Best Chainsaw Chaps Reviews & Buying Guide

If you’re always out working in a wooded area, a good pair of high-quality and durable chainsaw may come in handy. But the chainsaw does not come with safety gear so you need to find one for yourself. This is where you need to wear the best chainsaw chaps available to protect the lower part of your body from any injuries.

Typically an ordinary pair of jeans will not stop a fully powered chainsaw from ripping your leg apart. But a pair of chainsaw chaps will. Chaps provide extra protection for your legs and they should be critical pieces of safety gear for anyone using a chainsaw. Although the potential for accidents when operating a chainsaw is high, the severity can be prevented. The chainsaw user should be put on an extra pair of clothing and other gear designed to reduce the severity of an accident. So, before embarking on clearing the woods, wearing a good chainsaw protective gear should be a priority on your list before you begin working.

On this page, we will look at the best chainsaw protective pants review to help find the finest to prevent yourself from chainsaw accidents.

In a hurry? Go through this table for a quick review of the chaps.

Best Chainsaw Chaps Comparison Table

Why Use Safety Chaps?

The chainsaw is by far the most valuable tool outdoor but it can also be the most hazardous machine that can lead to severe damages when used inappropriately.

In the United States and most states across the world, there are thousands of injury cases related to chainsaw reported every year involving the lower limbs the main cause being the chainsaw. Investing in a good pair of chainsaw protective gear will help reduce the nature of the injuries when there is an accident. In case it happens, the chainsaw gear endures the impact of the strong chainsaw teeth. Although the teeth may come into contact with your legs, they will reduce the severity of the cuts that may occur.

It is common to lose control when using a chainsaw, so the operator should always be armed with the best chainsaw protective pants to be safe.

How do Chainsaw Chaps work?

Let’s face it, chainsaw chaps are useful protective gears that can prevent you from a cut. They are made from several layers of materials such as Kevlar and nylon. For this reason, chaps are made to slow down the chainsaw speed to prevent the teeth from causing severe damage

In case of the chainsaw slips, it may rip off the outermost layer of your chap but the saw blade will be wrapped around by the thick inner layer made of nylon, Kevlar or polyester to stop its rotation.

These materials jam up the saw blade to prevent it from further damage and allow the user to switch off the machine in a matter of seconds before the chainsaw comes into contact with the skin.

Best Chainsaw Chaps in 2021

Our Top Picks

Here are the top five best chainsaw chaps reviews in 2021

Forester Chainsaw Apron Chaps with Pocket

These protective chaps from Forester offer excellent protection for your legs at a relatively low cost. They may not be as thick as other chainsaw pants on this list, but they will prevent severe chainsaw injuries in case of a mishap.

The Forester Chainsaw Chaps comes with so many different colors available with a wide range of waist sizes of up to fit most chainsaw operators. The side pocket is also a handy feature that prevents you from unnecessary searching through your chaps when you want to access something you need.

Just like most chainsaw gears, this one meets the OSHA standards to ensure you are safe when using the chainsaw. Durability is what you get with this specific chaps. It is made from the 1200 Denier material that is oil and water-resistant to provides further protection from unplanned chainsaw accidents.

In addition, it comes with a thick 12-layer construction for extra chainsaw safety. This protective gear is ideal for users with a waist range from 28 to 48 inches thus making it one of the best choices for a wide range of body types.

In case of a nasty mishap where your legs come into contact with the fully-powered chainsaw, these chaps will still jam up the chainsaw teeth before they go deep into the pants. They will keep your legs safe when logging.

Main Features

Husqvarna 587160704 Technical Apron Wrap Chap

These Husqvarna chaps feature some thick, quality materials from 1000 denier polyester. It is topped with PVC coating as well as a durable Tek protective layer. This blend makes it one of the best chainsaw trousers available.

The big difference is in the style of the chainsaw chaps. These chaps will cover the front of your legs to provide complete protection from all angles. The waist of these pants can be adjusted to a range of sizes of up to 42 inches. This makes it a perfect choice for many individuals who may find it hard to fit the chaps perfectly.

The gear is equipped with the Acetyl Delran buckles to guarantee proper fit and extra safety. The gear also features a pocket to store additional accessories that a chainsaw operator may need when cutting of trees. Just ensure what you put in the pockets is not too bulky or pointed to pierce through the thick material.

As if that’s not enough, these chaps come with the felling wedge with an inclined shape to allow it to fit perfectly through the tree opening.  The Husqvarna has a genuine certification that meets OSHA 1920-266, ASTM f1897 and ANSI z133.1, requirements.

