STIHL’s ADVANCE range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to be flexible, hard-wearing and comfortable, but you don’t just have to take our word for it. There are STIHL customers all over the country who think that our X-Light, X-Shell, X-Flex and X-TREEm protective clothing has the X-factor!
Find out what two STIHL personal protective equipment wearers have to say about the ADVANCE range here…
Richard Hunter, lecturer in Forestry and Arboriculture at Newton Rigg College in Cumbria
At STIHL, we provide machines and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to colleges around the country to support the learning and development of young people who want to work in these industries, and we have supplied Newton Rigg with ADVANCE PPE for several years.
“I teach forestry skills on a daily basis and the STIHL ADVANCE clothing is my go-to PPE. I use it for all my teaching, whether that be chainsaws, grass trimmers or wood chippers.
The colours, materials and cut of the orange X-SHELL jacket make it a perfect, practical jacket. The STIHL jacket is snug and fits really well, which is great when I have a tool belt on. The colour and reflective parts makes it easy for my students to see me even in the gloom of a Spruce plantation! I like the breast and arm pockets as it keeps my phone close to hand but not in the way of the tool belt.
The length is just right; it allows movement and access to trouser pockets, but it’s also long enough to keep me warm in the snow. The orange jacket is so good that I also got the peat-coloured version for my non-practical days of teaching.
I also wear the X-FLEX chainsaw trousers, which are very comfortable. Again, they are snug but they allow movement in all directions. They have plenty of pockets and a really strong outer layer. They also dry really well after a wet day in the woods.
Simon O’Rourke, award-winning chainsaw carver and STIHL ambassador
At STIHL, we have been working with Simon since 2017, and have been supplying him with chainsaws, protective clothing and other machines since then.
“If there’s an ‘old faithful’ of chainsaw trousers in my PPE cupboard then the STIHL ADVANCE X-FLEX design A chainsaw trousers definitely fit the bill.
These chainsaw trousers feel strong and hard-wearing, but are really comfortable. I’ve been so impressed with the quality of the material and the durability over time, even when clambering over logs in the wet!
I’ve worn (and worn through) so many different types of chainsaw protection over the years, and these trousers are exceeding my expectations. Reinforced lower legs and waterproof knees are a bonus when I’m out on site carving the lower parts of a sculpture in the wet, and in hot weather, having the vents on the backs of the legs is a great help too.”
We’re really proud of all the thought that goes into creating protective clothing that works hard for you when you’re working, so it’s great to hear from the people who wear our clothing every day. Let us know what you think of STIHL Personal Protective Equipment in the comments below.
Hi can you buy a new insides to your helmets? The back adjustment strap is broken on mine .
Hi, on most of our helmets, you can order a replacement back strap, although it does depend which model. If you let us know which helmet you have, we can look up the part number for you although you will need to order it via a STIHL Approved Dealer. Alternatively, you could just take it into a STIHL Approved dealer and they will be able to look up the part number and place the order for you. You can find your nearest one here: https://shop.stihl.co.uk/pages/dealer-locator
Thanks, STIHL GB
Where is there an outlet close to Glasgow where I can physically try on the clothing before purchase?
I’m so frustrated having to return ill fitting chainsaw PPE, purchased on the internet.
I’m a novice and can’t attend course until I’m properly equipped with class A kit.
Hi Andy, you can find your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer here: https://shop.stihl.co.uk/pages/dealer-locator. I would suggest giving them a call before you visit though as they may not carry a huge range of PPE in stock so it would be best to check that they have your size. Thanks, STIHL GB
Hi -hoping you may reply as when I e-mailed Stihl GB they did not. Over a year ago I got the Advance X – Vent helmet. I looked after it, I value my head, so did not chuck it around, but one of the clips holding the cradle straps to the helmet interior broke. Went to an approved Stihl dealer, replacement part came up on system, but they were unable to order. Discontinued apparently. I bodged the helmet with heavy duty staples, then another clip broke. I persevered until the limb of a tree came back at me. My fault, I did not move far enough back as I felled it, but that was it for this useless helmet. What remained of the cradle strap crumpled and the helmet gave me a bloody nose. Grabbed an old, but in date, Husqvarna Technical helmet off someone who had left. Much better design. So my questions are 1) are replacement interior bands truly available, as it would appear not, and 2) will the design of these helmets interior fixings be improved? Until they are I am unlikely to return to Stihl helmets. I work among real Husqvarna enthusiasts, I am the only one running Stihl kit. I love it…just not the helmet! John
Hi, thank you for getting in touch and we’re pleased to hear about your STIHL kit. Sorry to hear about your helmet though and sorry you didn’t get a reply from us via email – can I ask what email address you used? In the meantime, I have passed your feedback on to our product team about the improvements, but you can also order replacements. The part numbers have changed recently which may be why the dealer couldn’t find what you were looking for, but the current part number to replace the interior parts of the helmet is 0000-889-9052. I hope that helps, thanks, STIHL GB
Hi – after my initial, slightly downbeat comment, I felt I should offer a follow up. I checked over my Stihl Advance X Vent helmet, and though the interior was beyond saving, the shell was fine, so with the product code you supplied, I got a new interior for my helmet. Initially I thought it was wrong, it was so different, but once I worked it out, it has addressed the one weakness this helmet had. The cradle straps are now fixed at 6 points, not the 4 it originally came with. This now gives it the required rigidity, and makes it the equal of the Husqvarna Technical helmet. Even better, with Stihl addressing this one weak point, this now makes the Stihl Advance X Vent the superior helmet, and I say this as someone who has worn both. Both helmets have fine steel mesh visors offfering great visibility and clarity, yet the field of vision for the Stihl X Vent is not obscured at the sides by a thick band, and is a better design. The Stihl visor does not pop out of its hinges like myself, and several others discovered with the Husqvarna visor.
Equally, both helmets have great SNR ratings for the ear defenders, yet the Stihl ones fit better over the ears. Best ear defenders I have ever had. More crucially, the old Husqvarna Technical helmet I wore for years before my Stihl helmet was a right pain. You would clip the ears down and my left one would just drop off into the bushes. So, long story short, well done Stihl, the one weakness to the Stihl Advance X Vent helmet has been addressed and it truly is a fantastic helmet.
John
Thanks for the feedback John, it’s great to hear that you are now happy with the helmet. Thanks, STIHL GB