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Chainsaw chaps are an absolute must for anyone who is working with these intense, extremely dangerous power tools.
Without chaps, you may find yourself with a serious and potentially even fatal injury from a chainsaw accident.
Read on to learn more about these essential protective products and how they can keep you safe.
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best chainsaw chaps:
Comparison of the Best Chainsaw Chaps
Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
Husqvarna 531309565 Chain Saw Apron Chaps  | ||
Husqvarna 531309503 Classic Chaps  | ||
Forester Chainsaw Safety Chaps  | ||
STIHL 0797 333 9200 Black Protective Chain Saw Chaps  | ||
Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap  | ||
Notch Armorflex Chainsaw Protective Pants  | ||
ECHO 36 In. Chainsaw Chaps  |
How Do Chainsaw Chaps Work?
Chainsaw chaps keep your legs protected while you are operating a chainsaw. Have you ever been cutting through a log, and at the end of the cut, you are suddenly slicing much faster than you realized and you have to pull the saw up away from your legs?
Chaps will help you out and make sure your saw will not hurt you even if you are not able to pull it away in time. Chaps are made of synthetic fibers that will bind up your saw’s chain and make it halt almost immediately, so that it will not cut through to your skin.
How to Size Chainsaw Chaps
When determining the right size for your needs, it is important to consider the length of your inseam. This is the seam that runs on the inner part of your pants legs.
If you go off of your inseam length, you will be able to find a pair of chaps that will cover you from your waist all the way to the tops of your boots, leaving no part of the front of your legs uncovered.
You should also take into account your waist size, although that is often more adjustable with strap systems on the chaps available on the market today.
Review of the Best Chainsaw Chaps
We have compiled a list of the all around best chainsaw chaps for today’s users:
Best Overall:
Husqvarna 531309565 Chain Saw Apron Chaps
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People love the different color options available with these chaps. Most chaps only come in one color, the brightest color possible (orange), but with these chaps, you have some choices. You can choose to go with gray, black, or blue chaps.
What We Love About It
We like that these chaps will be easy to take care of. Anyone who has ever used a chainsaw knows that whatever you are wearing will certainly get very dirty, but with these chaps, maintenance is a breeze. Just rinse them off and wait for them to dry, which they will quickly do.
Who’s This Perfect For?
Both homeowners and professionals had a lot of excellent things to say about this product. It is versatile – comfortable enough to be worn every day on the job, easy enough to be used by someone without a lot of sawing experience.
Final Thoughts
These chaps are a phenomenal option for anyone to use, whether they plan on casual occasional use or tough every day wear. With the wide range of colors available, the ease of maintenance, and the compliance with all necessary safety standards, these chaps are a must.
Runner-up:
Husqvarna 531309503 Classic Chaps
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People appreciate that they will not need to spend a ton of time cleaning these chaps. Whether you are sprayed with dirty water from a soaked through tree trunk, or your saw leaks engine oil on you, these chaps are resistant to the worst messes.
What We Love About It
We appreciate that this model has five separate layers of protection from chainsaw blades, including a layer of Tek warp, a layer of PVC coating, and three layers of kevmalimot yellow line protective material. Your chainsaw will never be able to get through all that!
Who’s This Perfect For?
If you run on the hotter side (temperature wise, of course) these chaps are a great option for you. Many chaps can make users feel overheated, but multiple buyers report that that is not the case with these comfortable, airy chaps.
Final Thoughts
These Husqvarna chaps are an excellent product and our clear choice for runner-up to best overall. Their five layers of protection combined with their comfortable, cooler feel sets them apart from the rest of the field and gives them a satisfaction guarantee for anyone who uses them.
Best for the Money:
Forester Chainsaw Safety Chaps
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People who bought these chaps were big fans of how adjustable they were. Unlike many other chap models, these bad boys have two different buckles you can use to adjust the sizing, ensuring comfort on both the legs and in the waist area.
What We Love About It
We thought there was no way you would be able to find a good set of chainsaw chaps for such a low, low price, especially not from the reputable Forester brand. But we have never been so happy to be wrong! These chaps are a steal of a deal.