Main Features

Husqvarna 531309565 Chain Saw Apron Chaps

This is another great chap from Husqvarna that is UL certified and meets the ASTM and ANSI standards for efficiency and safety. In addition, this protective gear also meets the OSHA regulation which is certified to protect you from any potential chainsaw accidents in the fields.

The apron style on this chap is specially designed to provide extra protection to the front of your legs from any possible harm. When there is an accident and the full speed chainsaw lowers on your leg, the ballistic fibers on these chaps will quickly jam up the blade of the chainsaw and stop the rotation immediately. In most cases, you will escape the incident unhurt.

Unlike other protective chaps in the market, this chainsaw chaps boasts of 600 Denier polyester on the outer layer coupled with 5 layers of Kevmallimot protective material to stop the chain from rotating.

These chainsaw chaps are also sturdy and durable and can adjust to different body types and sizes. You can get your chap in either black, gray or blue combinations.

Main Features

Husqvarna Technical Apron Wrap Chap

Just like the name suggests, this Technical chap from Husqvarna features a unique design and material to protect you from an accident. The 1000 denier polyester with a thick PVC coating plus Tek wrap protective layers is enough to prevent your legs from any harm when using a chainsaw.

It also comes with a complete set of customized features such as the 4 straps for each leg to keep the chaps in place and protect your legs from any chainsaw mishaps. Once you’ve tightened the straps, you can comfortably focus on your job without worrying about getting any injuries.

With extremely durable materials, this pair of chaps is adjustable on the waistline for up to 42 inches. This makes it one of the best choices for a broad range of chainsaw users.

The protective gear also includes extra pockets to allow the user to conveniently store or carry accessories needed for the job. If you spend most of your time clearing timber or logging, you will want a chap that can guarantee full protection in the line of work. Husqvarna Technical Apron is the best chainsaw pants for the job. It offers a mix of protection, comfort, and durability, all these at an affordable price.

Main Features

Forester OEM Arborist Forestry Professional Cutter’s Combo Kit Chaps Helmet FORCHG

Forester has yet another professional chap that is not just an ordinary safety combo but a chap that comes with safety sunglasses and a safety helmet. All these accessories provide maximum protection when using a chainsaw.

They have an excellent design to compete with the rest of the chaps in the market. They meet the Basic ANSI Z87.1 standards as well as ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009 Type 1, ASTM F1897, and Class E, G & C/Screen requirements.  This simply means that they have been tested and certifies the chainsaw safety requirements.

The outer layer is made of polyester material to prevent your body from injuries in case of a nasty chainsaw mishap. The waist size that ranges from 30-42 inches makes this chaps one of the most sort gear that can fit most chainsaw users. You will also get to enjoy the safety features that emanates from the presence of a helmet and glasses.

The kit can be used by homeowners and sawyers.

Main Features

Factors to Consider When Shopping for the Best Chainsaw Chaps

There is no doubt that the best chainsaw gear provides plenty of protection including enough coverage to your legs and enough comfort when cutting trees in the fields.

So, if you’re serious about protecting your legs from unexpected chainsaw accidents, then you have to invest in a nice pair of chainsaw chap made from durable and high-quality fabric.

Here are some key things to consider when shopping for the best chainsaw protective gear.

Materials

It goes without saying that a chainsaw chaps should be made from good materials. The most common ones are Polyester, Denier, Kevlar, and Ballistic. All these come with a different degree of protection.

Kevlar chaps are widely known to provide the best accident protection to chainsaws and are some of the most recommended types to pick. Polyester and Kevlar along with PVC pants also make great choices for protective gear.

Overall, go for a material that is durable and easy to maintain.

Design & comfort

When it comes to design, check the pockets and how easy it is to adjust the chaps to fit a different range of sizes. This makes it easier for others to use them while clearing the woods.

For comfort, you will need chainsaw chaps that will allow you to enjoy the luxury of the chainsaw. This depends on the size, weight, and breathability of the pants.

The size of the protective gear should leave enough space for movement from all angles. Sometimes you may need to escape from falling branches, so you need convenient chaps that will allow you to respond to the situation quickly.

Also, go for one with a manageable weight. Not excessively heavy to prevent from escaping from danger, and not too light to compromise on quality.

Lastly, breathability is important when you need to work during hot weather. So, go for breathable pants to serve you well during such conditions.

Durability

Durable chaps will go a long way to provide enough strength to withstand harsh surroundings. Go for brands that produce durable protective gear to avoid the cost of replacing them every time.

When an accident occurs, the chainsaw may damage the chap and it is irreversible. So don’t try to repair them, just shop for a new pair.

