First Hive Gear is a small, independent website for people getting ready to keep bees for the first time. It focuses on one question: what do you actually need to buy for your first hive, and what can wait?
The site is run by Corey. It’s based in the US and written mainly for US hobby beekeepers starting with one or two hives.
Why this site exists
Shopping for a first hive can be confusing. “Starter kits” with similar names contain very different things, gear lists rarely mention what’s left out (including the bees), and first-year costs add up fast. First Hive Gear tries to lay that out plainly so you can buy in the right order and skip things you don’t need yet.
How we research
We want to be upfront about how our guides are made:
- We don’t claim hands-on testing. Unless an article clearly says we’ve used a product ourselves, we haven’t. Our guides are research-based, not lab tests or long-term field reviews.
- We rely on sources and cite them. Our main sources are university extension services and beekeeping programs, merchants’ own product pages, and published buyer guides. Each article lists its sources at the bottom.
- We say when sources disagree. If two sources give different cost figures or advice, we show both rather than picking the one that suits us.
- We separate claims from facts. When a feature or benefit comes from a seller’s page, we describe it as the seller’s claim.
- We date what we read. Prices, sizes, and stock change often. We note when we checked a product page, and you should always confirm the current details on the merchant’s site before buying.
First Hive Gear isn’t a substitute for local, hands-on guidance. Rules on keeping bees, climate, timing, and pest treatments vary by location, so we encourage every new beekeeper to connect with a local beekeeping club or their state’s extension service.
How we choose products
When we decide what to include in a guide, we look at:
- Fit for beginners. Is it something a first-year beekeeper is likely to need, and is it reasonably simple to use?
- Clear, checkable information. We favor products whose sellers publish specific details, such as what’s included, materials, and sizes, so you can compare like with like.
- Guidance from independent sources. Where extension services or other non-seller sources recommend a feature (for example, a heat shield on a smoker), we take that into account.
- Total cost, not just the sticker price. We look at what you’d still need to buy separately, so a cheap kit doesn’t turn out to be the expensive option.
- Range of budgets. Where we can, we include a lower-cost option and mention free resources alongside paid ones.
- Availability. We try to point to established US suppliers and note when something appeared sold out or limited when we checked.
Commissions don’t decide our picks. Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. We also link to products and stores we have no affiliate relationship with when they’re a good fit. See our Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Corrections and updates
If you spot an outdated price, a broken link, or something we got wrong, please let us know through the Contact page. We review and update guides over time, and each article shows when it was last updated.