Chainsaw chaps.

[teg]

I have a nice pair that I'll sell you for $40 (just kidding). Chaps only work IF you wear them...

My point is, I do not wear the pair I own. You talk about getting tired... news flash for me is that I get tired a whole lot faster wearing them. Also, most of the time I'm grabbing the saw to cut something quick (putting the chaps on would triple my time making a few cuts). This is from a guy that tore up a nice set of jeans with a chainsaw when I was younger... (and tired at the end of a long day.)

We all need to recognized the fact when we get tired, we make mistakes. Extra breaks do it for me, plenty of water. Don't be in a rush...

 

[rekees4300]

Now they want to get me a pair for my birthday.

If it's a gift why are you even concerned about price? Regardless of price it's going to cost you $0. resent:

 

[void777]

Take the 120.00 chaps and thank the lord you still have a working leg........
give your S-I-L a hug and a THANK YOU.

 

[N80]

I have a nice pair that I'll sell you for $40 (just kidding). Chaps only work IF you wear them...

My point is, I do not wear the pair I own. You talk about getting tired... news flash for me is that I get tired a whole lot faster wearing them. Also, most of the time I'm grabbing the saw to cut something quick (putting the chaps on would triple my time making a few cuts). This is from a guy that tore up a nice set of jeans with a chainsaw when I was younger... (and tired at the end of a long day.)

We all need to recognized the fact when we get tired, we make mistakes. Extra breaks do it for me, plenty of water. Don't be in a rush...

Good points. Tired sneaks up on me faster than it used to. As for going to the trouble of wearing them, I will do that and have always intended to, just never got around to buying them. Now, to me, cutting a tree down or cutting up firewood is not where the big risk is so I don't know that I will always use them for that. But working in brush, briars, tangles or limbing a large tree....I'll have them on for that stuff.

 

[N80]

If it's a gift why are you even concerned about price? Regardless of price it's going to cost you $0. resent:

Well, he's my daughter's husband and I think she's going to put him in the poor house as it is.:laughing:

 

[N80]

I watched the video. Not exactly a very well set up or controlled test. However, I still think the take home message is layers. Which makes sense. And it makes sense that more layers will cost more. He also mentioned the other downsides. More layers are hotter and heavier.

I think you'd also have to match the saw to the chaps. My little Stihl is a consumer grade saw with a moderately aggressive chain. It also runs the least aggressive home owner anti-kickback chain. He was using a powerful professional saw. I didn't hear him say but I suspect that was a professional chain too.

So at the very least I think there is more to think about than just buying the most expensive ones you can find. I'll continue to research.

My S-I-L is big into Stihl and I suspect that is the brand they'll get me. I'll get my wife to help them out a little.

I did notice that the Forester brand chaps, $38 on Amazon, meet OSHA, ASTM and UL standards. They claim twelve layers. The ones he tested had 4. The Stihl brand had 9.

 

[Redlands Okie]

One think i learned a long time ago. If you have a doubt then put another tie down on the load or more nails in the board. Point is that your "doubt" might just be your subconscious telling you what you already know you need to do.
Spend the money. If the $120 pair turns out to be more than needed you wasted $80 since you were going to spend $40 anyway.

 

[ruffdog]

Cheap chaps being worn are much better than expensive ones in the closet. Point being....they have to be on the legs to work.

 

[Thisusername4sale]

I like and hate this thread at the same time. I almost exclusively wear chaps when using my 660. That's the only saw I've operated where I realize if things go bad I won't be able to control it. That said, I've never felt that way when using my 280 or smaller saws even using yellow chain. Never had any control issues on those and only put on chaps when using the 280 a couple of times when I knew I'd be in a funky reach/position but threads like this make me think twice.

 

[motownbrowne]

George, other than extra layers, better chaps will be designed to wrap around your calves. This will prevent them from getting caught on the chain and spinning around your leg exposing your fleshy parts. Also, chaps are rated by the protection they offer. I think it's in meters per second of chain speed or something like that. When comparing different models, it will help determine which offers better protection.

Personally i wear my regular stihl apron style (not wrap around) for now. They've served me well. I'm be buying a set of nicer labonville ones pretty soon. In my opinion, cost of a non issue with chaps and helmets. If they save you even one ambulance ride, they've paid for themselves several times.