Certification

The most crucial factor to consider in chaps is certification.

Ensure the safety requirements of your chaps you want to buy are acceptable in your state.

The certifications to check before acquiring chaps are;

Ensure, the chaps you buy have these certifications.

Your Budget

Last of all, consider your budget. Choose the best one which meets your budget with its performance. Do not spend more money than your budget because more price doesn’t make the best price.

FAQs About Chainsaw Chaps

What are the types of chainsaw chaps?

There are two types of chainsaw protective pants: Type A and Type C.

Type A chainsaw pants are those protective pants that protect only the front of the legs. These types of pants or trousers are called apron chaps or just protective chaps, worn as conventional work clothes. Class A trousers are generally used by occasional workers or for farm or homeowner jobs. These types of trousers are worn by the fallers, firewood cutters who work on the ground as there is a low risk of being cut in the back part of the legs.

On the other side, Type C chainsaw trousers protect all around the legs and are almost like ordinary trousers. This type of the best chainsaw trousers is usually used by the professional chainsaw operators for comfort and ease of movement. Arborists prefer type C trousers as they have to climb upon and operate the saw from different positions, thus increasing the risk of being cutting. Type C is heavier than the type A trousers and highly segregating thus may lead to temperature stress if worn for labor-intensive procedures such as firewood cutting.

What are the features of good chainsaw chaps?

Fabric Resistance

This is the first and most important feature of a good protective trouser that the fabric is sturdy and strong enough to protect your legs from being cut due to an accident where a speedy running chainsaw can hit your legs. The more resistant the fabric is, the more you are safe. But note that, the higher resistant fabric makes the trouser heavy also.

Outer Protection Layer

To be a perfect protective chainsaw trouser, it must have an outer layer with oil, water, and other slippery ingredients to protect the user from any minor damages. If any accident happens and the saw comes close to your leg, first it will touch the outer slippery layer and instantly cut over that layer while the inner fabric comes out and stops the drive notch of the chainsaw.

Comfort

Another must-have condition is the protective pant will be comfortable while working. If it feels stacked with your leg, there may increase the possibility of any accidents as you won’t be able to completely focus on your work.

Ease of Use

Good chainsaw chaps should be easy to put in and take off. It also should be quick and easy to adjust. Once you have adjusted it that should be a matter of instants to put it back and get to the work. Protective trousers that are difficult to put on and take off or not stable on your fit are a bothering thing to use at your work.

Certification

Of course, certification makes complete chainsaw chaps with great reliability about your safety. There are so many institutions such as ASTM, OSHA, UL, etc. that provide certifications to the chainsaw chaps about their safety dimensions, capabilities. The certification means that these protective chaps meet the standards of the leg protection, fabrication, etc. to ensure that they will save your legs from any chainsaw accidents happen.

How to Measure perfect Chainsaw Chaps for you?

It is a very important task to take a perfect measure of your waist, height to get the right pair of chaps so that you can be comfortable at your work. Here are some steps to know the right size chaps that perfectly fits with your legs.

For half-length chaps

Sit down and keep your feet flat horizontal on the ground and take a measure of the widest part of your calf with a tape measure. Then measure the height of your chap from your ankle to the kneecap. Keep in mind that, this measurement should be correct enough to ensure that you can bend your legs at ease.

For full-length chaps

First, measure around the largest area of your thigh while wearing jeans. Your thigh can bends around two to four inches underneath the area. Then measure both of your thighs and add one to two inches to your number. Always try to get at least one inch larger for a firmer fit and two inches for a free fit.

Sometimes you may need an assistant to measure your height or waist. It’s not important how you take the measurement, it’s important to take that appropriately. You can simply measure your instep and outstep while you stand straight upright!

Apron-chaps Vs Wrap-chaps: What should be the ultimate choice?

When you have been listing for your new chainsaw chaps, you might have seen two types named Apron style and Wrap around style. The main difference between apron and wrap around chaps is apron chaps just cover the front of your leg while the back is open and wrap chaps cover your entire legs including your thighs, shins, and calves.

Apron chaps are referred to as the type A chaps that are used for occasional household applications. On the other hand wrap chaps referred to the type C chaps that are used for professional chainsaw works. Sometimes, it is said that as apron-style chaps have an open back, they are cooler than the wrap-around style chaps during the chainsaw operation. But this has less value according to the leg protection standards. While you work with any awkward positions or you need to climb with your chainsaw, you must need a wrap style trousers to ensure your full protection during your work.

