Are these chaps any good? Do I need any?

[Dmitry]

I got 12 cords cut and split ready to burn. Did it myself. Everything was cut from logs or of big brunches that was already on a ground. Necessity of chaps never crossed my mind. Do I need any if most of the wood I cut is already on a ground?

If I do, are these any good?
http://www.lowes.com/pd_192767-8688...Bean@22222222]&productId=3390506#BVRRWidgetID

 

[Nocattom]

Just picked up a pair myself this year. It's like safety glasses there only good if you have them on. $55.00 on Amazon.

 

[D8Chumley]

I have Husky chaps in orange that look like them best I can tell. I'd say any chaps are better than no chaps, I haven't really tested mine except a small 1.5" cut in the cover at ankle height

 

[Gboutdoors]

Only need them if you are cutting wood!!

 

[DoubleB]

I think you should wear chaps just as if the trees were standing or otherwise. (Like wearing your seatbelt on your daily commute, just like on long trips.)

Advice people gave me was any chaps are fine as long as UL certified (as Lowes says these are) and comfy enough that you will wear them every time.

That said, I'll confess that sometimes I don't wear chaps on occasions that I use my electric chainsaw, since they say the torque curve of the electric motor is too much for the chaps to stop. Still, I usually wear them anyways since it's probably better than jeans vs. electric chainsaw and it's a good habit.

 

[lost in the woods]

I go back and forth. . . I will wear my chaps for a few weeks then I get lazy and do not. . . . I am currently trying to be vigilant and wear them all the time. . . . id look for a pair of ''wrap chaps'' they wrap around your calf and ankle for extra protection down in that area. . . also go if you are cutting in the summer time b/c that's where your copperheads and rattlesnakes want to nail you

 

[KB007]

Do you have house insurance? Car insurance? Even Life insurance?

Chaps are just another form of insurance, trying to insure your bodily parts from some kind of accidental introduction to the chainsaw.

I never go shooting without my eyes and ears, I never use my saw without my chaps.

As for those ones in particular, they don't wrap all the way around the calves. Accidents are funny things, they happen in the most inopportune ways, so having something that protects only part of your leg is not as good as something that wraps around the whole calf for more protection.

 

[johneh]

No you don't need them if you have a good life ins. for the better half or a real good health care package
You don't need them until you need them then it's to late

 

[cachunko]

You only need them if the chain is rotating on the bar and it touches your leg at the same time.

 

[Dmitry]

Ok , I guess it's better to use them not knowing why you need them than not use them and find out once why you should have wear them every time .

 

[D8Chumley]

You only need them if the chain is rotating on the bar and it touches your leg at the same time.

Not entirely true. Read post #29
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/chaps-while-cutting.154237/page-2

 

[Wildo]

These are cheap insurance & made in USA.
(broken link removed to http://www.labonville.com/Full-Wrap-Chainsaw-Safety-Chaps-Parts-_c_80.html)

I have these and love them.

Remember that your chaps should be long enough to cover your metatarsal, this is very important when it comes to keeping your feet on your feet if you don't have chainsaw boots and extra protection if you do.

For example: I wear 34" length pants but I wear 36"length chaps

 

[TreePointer]

The cost (ER visit, pain & suffering, lost wages, loss of limb, death) is too high not to wear chaps. I wear them every time I run a saw.

+1 on Labonville full-wrap chaps. Solidly made in the USA.

As mentioned, make sure to follow measurement directions. The inseam on my jeans is 32", but measuring from the top of my belt to my instep is 39". The 40" chaps fit me perfectly.