Beekeeping can be a really rewarding past-time activity. You get to save a lot of money since local honey can be really expensive, as well as beeswax. Also, you get to have natural remedies like bee pollen and propolis at the comfort of your home, and your garden will have better production. All you need is a beekeeping starter kit and a bit of knowledge. Your backyard beehive starter kit can be cheap, and you can start with little to no preparation.
So, if you are interested in being a beekeeper because of the reasons we mentioned above, or for simple enjoyment and entertainment, stay with us. We’ll go over the most important things your beekeeping starter kit should have, and we’ll help you build the ultimate backyard beehive starter kit with a small investment. But, before we get to the actual products you’ll need, let’s go over the most important aspects that any beekeeper beginner should know.
What is beekeeping and how do you benefit from it?
Beekeeping has become a really popular activity in the past few decades. Especially since bees are becoming extinct and people have a natural instinct on trying to save them. Many resorts to keeping bees themselves, as this can be really rewarding. Getting a bee hive starting kit is really simple, and being a beekeeper isn’t a demanding task either. You can do it, help the environment and have a lot of satisfaction from it.
Did you know that honey bees take up for about 30% of the world’s food production? By keeping bees, you help the world economy, environment and you get to enjoy the many health benefits of your own honey production.
Since we went over the most important aspects of beekeeping as an activity, let’s go over the basics aof building your own backyard beehive starter kit.
What should your beekeeping starter kit include?
If you want to be the ultimate beekeeper, you need to start off with the basics. Of course, before getting your bees, you need to have the proper beekeeping tools and equipment. Many beekeeping for beginners books will give you guidance on what your beekeeping starter kit should include, but reading beekeeping books takes time. In order to help you out and save you some time, we’ve compiled a list of the beekeeping starter kit that will serve you in the future and while you are a beginner. Here is what you must have
- Beekeeping veil and beekeeping clothes
- Hive tool
- Entrance reducer
- Frames for the hive kit
- Bottom board
- Telescopic cover with inner cover
- Beekeeping gloves
- Bee smoker
- Bee colonies
- Bee brush
- Bee smoker fuel
- Beekeeping insurance
- Uncapping fork
- Queen Bee catching clip and marking tube
- Frame Grip
However, you should know several things. These are the basics, but getting them separately will take you a lot of time and research too. As a beginner, you probably don’t know where and how to get the right ones. Especially if you are buying them separately. Regardless of what you opt for – getting a complete backyard beehive starter kit or getting the items one by one, you should know where to search for them.
So, how do you find the best backyard beehive starter kit equipment?
There are several places where you can buy beekeeping equipment. First, you have your local shops which usually have a limited range of options. Next, you have large companies selling beehive equipment, but usually these places give little to no information about the products, so you end up trying to find your way on your own. Lastly, you have a way to do it online – which is probably the best option. Buying your equipment online is by far the most convenient option in terms of time and energy efficacy. You can easily do research, compare items and find the best one according to your budget. In order to save you some time, we’ve done the research ourselves – or at least our experts did. Here are your best backyard beehive starter kits that will get you up and running in no time:
1. Blisstime Beekeeping Starter Kit
Regardless of your experience, the Blisstime beekeeping starter kit is an absolutely great buy. It features the essential tools for both beginners and pros. You’ll start off beekeeping like a pro, whether you are one or not. Most importantly, it has great quality. You can basically use it regardless of the weather.
The kit features an entrance feeder, a stainless steel smoker, a stainless steel grip, tools for beehives and tools for uncapping. The manufacturers put a lot of work in the unit, so it has a strong bottom and a strong body. We’ve also noticed that it is pretty convenient too.
We really loved the soft brush – it is as soft as it should be for separating the bees and the frames. You simply remove the frame and shake it a bit. This dislocates the bees, and you brush the honeycomb to take off the excess honey. As a beginner, you’ll probably find the beekeeping grip to be quite useful. Beginners often have a hard time avoiding hurting the bees, so with the grip and the amazingly designed entrance feeder, you shouldn’t have a problem with it at all. You’ll feed the bees without disturbing them.
Let’s talk numbers for a bit. The Blisstime beekeeping starter kit is 16.2 inches long, 8.8 wide and 5-inches tall. As such, it isn’t too bulky, yet it is the perfect option for beginners in beekeeping.
- Has a great smoker
- Functional brush for beginners
- Handy uncapping tool
- Convenient size
- Stainless steel smoker
- The instruction manual on the unit isn’t too helpful
2. CO-Z Stainless Steel Beehive Kit
Another impressive kit is the CO-Z one. Starting from the smoker, the set is absolutely a great value for the money. It has a stainless steel body which looks nice and works perfectly. The most important feature of this beehive starter kit is the heat shield protection in it. As a beginner, you’ll simply love this feature because you cannot burn your hands while operating int.
