Never open the hive without your beekeeping suit!
Never open the hive:
In shorts – you don't want bees in your shorts.
In slippers – you don't want to step on a bee.
Wearing sleeves and pants with broad openings - it is very unsettling when something is crawling up your leg.
Wearing soft clothes such as sweaters – because when bees land on that surface you will have hard time getting them of you.
You should always first light the smoker and then put on the suite.
Otherwise a spark may damage the suit. You don't want a hole on your suite or veil.
Make sure everything is well closed
While putting on the suite make sure to zip everything well.
If you leave even a tiny hole - bees will find it.
Also be careful not to damage the veil. If you have a ventilated suit be careful not to tear up the net while working with your hives. If that happens, just sew it before you go to your bees next time.
Check twice if you zipped well the jacket and the hood.
If you're wearing a beekeeping jacket check the elastic at the bottom to make sure it sticks to the body well.
Tuck your pants in your shoes so the bees don't get in.
Put your gloves over the sleeves of the beekeeping suite and also adjust the elastic to stick well.
You're ready to go!