If your work or hobby takes you outdoors, you could come across snakes hidden in grasses, brush, or under rocks. This is why snake-proof pants exist.
Snake Pant Specifications
Snake proof pants are designed to prevent snake fangs or teeth from penetrating through the fabric and into your skin. They are built to meet certain specifications that are beyond what normal pants are made for.
Spec #1: Multiple Layers of Fabric
The secret to snake-proof pants lies in them having multiple layers of fabric. The layers included vary from brand to brand but you can always expect a similar build. When considering which to buy, keep in mind that having additional layers will further keep snake fangs from penetrating through.
Spec #2: Special Puncture-Proof Fabrics
A light and comfortable fabric like cotton is used commonly for the top of snake pants and the internal layer. While a stronger material such as nylon or rawhide are used as a liner and external layers around the groin and leg areas
If you go with leather then you can expect to be more fully protected than using weaker materials. Kevlar is another great option but maybe too expensive. Even Nylon pants can offer a degree of resistance to snake bites. Denim is probably the riskiest option as sometimes it’s just not thick enough to resist a bite’s strength and long fangs.
The materials used for the snake pants could be specially designed and trademarked by the maker.
Spec #3: More Protection In Certain Areas
Snake pants are designed with more protection around the lower leg area, and less so around the upper thighs and waist. This is because snakes simply cannot bite that high unless you are holding a snake with your hands (a different story for another article!)
Good Snake Proof Pants
TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Total Protection Snake Chaps
When Should You Wear Snake Pants?
Snake proof pants are ideal if your work or hobby keeps you in areas where snakes are common. Part of the risk snakes pose is that you usually cannot see them until it’s too late. If you can’t see the ground well, then snake-proof pants can be of help.
A good pair of bite-proof pants are helpful whenever you go hunting or exploring new spaces. Snakes can be found in many different types of places, so bringing a good pair of snake-proof pants on your trip will help remove some of your worries.
Testing Snake Pants Bite Resistance
Many brands of snake pants will run their own live snake bite tests to prove the strength of the material. In North America rattlesnakes are a popular snake type used to test the pants from their bite and venom.
Alternately, simulated snake bites use needles with a diameter of 1/20th of an inch and 2-3 joules or foot-pounds of force.
Snake pants that use branded materials like ForEverlast and Turtleskin perform their own snakebite tests. Customers can see the bite testing data before they buy a pair.
Kids and Snake Pants
Snake pants for kids are less common than for adults, but you may be able to get the smallest adult pair and fold the lower leg and use a tightened belt. You could also make your own pair or buy small snake chaps. Anything to protect your child from a venomous snake bite is worth it.
How Long Do Snake Pants Last?
Most snake pants are machine washable, and the number of times you wash the pants can affect their lifespan.
The ruggedness of the design also plays a role in extending their lifespan. Because snake pants are built to be tougher than normal cotton or denim jeans, just wearing them around open space will not age them as fast as a regular pair of pants.
Prices of Snake Pants
Snake proof pants can be more expensive than regular pants depending on the brand and materials used.
Snake pants can cost from $50 to $200-$300 for a single pair.
In comparison, a pair of snake proof chaps online can cost you $50 – $70.
Sizes of Snake Pants
Available sizes of snake pants depend on the manufacturer. Some have their own defined size terms. For example:
- Regular / Stocky
- Short / Stocky
- Tall / Stocky
- Regular / Regular
- Short / Regular
- Tall / Regular
Sometimes, these sizes can also be referred to as “skinny” or “husky.”
Where to Buy Snake Pants
If you are looking for a pair of your own then any hunting store should have you covered. And of course, Amazon is always a useful resource as well. You can also buy them from the manufacturer’s website.
Snake Pants for Different Landscapes
Snakes inhabit mountains, grasslands, prairies, farmland, trees, deserts, and rainforests. Snakes are often found hidden in tall grasses, heavy brush, and under boulders or logs. These are all habitats where a pair of snake proof pants can pay off in extra safety.
Venomous snakes can also hide in semi-urban areas such as parks, gardens, culverts, walkways, bikeways and kids’ playgrounds. It’s unlikely that anybody would wear snake pants around town, and the frequency of snake bites is low in these environments. Vigilance is your best bet.
Modifying Your Behavior To Avoid Snakes
It is possible to avoid snakes by adjusting your movements in and around areas they are likely to be in. When hiking, stay along marked common trails and pathways. You can also avoid brush areas, logs, and boulders where snakes could be hidden. Sometimes, these areas are unavoidable, and even the most vigilant person can accidentally step on or upset a hidden rattlesnake.
Snakes won’t ever go away on their own, so as the saying goes it is better to be ‘safer than sorry,’ and wear a good pair of snake pants.
