FOCUS on the sprocket, making sure you remove every last thread. Then you can check over the bar and the rest of the saw. Take your time with this; you don’t want to miss any threads.

Once clean, you can put your saw back together. Then, your saw will be good to go!

Comparing Different Types of Chaps

Chaps range in quality and style. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of chaps.

Cheap vs Expensive Chaps

In general, if you can, it is best to spend more on safety equipment, and chaps are no exception.

Higher quality brands use better material, and they use more of it. As a result, more expensive pants are much thicker on average.

As I said earlier, the more layers you have, the better. A saw will cut through multiple layers, so the more layers you have, the less likely you will get cut.

Lower-quality pants won’t have the same amount of protection. They will still stop the saw, though. But you could end up with a scratch or a small cut. So low-quality chaps are still much better than nothing at all.

If you use saws at all, consider investing in a quality pair of chaps. It doesn’t take long for a saw to kick back into your leg, only milliseconds.

I was lucky when I cut myself. I managed to get away with a small cut on the top of my thigh, requiring five stitches. The femoral artery is in your thigh, and if that gets cut, it will be disastrous.

If you’re looking for the best types of chaps, check out this article: What Are the Best Chainsaw Trousers? Hear From an Arborist

Trousers vs Clip On Chaps

For me, chap trousers vs clip-on chaps come down to convenience. But, if you want a more detailed look at the difference between trousers and chaps, check out this article: Are Chainsaw Chaps or Pants Better? The Pros Cons of Each

Being an Arborist, I am cutting all throughout the day, so I find chaps in trousers work best. Trousers are still bulky and heavier than regular pants, but they’re convenient. I don’t need to put them on and take them off every time I use a saw.

Most professionals opt for trousers over chaps. Having to wear them all day is the main reason for this.

Chap trousers are more expensive than clip-on. But, if you are using them for hours a day, you’ll get your money’s worth.

One thing to note with chap trousers is their longevity. Chap trousers last approximately one year before you need to get a new pair. This is because the Kevlar material slides down the trouser leg. After a while, there will be little Kevlar protecting your legs. All the Kevlar will bunch up at the bottom of the trousers.

Your pants will be no good after the Kevlar slips; you’ll need to get a new pair. Make sure you check for bunching if you are buying a second-hand pair.

For chainsaw pants to be effective, proper care needs to be undertaken. To learn how to wash your pants properly, check out this article.

Clip-On

The more traditional clip-on chaps are perfect for backyard chainsaw users. As the name suggests, you clip them on as needed.

If you store these chaps in a cool, dry place, away from the sun, these chaps should last a long time.

If you buy quality, you will get excellent protection with either trousers or clip-on chaps.

Are There Chaps For Other Parts of Your Body?

You can cut more than your leg when you use a saw. Luckily, there’s other cut-resistant clothing you can wear.

Gloves

If you are using a small saw, consider wearing gloves to protect your hands from the saw. Big saws need two hands to operate, lowering the risk of you cutting, or the saw kicking back into your hand.

Using a small saw you can hold in one hand increases the temptation to cut and hold.

Cutting and holding is when you have the branch in one hand (for control) and cut with the other hand. This method isn’t recommended, as it’s easy to lose FOCUS and start grabbing at branches.

Chainsaw gloves work like chaps. This is because the glove has Kevlar inside, which jams the saw if cut. These gloves are an excellent layer of protection for anyone working with a saw near their hands.

Forearm Sleeves

Forearm sleeves protect your forearms for a similar reason to gloves. Using a smaller saw, people tend to cut and hold, increasing the risk of forearm and hand injury.

These sleeves are perfect for people climbers or people workout out of a cherry picker.

The forearm sleeve isn’t too common in the professional world. But, my workplace issues sleeves to everyone who uses a cherry picker.

Chainsaw Boots

Chainsaw boots are like regular steel-toed boots. The only difference is Kevlar. The Kevlar covers the boot, working the same way as other chaps.