Who’s This Perfect For?
These chaps will not be able to go the distance when it comes to use with electrical chainsaws. If you rely on a saw with a gasoline motor, this is an awesome option for you. They will bind up properly with gas motors but not with electrical models.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for some chaps that will save your legs and save your budget, you will not be able to find a better option than these Foresters. With the wide range of different colors and sizes, the maximum adjustability, and the reflective stripes, these chaps have got it all.
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
Users like that these chaps cover almost all of their leg, but are not full pants. The roughly seventy percent coverage these chaps provide give their users sufficient peace of mind, while at the same time not limiting user movement at all.
What We Love About It
We appreciated how comfortable these chaps are to work in. It is the worst when you feel like you have to choose between being able to work for long stretches of time and being as safe as possible, all because your chaps are weighing you down. That is not the case with this model.
Who’s This Perfect For?
If you plan on doing a lot of work out in the woods or in other areas that may be more densely forested or planted, these chaps are a great option for you. They will fit you snugly enough so that you will not catch your chaps on tree branches or other obstacles.
Final Thoughts
These chaps are ideal for anyone who will be working long stretches of time outside of controlled environments such as a workshop. But even if those aspects do not apply to you, there is no way you will fail to appreciate the design, comfort, and protection of these chaps.
Best Husqvarna Chainsaw Chaps:
Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
Recent buyers are big fans of the high quality material used when manufacturing these chaps. Their layers are wrapped in Tek material, and the outer surface of the chaps has an additional PVC coating for even more protection. You can’t get better than that!
What We Love About It
We appreciated one of the intentional design features on these chaps that we have not seen on any other chaps available on the market today. These chaps not only have an outer pocket, their outer pocket is detachable – meaning if you do not need it, you can take off some of that extra weight.
Who’s This Perfect For?
If you are a little spooked at using a chainsaw and want to take the maximum safety precautions possible, you should go with these chaps. They fully wrap around a user’s legs to ensure protection for the backs and sides of your legs as well, even extending down to a user’s ankles.
Final Thoughts
These apron chaps from Husqvarna are the real deal when it comes to total protection from your chainsaw. They also have a number of other excellent features, including a detachable pocket and an enhanced buckling system for greater durability that will last.
Best Kevlar Chainsaw Chaps:
Notch Armorflex Chainsaw Protective Pants
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
Users appreciate the thoughtful design on these chaps, particularly the addition of a reinforced area around the knees. Notch used Armortex abrasion resistant fabric containing DuPont Kevlar fibers for maximum protection in that area, which will save your knees in any sort of chainsaw accident.
What We Love About It
We liked that Notch has somehow hit on the perfect combination of protection and flexibility in their fabric. Despite the five layers of Avertic Engtex high performance protection, users report these chaps are still super comfortable and will bend with you wherever you need to move.
Who’s This Perfect For?
If you are on the shorter side and are sick and tired of chaps not accommodating your body type, your frustrations are over. Users report that these chaps can easily be rolled up a couple of inches around the waist, and they will not become bunchy or uncomfortable like other models.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the best Kevlar reinforced chainsaw chaps in the game, look no further than this option from Notch. With their extra protection in the knee area, their increased flexibility, their adjustable sizing, and more, you will not be disappointed.
Best Echo Chainsaw Chaps:
ECHO 36 In. Chainsaw Chaps
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People who purchase these chaps love how adaptable they are in sizing. They will accommodate any waist size from thirty inches all the way up to forty two inches. Forget needing to buy multiple separate chaps so you and your spouse can both use them!
What We Love About It
You were probably wondering when an Echo brand was going to pop up on this list, weren’t you? There is something to be said for enduring customer service and Echo most definitely still provides it. If there is any issue with your purchase, Echo will commit to making it right.
Who’s This Perfect For?:
If you are looking for protection when using a wide range of different power tools in your yard work, you should definitely go with this option from Echo. Multiple users say they feel comfortable wearing these chaps not just when working with chainsaws, but also when operating splitters and other sharp machinery.
