Rattlesnake-proof clothing

[TheGrey]

Hello! I am hoping that the hivemind will have information for me, because there's all sorts of conflicting information on the net.

I have a friend that does a lot of yardwork, and a great deal of this seems to be clearing out waist-high weeds in yards that back up to the greenbelt. He has encountered rattlesnakes on more than one occasion. Fortunately, the rattlesnakes rattle their warning and let him know to back off- but there is always that chance of being bitten without seeing them. He picked up gaiters, but when he's weeding, he has to grab hold of the monster thistles and yank them by the roots, by hand.

I've been searching the internet to see what is made for arms, for hands, and even for chest protection against snakebite. Some sites suggest leather, some suggest canvas, some suggest cordura...while other sites state that these don't work.

The actual clothing is not the issue- I can sew up gaiters, chaps, sleeves, gloves, or what have you. The issue is: which material would be best? It's got to be flexible, preferably not stiff or too uncomfortable/heavy, but it has to prevent rattlesnake teeth from touching his skin.

I need input, please. Does anyone have experience in this area? What have you found that works for you?

Oh, and please don't say, "The best way to prevent being bitten is to avoid going where snakes are located," because this is his job and he's not going to stop. That's not helpful.

[ray1970]

Kevlar maybe? Not sure.

[Great-Kazoo]

Use a high density foam like used in motorcycle gear, woven in between leather
https://www.amazon.com/Replacment-Mo...cle+mesh+armor

[SouthPaw]

This is what we use at work:

https://www.grainger.com/product/9AG...170814173456:s

[Wulf202]

There's two tactics when building these. Something so tuff the snake can't peirce it. Something so thick the fangs can't hit flesh.

Both have serious disadvantages for use on the hands. You basically cannot make the dexterous areas out of these materials.

A hard leather might work but would soften over time. Cordura canvas and Kevlar do not resist piercing with single layers. If you can easily sew it a snake can bite it.

The gators work well because the shin and calf are not very flexible.

The cheapest way to armor the hands is to find 3d printed or injection molded plate gauntlets.

When I cleared ditches by hand I would plant a shovel/fork/spike hard very near where I wanted to put my hands and listen. The snakes will move or rattle most of the time.

[mb504]

I think he just needs to get one of these for his clearing needs... very effective!

[TheGrey]

I knew this would be the place to get ideas!

Padded sections would work best for the parts covering the body that don't move very much...I'm wondering if I might be able to make a pattern for gauntlets that have two layers of cordura, with a thin sheet of foam or suede between them, and maybe leather on the palms and underside f the fingers?

Maybe I'll locate some Carhartts at the thrift store and cannibalise them, as Great-Kazoo suggested to me.

mb504, what's the turn radius on that thing? It'd be a good fit for the football-field sized yards, but not the suburban areas...

[ray1970]

I wonder if a snake could bite through kydex?

[APEXgunparts]

I have a relative who used to work for this company:

http://www.warwickmills.com/TurtleSk...Equipment.aspx

The material they used combined with the weave they engineered made a material called "Turtleskin"

http://turtleskin.com/outdoor/snakearmor

It has a multitude of applications.
You may want to look at the glove selector:
http://turtleskin.com/glove-selector?limit=all

I have seen the law enforcement gloves demonstrated, a surgical needle won't penetrate it will bend!

Richard

[68Charger]

mb504, what's the turn radius on that thing? It'd be a good fit for the football-field sized yards, but not the suburban areas...

Depends on the tractor...

Called a boom mower... I'd love to have one here in TX, great for mowing ditches without driving in it- some never dry up here.

ETA: that's like a $15,000 mower, NOT including tractor