Always wear chaps when bucking?

Hey guys, quick question. I've been cutting firewood on my property with my dad's old Stihl. I usually just wear jeans and boots. Do I really need to buy chaps? They're like $50 and I'm tight on cash. Also, do you all wear a helmet? Seems overkill for a little backyard stuff.

Dude, chaps are a MUST. I've seen a guy nick his femoral artery through jeans and it was a bloody mess. $50 is cheap for keeping your legs intact. Helmet with mesh visor and ear muffs, too – one branch to the face and you'll wish you had it. Don't cheap out on PPE.

I get the budget thing. I got my chaps on sale at Harbor Freight for $30. Not top tier but better than nothing. Helmet I found used on eBay. But honestly, if you're just doing a few logs, I'd say at least chaps. Safety glasses too, a flying chip in the eye sucks.

I've been a weekend warrior for years. Started with just jeans, then got chaps after a close call. Now I wear full PPE: chaps, helmet with face shield, gloves, steel toes. It's not just about major cuts, but also chains kicking back, branches falling, etc. You'll get used to it.