Chainsaw boots provide excellent protection when cutting anything on the ground. When standing over anything you’re cutting, there’s a small risk of cutting into your foot. Or, the chainsaw could kick back into your foot. The risk is small, but regular boots wouldn’t be enough to protect you if it were to happen.

One downside to chainsaw boots is how big and clunky they are. These boots tend to be uncomfortable to wear, so they can become a pain when working in them all day.

Another negative is how hot your feet can get wearing them. This isn’t too much of a problem in Winter, but the Summer months will cause quite a lot of discomfort.

Conclusion

Now you know how chainsaw chaps work. I hope you will consider them when pruning next. But, if you still need convincing, check out this article.

If you’re new to pruning, you might need to fix some previous mistakes. If that’s the case, check out this article: How to Fix a Badly Pruned Tree: Learn From an Arborist

Hi, My name is Matt. As a profession, I have specialised in Arboriculture for more than seven years. I created this site to share my views on various aspects of trees to help beginners and semi-experts with pruning, planting, and cultivation of trees, shrubs, and woody plants and also their health assessments. I hope you find it useful.

The Tool Yard

How to fix, maintain be safe with chainsaws, lawn mowers, engines DIY tools and kits. Maybe some beer talk.

Why you should consider using safety chaps when using a chainsaw

In many countries, the forestry or logging industry has an extremely high death and injury rates when compared to other workforces.

This makes sense given trees are being felled and a lot can go wrong because of accidents and user failure associated with dangerous machinery.

Now think back to the good old days when chainsaws began to gain widespread use in the logging industry.

They sure didn’t and many users were horrifically maimed or killed as a result.

If that was bad enough, think of their safety gear.

No chain safe safety chaps were issued by employers 80 years ago. Instead, hungry honed blades cut through denim work jeans into bone and arteries without a care in the world.

In the present, more safety-conscious age, the modern chainsaw user has a much safer gig when chopping down a tree however they must take precautions and using properly designed safety chaps is a great way to prevent harm to your legs.

It doesn’t matter if you are a forestry worker or an experienced weekend warrior, using safety gear should be a standard part of your chainsaw practice.

If you just want to know which is a great pair of chaps then the Husqvarna protective wrap chaps are quite suitable for most users.

• 1000 denier polyester with PVC coating with Tek warp protective layers
• Can adjust the waist up to size to 42 inches
• Felling wedge/gear and acetyl Delran buckles
• Complies with ASTM f1897, American National Standards Institute z133.1, and OSHA regulation 1910-266
• Underwriter Laboratories certified

Here’s a picture an Amazon buyer left in his review. He described the situation as that he: “Put a running saw to my left leg while limbing some cedars. Strands stopped the saw and didn’t even have a bruise.”

If that proof is enough pudding for you, check out the price on Amazon

How do safety chaps protect legs from a chainsaw blade?

Let’s be upfront and make it clear that safety chaps are not a ‘suit of armour’ that will save you from every accident.

If you want absolute protection from a chainsaw, then you may as well suit up like a Knight of the Realm.

However, that’s not too practical when chopping wood, so chaps offer the versatility of movement with the knowledge they are designed to reduce the severity of the cut should an accident occur.

What we are saying here is there is a trade-off between practicality and safety here.

If the idea is safety, then placing a user in cut-retardant chaps that are too restrictive or that become too hot in itself is unsafe so many internationals safety standards for chaps and personal protective safety wear recognize this.

When a chainsaw comes into contact with the safety trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through by the blade but the inner layer of fibres (such as kevlar) are drawn out by the chain and into the machine. It wraps around the saw’s drive sprocket. The tough fibres lock the sprocket in place thus halting the chain and hopefully limiting damage to the chainsaw operator’s leg.

That said the stronger the chainsaw, the more chance of damage can occur to the user. It also depends on how fast the saw is going, the strength and angle of the saw.

