Snakes are exotic creatures that many of us love to watch from afar because getting up close and personal may leave fang marks on our soft skin. The possibility of succumbing to snakebites increases in rocky terrains, woods, rainforests, mountainous regions etc. That’s the price you might pay for expeditions to such snake-rampant soils when you know little to nothing about what material can snakes not bite through.
It’s a matter which needs 100% surety because guesswork leads to painful fang bites, not to mention long-ass recovery and hospital bills. So, I went through research works of herpetologists, professional hunters and snake owners to acquire knowledge about materials and gears that can resist all things sharp, including fangs.
I have shared my findings in the article below. Read it to prevent yourself from becoming another victim of a snakebite.
Which Material Can Protect You From Snakebites?
Fangs, even large, cannot get through hard materials like metal. Yeah, I wish we could wear those medieval armours to protect us from snakes from head to toe. But, it’s the 21st century, and we have science and technology. So, there are hard fabric materials that fangs find really hard to pierce. These include canvas, kevlar, rawhide, polyester, heavy denim, ballistic nylon, Cordura, premium quality leather and rugged yet flexible rubber.
Hence, if you wear these materials to expeditions like hiking, hunting, camping or strolling in the woods, you will be protected from snakebites. You can add layers of these to your attire in the form of snake-protective garments because different snakeproof clothing articles use various fabrics.
For this reason, I have assembled information about which materials in snakeproof clothing articles offer the best protection against fangs. You will see the options below.
Which Materials in Snakeproof Clothing can Fangs not Bite Through?
Different clothing pieces protect distinct parts of your body from painful and venom-injecting fangs. For instance, it is a common belief, and rightfully so, that premium quality leather boots can keep your feet and calves safe from the sharp teeth of attacking snakes.
So, let’s see what gears you should choose to stay 100% safe from aggressive snakebites.
Snake Chaps
Snake chaps are types of pants but without the crotch and belt areas. You wear them over your shorts or pants to shield your leg – from ankle to thigh – from sharp fangs. Snakeproof chaps that promise a high percentage of protection against bites mostly come in materials like kevlar, heavy-duty nylon or Cordura. They are rugged and flexible at once to prevent fangs from penetrating and allow free movement.
Snake Gaiters
These are for the protection of your lower legs from ankles to knees, areas which are more at risk of bites. Gaiters made of ballistic nylon or Cordura are best at resisting strikes of vicious snakes like rattlesnakes. Speaking of nasty rattlesnakes, the TurtleSkin brand is famous for testing its anti-snake gaiters with live rattlesnakes to ensure the customers don’t fall victim to snake strikes.
Thus, it is obligatory to wear such best-quality snake gaiters when traversing through territories infested with aggressive snakes to reduce the risk of snakebites.
Anti-snake Boots
Either wear tall snakeproof boots or just drop your outing plans; I cannot highlight the importance of wearing snakeproof boots any other way. Premium-quality leather boots are a popular choice for protection against snakes. Most snake species cannot penetrate the leather. So, you are less likely to become a victim of fangs if you wear snakeproof leather boots to activities like hiking, hunting or exploring woods or rocky plains.
The best snakeproof boots use a combination of snake-resistant materials – grain-leather, nylon, rawhide and rubber – and feature SnakeGuard technology, soft and breathable inner linings, contoured footbed, waterproofing coat and high-traction rubber outsoles. Buy a pair of boots that checks all these variables to get protection and comfort simultaneously.
Tip: You can supplement these with a thick pair of socks and top-quality anti-snake gaiters or chaps to amp up your defence.
Long Pants
Opt for loose-fitting trousers made of the heaviest yet most comfortable material to prevent fangs from breaking your skin without hindering your mobility. Heavy-duty denim jeans or canvas pants are the best choices because both materials can bar sharp fangs from reaching your vulnerable skin.
It isn’t in your best interest to put on shorts because it will leave your upper legs vulnerable to snakes that can strike above the knees, even when the climate or high temperature asks for it.
Anti-Snake Gloves
Anti-snake gloves should be a compulsory part of your attire when traversing through a snake country because more than 50% of snakebites are around the wrists, hands and fingers. Lab experiments have proved that hostile venomous snakes, such as rattlesnakes, cannot permeate their fangs to the last millimetre of total length through heavy leather and denim fabrics. Around 60% and above of the rattlesnake venom gets absorbed in the denim.
Therefore, you must purchase elbow-length anti-snake gloves made of heavy-duty denim or leather for visits to snake-infested lands.
Note: Make sure the gloves have flexible weak points and promote a comfortable grip to make it easy for you to tackle snakes if needed.
Conclusion
Snakes have sharp fangs with high pressure that can get through ordinary and day-to-day wear fabrics. Only materials having higher strength, such as Cordura, leather, nylon, canvas, denim, kevlar, polyester etc., can resist the force of attacking fangs. You need gears made of these textures on your body to keep aggressive snake strikes from injuring you. To conclude, the list we shared above will give you a wholesome picture of the attire you must opt for when going on adventures to defend against snake attacks.
