Chap length

[Mark Cowdrey]

I have been thinking about chainsaw chaps and the photo with the article about Chad Vogel that Mink just posted has got me scratching my head.
I just replaced my non-wrap chaps that I wear when I am skidding & working in the wood yard. Typically when I am chopping I wear the leg wrap type. I ordered them from Labonville and, following their measuring instructions, ordered the “long” even though I am probably only around 5-8. They reach down just to the top of my ankle when they are riding on my hips which is where they tend to end up. My preference would be to have them down to just about cover my boot laces for as much protection as possible, ideally about 2″ longer. The next size is 4″ longer so I decided to stick with what I had.
The fellow in the photo I mentioned above is wearing chaps that only come half way down his shins.
A quick google search finds : http://www.fao.org/docrep/u8520e/u8520e05.htm
The lower legs & feet are major impact areas, why not cover them?
I don’t get it.

Thoughts?
Mark

[Tim Harrigan]

Don’t know Mark, but I would guess that some guys might consider them a bother that low when thrashing around in the bush. I like mine low as well, good protection from multi-flora rose in addition to protection from chain cuts.

[Gabe Ayers]

I agree with you two. I think you are foolish to wear chaps that don’t cover your lower leg and top of the boot. Those are the most likely places to get cut with a saw, particularly when limbing.
-Brad

[Baystatetom]

Last winter I was cutting a yellow birch that had a spike type branch coming out just above the root swell. I cut the branch off and it stuck straight up and down in the snow. A minute later when I was making my back cut the tip of my saw hit it on the opposite side of the tree and the husky 372 kicked back and spun right out of my hand so fast I still can’t believe it. It hit me right in the shin and pulled my chaps around so that it was able to draw a little blood on the side of my calf. I think that that was the absolute smallest cut I ever heard of from a chainsaw. But I can say I would have been better protected with wrap around chaps. I went right out and got a pair and will never buy the other kind again. Of course I also learned to take the two seconds needed to throw that branch out of the way too. The funny part was it was below zero that day I was half frozen and the shot to the shin hurt like hell. I knew I got cut but was afraid to look. I worked long enough to get another hitch down for the skidder before hiking out to the truck only to discover that I didn’t hardly even need a bandaid.

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