Does it matter what kind of chaps I need if I am a casual or a professional user?

If you are simply doing a bit of yard work or lopping the occasional branch off a tree, it might not make economic sense in buying the best professional pants there are.

You may simply decide to use something that will help keep you safe but is perfectly functional for your needs. At a minimum though, the pants should still be designed to meet a suitable product safety standard.

To that end Husqvarna’s chainsaw chaps are ideal. An economical buy, they fit quite comfortably over your work jeans:

“First day of sawing, running a bigger saw than I had used in the past, tired and neglectful that it idled down slowly. saw pivoted in my L hand as I reached for a branch with my R hand, and I felt a “bang” on my left thigh and the saw was suddenly quiet. I looked down and had crossed the blade onto my leg. the blade was now stuffed with white strands from the chaps, and I was unscathed. Saved me from my very own trip to the ER and allowed me to cut another day”

If you don’t feel like getting your quads cut, then check out the price on Amazon.

Just be wary of buying pants that are designed only to protect from flying debris / keeping your work pants clean. These are not designed in any way to protect your long limbs from a chainsaw bar cutting into your leg. They are only good for keeping the grass off.

What if I really only want budget pants?

Remember, you should only wear pants that are designed specifically for use with a chainsaw and thus should have been fully tested to comply with the relevant safety standards.

For the cost-conscious, the Forester range of apron chaps might be the ideal choice. We hate to use the word ‘casual’ but for those that only use a chainsaw every so often, then these chaps could be ideal.

They provide good coverage for the front of your legs. The only drawback is they are not designed to protect against the really high powered saws and they certainly won’t halt an electric engine from rotating. They are do however meet the STM F1897, OSHA 1910.266 standards and are UL Certified. We suggest if your day job requires chaps, then you go upmarket, such as the Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap.

Buying safety gear gives the user the confidence that it will do what is asked of it t. i.e. reduce the chance of severe leg injury. In terms of aesthetics, Forester describes them as “sleek, durable, lightweight, and comfortable chaps are chainsaw oil- and water-resistant”.

The chaps also feature a large side and a flip adjustment belt for a perfectly secure fit.

This chap on Amazon shared his review and experience:

“I needed to drop about 8-10 small trees and just out of habit put these on. That day it was the smartest thing I did because not only did they save my legs from injury once but twice the same day. The first time I just cradled the chainsaw on my leg and had not set the brake, the chaps stopped the chain from cutting into my thigh right where I bend. I surely would have bled out before EMS got to me.”

Check out this picture of a save by this personal protective equipment:

The wearer is uninjured which is a great result because that cutting area is pretty damn close to the femoral artery.

Which, you may know is a pretty major one and a severe cut can result in a bleed out.

If you think protecting your femoral artery might be a good idea, then check out the price on Amazon.

Is it true electric chainsaws will cut through even the best chaps?

Yes, this is true as they are not configured the same as gas powered saws. As they have higher torque than gas engines, electric saws will continue to cut the chap fabric and chaps are generally not designed to withstand contact with an electric saw.

Sure, you should still wear chaps when using an electric saw but do not rely on them to reduce the chance of personal injury.

What length should chainsaw PPE chaps be?

Chaps (which go over trousers and legs) should be long enough to meet the tops of your boots.

To figure out how long your chaps need to be, measure from your waist (just below your belt where the chaps will sit) to the beginning of your foot. This length will provide suitable coverage and protection.

It’s important you order and use the right size. a shorter than necessary chap will probably result in a piece of your leg exposed which if Murphy’s law kicks into force, your chainsaw will find it. If your chaps are too long, they could be too loose, which may be annoying at best and at worst, could cause you to trip or stumble.

When ordering chaps it’s important to understand that the advertised length is the overall length and not the length of a traditional measurement of the inseam.

When you’re thinking about buying safety gear, whether it be chaps, gloves or protective eyewear, it’s always really good to remember that no one ever died just because they bought quality gear. Actually, we think the adage is no one ever regretted buying quality but you get the point.