Besides being handy for you, the shield has a positive effect on the bees. With stinging put to a minimum, the bees will be calm and relaxed, enabling you to do your thing.
The unit is quite easy to handle, and works perfectly, even as a professional one. In fact, the smoker weighs only 1.9 pounds and it comes in dimensions of 5x12x9 inches, being a compact and a cute unit. You can easily collect the honey and enjoy a smooth yet professional beekeeping experience.
We simply love the well-build stainless steel body because it speaks for the overall quality of the unit. In addition to this, the plate base is removable. It is also perforated for reasonable airflow.
Considering the price of this baby, you’ll be amazed by the durability it has. Although it is quite budget-friendly, the unit is quite sturdy and is really resistant. So, if you are afraid of the bees stinging you, this is the most relaxing and calming unit you can possibly find. It offers ease for beekeeping, and it is a great buy in general.
- Heavy-duty smoker
- Features a metal hook
- Made from stainless-steel
- Some reports say that the airflow is insufficient
3. Mann Lake – Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit
The Mann Lake backyard beehive starter kit is a great option for anyone who likes to get in the game like a pro. Even if you do it as a hobby, this USA made beekeeping starter kit will be something you fall in love with. Also, it comes from a really reputable manufacturer in the world of beekeeping, so you know you can expect top-notch quality. The Mann Lake basic beekeeping starter kit comes completely assembled, so it is a great option for beginners who like hassle-free units.
In addition, it features the most important accessories that beekeepers must have. It is simply a pleasure from the inside out. Especially since it has a painted hive body with it.
In order to get a hive running, you’ll only need this set. It has all covers (the inner and the top), it has a whole body and frame too. Besides these, it also features a solid bottom and an entrance minimizer.
Unlike other units, this one weighs a bit more – 36 pounds, but it is really sturdy at the same time. It is also great for those who seek secure handling of their beehive.
What we couldn’t help but notice was the additional equipment it comes with the unit. For instance, the set comes with a pair of leather gloves which are really comfortable. Also, you get a bee veil, a hive tool and a guarded bee smoker. Moreover, by getting this kit, you get an assembled bottom board. You won’t need to lose your valuable time at all. To top it all, you’ll also get a telescoping cover and an inner cover.
We noticed that it is a really spacious beehive. It is well-designed and resistant to sunlight and heavy rains.
- Features all essential equipment for bees
- Fully painted and assembled
- Handy safety equipment
- Doesn’t include a feeder
4. HLPB Beekeeping Tools Kit
The first thing you see by looking at the HLPB beekeeping tools kit is the smoker. It is absolutely stunning – and it is probably one of the most functional ones on the market. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you’ll love it. It is of high-quality, heats nicely and provides great airflow. The smoker is also popular amongst the beekeeping community as one of the most durable ones.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t come as a surprise. It is made from high-quality stainless steel. This material is resistant to regular rusting and wear and tear from other. Also, since it is made of high quality, it is safe to work with. We say safe because it has a heat shield. You practically can’t burn your hands while operating the unit.
Also, the beekeeping starter kit comes with a mounting hook and a safety hook. These two are safe and add overall convenience to your beekeeping experience. You hang the unit and your job is done.
Another interesting thing about it is the vinyl bellows. These come with a removable base plate and this adds up to a total of great airflow of the unit.
Another thing you will certainly like is the vinyl bellows which we found to be a top-class feature. Along with the removable base plate, it provides sufficient airflow. We should also mention that the smoker doesn’t come alone. You have an uncapping for tool, a synthetic bee hive brush, beehive tools, hive frame grip and entrance feeder. It is a great kit that will save you a lot of time by not buying the items separately.
- Very functional smoker
- Features many beehive tools
- A handy synthetic bee hive brush
- High quality, stainless steel bee hive smoker
- The brush might lose bristles if not used carefully
5. The Magnificent BEE 6 Piece Beekeeping Starter Kit
Last but not least, we have the Magnificent BEE starter kit. It is the kit that has many great features and has 6 pieces in total. It is a simple yet really helpful beekeeping starter kit. It has an uncapping tool a hive smoker, a scraper and a bee feeder. The entrance feeder is easy to use, especially by beginners.
The whole unit is pretty compact, so the storage isn’t a problem either.
We noticed that this cheap beekeeping starter kit is made from several materials. First, it has a stainless steel body, but there is some plastic and wood used too. Regardless of the materials used, it is quite resistant to damage, and the body is pretty sturdy.
- Great bee feeder
- Nice frame grip
- The smoker is pretty effective
- Has plastic
We hope that we helped you pave the path on your beekeeping journey. All of the kits above have their own value. So, make sure to find one that will suit your needs and preferences.