Chainsaws are a brilliant way of cutting tough wood quickly and efficiently. An unfortunate side-effect of this is that they are also good at cutting other things, including careless people. With well over a thousand people suffering serious chainsaw-related injuries in the UK over the last decade, even occasional users will therefore do well to avail themselves of this basic protective kit from Husqvarna. With the kit containing a helmet with visor and ear defenders, Type A, Class 1 seatless chaps, and Class 0 protective gloves, Husqvarna offer a very handy starter set for anyone looking to take on occasional cutting work (chainsaw boots available separately).

We’ll begin with the chaps and gloves. The chaps are designed to fit neatly over your working trousers for added protection, with full length zippers at the back for cooling ventilation in hot weather. The gloves, meanwhile, are made from tough goat leather to enhance safety while ensuring you remain in complete control at all times. These accessories offer Class 1 and Class 0 protection respectively, thus complying with the EN381-5 and EN381-7 standards for protective chainsaw equipment. Class1 protection means that the chaps are effective against chain speeds of up to 20m/s, while Class 0 means the gloves offer effective protection against chain speeds of 16m/s. Both chaps and gloves are also made from material which is lightweight and flexible as well as tough, ensuring comfort and freedom of movement while you work.

The sturdy helmet, moreover, is fitted with ear defenders and a metal mesh visor for additional protection. The ear defenders are ergonomically optimised and easily adjusted for comfort, working with the helmet’s six-point plastic harness to ensure a perfect fit. The mesh visor, meanwhile, features a clever design which guards against dust, grit and detritus accidentally thrown up during cutting, all while allowing light through to maintain outstanding clarity of vision. Together these various items will therefore go a long way to keeping occasional chainsaw users safe when chopping firewood or engaged in other cutting work, with Husqvarna’s distinctive orange colour scheme offering the additional advantage of boosting your visibility in low light conditions.

*Make sure you are using your chainsaw safely and read our free advice article when you have a spare moment.