I know we keep talking about it, whatever buying decision you make, you really should consider if your safety gear has met the requirements of the most relevant safety standard.

Your femoral artery might just thank you for it.

Did you know you can wear chaps when lawnmowing? Particularly handy if stones and any wood chips are likely to flick up at your legs. The same goes for an activity like hedge trimming. For both work environs, consider using a helmet with ear muffs and face visor.

If you’ve got this far, well done. Now, head to Amazon and have a look at the best safety chaps they have.

The Tool Yard

How to fix, maintain be safe with chainsaws, lawn mowers, engines DIY tools and kits. Maybe some beer talk.

Why you should consider using safety chaps when using a chainsaw

In many countries, the forestry or logging industry has an extremely high death and injury rates when compared to other workforces.

This makes sense given trees are being felled and a lot can go wrong because of accidents and user failure associated with dangerous machinery.

Now think back to the good old days when chainsaws began to gain widespread use in the logging industry.

They sure didn’t and many users were horrifically maimed or killed as a result.

If that was bad enough, think of their safety gear.

No chain safe safety chaps were issued by employers 80 years ago. Instead, hungry honed blades cut through denim work jeans into bone and arteries without a care in the world.

In the present, more safety-conscious age, the modern chainsaw user has a much safer gig when chopping down a tree however they must take precautions and using properly designed safety chaps is a great way to prevent harm to your legs.

It doesn’t matter if you are a forestry worker or an experienced weekend warrior, using safety gear should be a standard part of your chainsaw practice.

If you just want to know which is a great pair of chaps then the Husqvarna protective wrap chaps are quite suitable for most users.

• 1000 denier polyester with PVC coating with Tek warp protective layers
• Can adjust the waist up to size to 42 inches
• Felling wedge/gear and acetyl Delran buckles
• Complies with ASTM f1897, American National Standards Institute z133.1, and OSHA regulation 1910-266
• Underwriter Laboratories certified

Here’s a picture an Amazon buyer left in his review. He described the situation as that he: “Put a running saw to my left leg while limbing some cedars. Strands stopped the saw and didn’t even have a bruise.”

If that proof is enough pudding for you, check out the price on Amazon

How do safety chaps protect legs from a chainsaw blade?

Let’s be upfront and make it clear that safety chaps are not a ‘suit of armour’ that will save you from every accident.

If you want absolute protection from a chainsaw, then you may as well suit up like a Knight of the Realm.

However, that’s not too practical when chopping wood, so chaps offer the versatility of movement with the knowledge they are designed to reduce the severity of the cut should an accident occur.

What we are saying here is there is a trade-off between practicality and safety here.

If the idea is safety, then placing a user in cut-retardant chaps that are too restrictive or that become too hot in itself is unsafe so many internationals safety standards for chaps and personal protective safety wear recognize this.

When a chainsaw comes into contact with the safety trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut through by the blade but the inner layer of fibres (such as kevlar) are drawn out by the chain and into the machine. It wraps around the saw’s drive sprocket. The tough fibres lock the sprocket in place thus halting the chain and hopefully limiting damage to the chainsaw operator’s leg.

That said the stronger the chainsaw, the more chance of damage can occur to the user. It also depends on how fast the saw is going, the strength and angle of the saw.

Does it matter what kind of chaps I need if I am a casual or a professional user?

If you are simply doing a bit of yard work or lopping the occasional branch off a tree, it might not make economic sense in buying the best professional pants there are.

You may simply decide to use something that will help keep you safe but is perfectly functional for your needs. At a minimum though, the pants should still be designed to meet a suitable product safety standard.