Final Thoughts
These are the absolute best choice from the reliable power tool brand Echo. They can be easily adjusted to work with a wide range of waist sizes, they are versatile enough to be used with a bunch of different kinds of tools, and they provide high quality protection.
In summary, here are the best chainsaw chaps:
Types of Chainsaw Chaps
There are many different options for chainsaw chaps. Here are some of the most popular.
Type A
If you spend any time looking into chainsaw chaps, you will see that they are typically sorted into “Type A” or “Type C” chaps. Type A chaps are the most common, and are chaps in the true sense of the word – the fabric only covers the front part of your legs, with straps that go around the back to secure them in place.
Type C
Type C chaps are technically not really chaps at all – they are designed to resemble full pants that you pull on over whatever pants you are already wearing. They provide a wider range of protection than Type A chaps, but they are also heavier and bulkier.
Kevlar Chaps
You may recognize the word “Kevlar” from descriptions of bullet proof vests – and yes, this is the exact same Kevlar used here! Kevlar is a type of synthetic fiber that is five times stronger than steel, yet still remains lightweight.
Leather Chainsaw Chaps
Leather fits the classic image of chaps, but it may be more appropriate for wearing to your local rodeo than when actually operating a chainsaw. It is best to go with synthetic fibers when it comes to chainsaw chaps, since those will actually bind up the saw and stop it from running.
Full Wrap Chainsaw Chaps
Full wrap chainsaw chaps are basically just another way to say “Type C” chaps. These are chaps that wrap all the way around your legs – hence the language of “full wrap.” Some full wrap chaps will only wrap around your calves, not the upper parts of your legs.
How and Why To Use Chainsaw Chaps
Using personal protective equipment when operating a dangerous power tool such as a chainsaw is just common sense. You would never drive around in your car without wearing your seat belt, or ride your bike without wearing your helmet, would you? The same logic applies to working with chainsaws.
Chaps protect your legs from your saw – it is worth noting that you have several large arteries and veins in your leg, and if those areas are impacted, a chainsaw accident can easily become fatal. Chaps are designed with fibers that are specifically intended to bind up a chainsaw and stop it running almost instantly.
Oftentimes, chaps are enough to stop a blade from ever even getting through the chap material itself to your pants or to your flesh.
Make sure you follow any included instructions about washing and drying your chaps to keep them performing at the highest level. And if you do accidentally cut your chaps, replace them immediately. Check out the video below for a more thorough overview of what we just described:
Chainsaw Pants vs Chaps – Are Chainsaw Chaps and Chainsaw Pants the Same?
As we mentioned above, people tend to throw around the word “chaps” a lot when describing this kind of personal protective equipment, but there is a fundamental difference between chaps and pants.
Chaps will only cover the front part of your leg, while pants will wrap all the way around the same way your everyday pants will. Pants tend to constrict your movements a bit more, while chaps provide a smaller amount of coverage – so it is really up to each individual user what they feel most comfortable with.
Conclusion
Chainsaw chaps are not an option for anyone who wants to fully embrace safety when using a chainsaw. Make sure you find the chaps that will work best for you, taking into account sizing and the types of fibers your chaps are made of. You can’t go wrong with any of our options here!
People Also Ask
Here are answers to some of the most common chainsaw chap questions:
How Should Chainsaw Chaps Fit?
Chainsaw chaps should be slightly more baggy on you than your regular pants would be, but not so baggy that you have difficulty keeping them up (no sagging here!). In order to provide the best protection, your chaps should fit well but still allow a wide range of movement.
What Are Chainsaw Chaps Made Of?
The best chainsaw chaps are made of synthetic material – as mentioned above, any sort of natural fabric such as leather or cotton will not actually serve the purpose of binding up a chainsaw. The best chaps are made of tougher material such as Kevlar.
How to Clean Chainsaw Chaps
The answer to this question will depend on your particular chaps. As you may have noticed above, different chaps can have different cleaning requirements. Some chaps can only be hand washed, while some can be machine washed, but only in cold water. Most chaps require being hung out to dry.