Every chainsaw trousers in this list have heating issues, especially during summer. The temperature problems are almost identical with every pair of chainsaw chaps. So why you will sacrifice your safety for a make-believe advantage that turns out not to exist after all.

However, due to extra materials to wrap your entire leg, wrap chaps are of course heavier than the apron chaps and also for heavy-duty works. Moreover, the wrap chaps are quite expensive than apron styles.

Are chainsaw chaps oil and water-resistant?

Not all the chainsaw chaps models are oil and water-resistant, but some models are.

If you want perfect chainsaw trousers, you should look for the oil and water resilient feature. If your chaps are oil-proof then you will be able to wash them easily with less effort. If are waterproof then they will keep you dry during any work on the rainy season or where water can be encountered like while landscaping.

Chaps that are not water-resistant will lose their comfort if they get wet and also there’s a chance that your protection may be compromised as water-logged chaps may weigh you down thus limit your movement.

Do chainsaw chaps work with electric chainsaws?

Due to the high torque of the electric chainsaw, it is tough to stop the torque instantly. Therefore, the answer is No!

When the saw touches the chaps accidentally, the fibrous materials get intertwined with the chain and stop the chainsaw by letting down the torque of the chain. This is so effective in the case of any gas chainsaws. But if an electric chainsaw touches the chaps, the torque quickly tends to go up as RPM decreases as soon as the fibrous materials entangled with the chain.

But it is not said that chainsaw chaps are quite unable to stop any electric chainsaw. It depends actually on the speed you are operating your saw. Though chainsaw chaps are more effective for gas chainsaws, it is advised to wear the chaps during any electric chainsaw operations. In case the chap is unable to fully stop the machine immediately, but it will give you enough time to react with the accident and stop the chainsaw before any serious injuries happen to your legs.

Some models are available on the market nowadays that are specially made for the electric chainsaw user. But they are quite expensive.

We think wearing chainsaw chaps is a worthy decision whether you are using an electric or gas-powered tool.

Can Chainsaw chaps stop a fully-powered chainsaw?

This depends on the speed of the chainsaw and place of contact. But at a moderate speed, a chainsaw may not cut through the protective gear.

However, most chainsaws can attain a speed of 4000 feet per minute. And at this high speed, a good chap should reduce the severity of the damage on your legs. It simply decelerates the chainsaw’s speed for the user to take action to prevent further damage.

What type of material is found in chainsaw chaps?

The design of chaps is created with the idea of absorbing the hit from a running chainsaw and slowing down its rotating speed. This, in turn, reduces the risk of any possible injury. For this reason, they need to be designed with a thick and extremely durable material.

The most common materials used for the design include Polyester, PVC, and Kevlar.

What does chaps size do I need?

There are no standard sizes for chainsaw chaps. But they feature adjustable waists that fit properly on a wide range of sizes.

Since you will be wearing them on top of others, it’s recommended you pick a slightly bigger size than your normal body size. Most manufacturers include a sizing sheet on their products to ensure shoppers pick their right size.

How do I clean my chainsaw chaps?

Chainsaw chaps are made of a durable material and don’t require much maintenance. But it is important to check with the company’s instructions before cleaning them.

Some chaps need to be washed while others don’t need cleaning to avoid compromising their quality and capability.

Most of them require just a simple hand wash then hang them to dry. So when it comes to cleaning, ensure you check the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning your chaps.

Can I Repair chaps?

This depends on the nature of the damage. If the chainsaw chaps have suffered from a severe chainsaw’s slip, don’t attempt to repair. Get a new pair and remain safe.

On the other hand, if there are minor damages on the outer layer, you may consider repairing the chaps. Just make sure the inner fabric is not damaged.

Bottom Line

Using a chainsaw makes cutting trees in the fields easier. But it comes with its own share of risk in case it tangles. You need to stay safe. The best way to do this is to get a good pair of chainsaw chaps that will help prevent your front part of your leg in case of a mishap.

When you decide to go out in the woods to clear away bushes and cut trees, be sure you’re properly protected. Invest in a pair of high-quality chaps to prevent any serious injuries.

There is no other way to keep your body safe than getting the best chaps you can afford. You don’t have to nurse painful would from chainsaw while you can spare some little cash to get a chainsaw chaps.

Jake Leach

Jake Leach, a gardening power tools researcher, resides in the USA together with his loved ones. In childhood, he saw his dad perform gardening staff all day long. After Jake was 25, he wished to help his dad by discovering what tools could make gardening simpler. From then, he is currently performing his research and discovering what tools may be the very best for any job that is gardening. He is now 30 and expert enough to look for the best gardening tools available on the market.