To that end Husqvarna’s chainsaw chaps are ideal. An economical buy, they fit quite comfortably over your work jeans:

“First day of sawing, running a bigger saw than I had used in the past, tired and neglectful that it idled down slowly. saw pivoted in my L hand as I reached for a branch with my R hand, and I felt a “bang” on my left thigh and the saw was suddenly quiet. I looked down and had crossed the blade onto my leg. the blade was now stuffed with white strands from the chaps, and I was unscathed. Saved me from my very own trip to the ER and allowed me to cut another day”

If you don’t feel like getting your quads cut, then check out the price on Amazon.

Just be wary of buying pants that are designed only to protect from flying debris / keeping your work pants clean. These are not designed in any way to protect your long limbs from a chainsaw bar cutting into your leg. They are only good for keeping the grass off.

What if I really only want budget pants?

Remember, you should only wear pants that are designed specifically for use with a chainsaw and thus should have been fully tested to comply with the relevant safety standards.

For the cost-conscious, the Forester range of apron chaps might be the ideal choice. We hate to use the word ‘casual’ but for those that only use a chainsaw every so often, then these chaps could be ideal.

They provide good coverage for the front of your legs. The only drawback is they are not designed to protect against the really high powered saws and they certainly won’t halt an electric engine from rotating. They are do however meet the STM F1897, OSHA 1910.266 standards and are UL Certified. We suggest if your day job requires chaps, then you go upmarket, such as the Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap.

Buying safety gear gives the user the confidence that it will do what is asked of it t. i.e. reduce the chance of severe leg injury. In terms of aesthetics, Forester describes them as “sleek, durable, lightweight, and comfortable chaps are chainsaw oil- and water-resistant”.

The chaps also feature a large side and a flip adjustment belt for a perfectly secure fit.

This chap on Amazon shared his review and experience:

“I needed to drop about 8-10 small trees and just out of habit put these on. That day it was the smartest thing I did because not only did they save my legs from injury once but twice the same day. The first time I just cradled the chainsaw on my leg and had not set the brake, the chaps stopped the chain from cutting into my thigh right where I bend. I surely would have bled out before EMS got to me.”

Check out this picture of a save by this personal protective equipment:

The wearer is uninjured which is a great result because that cutting area is pretty damn close to the femoral artery.

Which, you may know is a pretty major one and a severe cut can result in a bleed out.

If you think protecting your femoral artery might be a good idea, then check out the price on Amazon.

Is it true electric chainsaws will cut through even the best chaps?

Yes, this is true as they are not configured the same as gas powered saws. As they have higher torque than gas engines, electric saws will continue to cut the chap fabric and chaps are generally not designed to withstand contact with an electric saw.

Sure, you should still wear chaps when using an electric saw but do not rely on them to reduce the chance of personal injury.

What length should chainsaw PPE chaps be?

Chaps (which go over trousers and legs) should be long enough to meet the tops of your boots.

To figure out how long your chaps need to be, measure from your waist (just below your belt where the chaps will sit) to the beginning of your foot. This length will provide suitable coverage and protection.

It’s important you order and use the right size. a shorter than necessary chap will probably result in a piece of your leg exposed which if Murphy’s law kicks into force, your chainsaw will find it. If your chaps are too long, they could be too loose, which may be annoying at best and at worst, could cause you to trip or stumble.

When ordering chaps it’s important to understand that the advertised length is the overall length and not the length of a traditional measurement of the inseam.

When you’re thinking about buying safety gear, whether it be chaps, gloves or protective eyewear, it’s always really good to remember that no one ever died just because they bought quality gear. Actually, we think the adage is no one ever regretted buying quality but you get the point.

I know we keep talking about it, whatever buying decision you make, you really should consider if your safety gear has met the requirements of the most relevant safety standard.

Your femoral artery might just thank you for it.

Did you know you can wear chaps when lawnmowing? Particularly handy if stones and any wood chips are likely to flick up at your legs. The same goes for an activity like hedge trimming. For both work environs, consider using a helmet with ear muffs and face visor.

If you’ve got this far, well done. Now, head to Amazon and have a look at the best safety chaps they have.