Evidence from the huge number of people sustaining injuries from chainsaws every year, there is no argument that chainsaws can be dangerous to operate, even for experts. There are a number of things you have to consider when buying a modern chainsaw but safety should come first, and wearing chainsaw pants is one very important aspect of staying safe.
Why Should You Wear Chainsaw Chaps?
Simply put, buying chainsaw chaps saves lives. Investing in a pair of trousers with specialized protection for using a chainsaw is a must, even if you’re a homeowner. Lack of experience is alone a good reason to get a pair of these.
Chainsaw Chaps Types
As we have discussed in the safety section of our chainsaw buying guide, there are two major types of chainsaw trousers:
- Type C covers the whole leg offering protection on the back side and is generally worn as ordinary trousers
- Type A trousers only protect the front of the legs and are generally referred to as chaps. Can be worn over ordinary work trousers or on their own. These types of trousers are recommended for homeowners and for general use as they provide adequate protection combined with comfort and cost effectiveness.
Budget chainsaw chaps only protect from flying debris, while more expensive and professional ones have extra reinforcements like kevlar or layers of ballistic nylon to protect against chain injuries.
Safety has many aspects and we need to keep it all in mind. Starting with keeping the chain sharp and well maintained through getting the right chain in the first place, we can’t be sure enough.
Even when a mini chainsaw seems to be harmless, don’t underestimate the risk of injury.
What are the Best Chainsaw Chaps in this Year?
Husqvarna Technical Apron Wrap Chainsaw Chaps
3
Lights (pieces)
Husqvarna, one of the biggest and most respected manufacturers of chainsaws also looks after their customer’s safety.
These Husqvarna 587160704 chainsaw pants feature a 1000 denier polyester with PVC coating, with additional Tek warp protective layers. These extra layers are designed to reduce the risk or severity of an injury, providing the operator extra reaction time when chainsaw contact is made.
It has an adjustable waist size of up to 42 inches, a useful gear pocket, and acetyl Delran buckles.
These Husqvarna chaps meet ASTM F1897, ANSI Z133.1 standards, and OSHA regulation 1910-266. It is also UL certified.
This pair of chainsaw chaps is highly popular and widely reviewed, ensuring you get protection and quality for your money.
It is very rare on Amazon to achieve a 4.5+/5 review status and this pair of safety chaps have certainly managed to do so.
Forester Chainsaw Apron Chaps
2.5
Lights (pieces)
Forester has been a reliable brand for years and this apron style chainsaw chaps is no exception to supporting their good reputation.
Available in various sizes and colors, these chaps have oil and water resistant outer layers. They also include a 2-inch flip waist belt for adjustments. It features a 12 (ply) layer protection.
With these Forester chainsaw chaps, they meet ASTM F1897 specifications for leg protection as well as OSHA 1910-266 standards.
Labonville Full-Wrap Chainsaw Safety Chaps
5
Lights (pieces)
Labonville as a company was one of the first ones to make chainsaw chaps. These full-wrap chainsaw safety chaps are made in the US and feature a 6 PLY Kevlar polyester blend.
Both sides of the pants are covered by 1000 denier orange cordura, a versatile nylon fabric proven to be very resistant to snags and tears.
Of course, as expected from Labonville, these safety chaps meet ASTM F1897, ANSI Z133.1 standards, and OSHA regulation 1910-266.
Previous buyers were very happy with their purchase, impressed with Labonville’s quality chainsaw chaps and heavy duty nature of their fabric.
Other Considerations when Buying Chainsaw Chaps
Chainsaw Chaps Size
The best chainsaw chap needs to fit right to be useful, if too long, it becomes a trip hazard, if too short, it can become uncomfortable easily. Always check the manufacturer’s size chart or guide but generally, chaps are offered in S, M, and L size with adjustable waist bands.
Chap length is not the same as the length of your regular trousers, it usually means overall length. Luckily, all providers offer replacements if the wrong size is ordered via Amazon.
Certifications
The reason you should be wearing chainsaw chaps is to avoid serious injuries. There are strict regulations and standards to ensure chainsaw operators can stay safe, so better to look for these when buying the best chainsaw chaps.
ASTM International is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.
The relevant standard for chainsaws is ASTM F1897, which sets minimum requirements in a variety of areas but particularly stopping capability.
With the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards.
It is always good to look for chaps that comply with regulations for professional use, and OSHA 1910-266 for logging operations covers protective safety chaps.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that a pair of safety chaps is essential for any chainsaw operator, being a professional or a regular homeowner.
We have reviewed a number of protective trousers and these three made it to our top picks.
We liked them all, but if we really need to choose the best ones, we would recommend the Forester Chainsaw Apron Chaps for regular homeowners, while the Labonville Full-Wrap Chainsaw Safety Chaps would be a great choice for more heavy duty use and regular chainsaw jobs.
