Need help with the sun

Gildoom

Gildoom

Alex Rogan Starshipgunner
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 7, 2009
27
0
Lake Havasu City, AZ
#1
OK, I need help, the sun kicks my ass and burns me, which makes my wife trip out, I've tried sun screen, it doesn't really work, I just get oily and burn slightly less. I tried wearing long sleeve shirts but they get me stupid crazy hot, or if I wear a thin one I still get burned.

Have you all found something that works, as well as what is your favorite way to protect your neck? I know I am a red neck, but this is really telling getting a burn on it shooting!

I'd use one of those pit cover things that we used to use when I rode motorcross, but the wind blows so hard here, that would be terrible.

I'm out of ideas, any of you have some idea to help me out?
 
#5
Re: Need help with the sun

Columbia has some pretty good shirts mine's from the PFG line but I think last I looked the particular one I have was in another line, thin, venilated, wick well and dry fast, UPF 30 or 50 or somesuch. Also underarmor heatgear and other like brands as a long sleeve alone or under a tee. For the neck, at the range broad brimmed boonie cap? Or a damp towel or there's some ice pack things made for it when its hot out. Then there's the far less tacticool classic cowboy hat or whatever these are http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Sportswear-Schooner-Bank-Cachalot/dp/B006ZRX0VS
 
#6
Re: Need help with the sun

Gildoom,

I'd definitely look into the underarmor hot weather stuff. It wicks away moisture from your skin and moves it to the outer layer where it evaporates and keeps you cool. Of course, you have to keep drinking water! Especially there in Havasu. The cowboy hat, boonie hat, or one of those effete French fly fishing hats can all cover your neck.

The other thing that helps is making sure you have waterproof sunscreen on. I used BullFrog a lot and that didn't rub off when I sweated. That combined with a light shirt could do the trick for you.
 
#7
Re: Need help with the sun

Or just shoot with the long sleeves. Seriously, its not that hot. Just think about all the boys doing it with multi-cam, body armor, gloves, and a kevlar. Pretty sure if they can do it with all that shit on, you can do it with long sleeves.
 
#8
Re: Need help with the sun

I wear long sleeved shirts, and a boonie hat. When I am home my wife adds a good sun screen to the routine. I don't burn easily, but according to my wife who is a licensed esthetician, you still get damage from exposure to the sun.

I started keeping my sleeves down after getting burned on the hot tin used on the roofs in Afghanistan. I found I really wasn't any cooler with my sleeves up, and when they are down they not only offer protection from the hot tin on the roof, but from the sun as well. I do the same thing in Iraq.

When its hot, your going to sweat, that is your bodys natural way of trying to keep you cool,as was suggested earlier, drink a lot of water or simply don't go shooting when its hot. For your neck you could always wear a neckerchief, its a much less tacticool cowboy version of a shemagh, which also works.
 
#9
Re: Need help with the sun

I work in the sun almost daily, I know what you feel like as I cannot tolerate sunscreen. I wear a lot of the thin columbia-style long-sleeve Ts like this:
t-shirt

For the face and neck I use Buffs:
Buff

Once you get used to the buff it is actually cooler in the direct sun than nothing at all, especially if you stick to lighter colors. if you only need neck protection I would suggest cutting one in half.
 
#10
Re: Need help with the sun

Google moisture wicking polyester fishing shirts. They are what you want. You should find some in the 15 dollar range. The Columbia line are not cheep but, worth it.
As for the neck protection buffs work well but can be a pain.
 
#12
Re: Need help with the sun

Gil, I live in CO and being so close to the sun, it can take its toll on a long shoot. Temps in the shade have got to be about 10 or more degrees cooler. I have used a small self contained pop-up tent in the past. The quickdraw beach comber is designed as a small sun shade for the beach. I picked it up at the MCX when I was stationed in Cali. I am sure you can get one on the bay, or something similar. The good thing is you lay prone and its not going anywhere. It has netting to allow the air to flow. It folds up into a disc shape.
http://www.camptents.com/SpecPages/PopUpTents/PopUpTentBeachComber/beachcomber.htm

Other than that I park my Jeep and us the rear hatch as a sunshade, sometimes half my body is under the Jeep.
 
#14
Re: Need help with the sun

I use Mountain hardware UPF shirts like UPF 50, great for hot weather as they breath really well.

I like them better than most of the other options because they are cut fairly high, so the tail doesn't hang really low. Still they are long enough to protect your back when prone. These are very light weight and have mesh sides so for being high sun protection they are very breathable.

I used to use a patagonia neck gaiter but even with a big brim hat it missed part of my neck. I recently started using a Shemagh which works great on the neck as it covers up high as well - right up past the jaw line. I stick to the light color, and even though its cotton, it works really better than the buffs, or neck gaiters - again because of the volume and it covers higher up on the neck.

I only have to use sunscreen on my hands, everything else is pretty much covered.

it sounds like I am in similar shape as you as I burn pretty easily, and hate to wear sunscreen - plus it wears off pretty quick.
 
#15
Re: Need help with the sun

I use a high spf sunscreen and reapply at least once during the day. I have been using a shamgah (head scarf) I think it looks dumb but it does work. I stay much cooler with no direct sunlight on my head/neck and I don't burn anymore.
 
#16
Re: Need help with the sun

I am pale as shit and have this same problem. I use a sunscreen that my dermatologist recommended that works instantly. Most commercial sunscreens take an hour or so to actually start working. I imagine an hour in the arizona sun is easily enough to burn you. If I can find a bottle I'll give you the name, or just put on the sun screen an hour before you actually plan on getting in the sun. Additionally a long sleeve shirt and a shemagh will go a long way to protecting you. I'd rather look like a mall ninja than have melanoma.
 
#18
Re: Need help with the sun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Killer Spade 13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try one of those long billed, ventilated fishing caps with the neck scarf attached. They work pretty good. </div></div>

I have used these type of things in the past. Now, I agree about looking like a Mall Ninja instead of melanoma, but those hats look hideous (in my opinion). The other issue I have with many of the bigger hats is some interfere with positional shooting when too much is hanging off them. I try to stick with a cowboy type hat, the neck scarf (you can make you own if you visit the fabric store) and sunscreen for the hands/face. Also, thinking about hunting season, most sunscreens have a scent, so thats kind of annoying as well...
 
#21
Re: Need help with the sun

I went and shot twice this week for over 4 hours each, the Under armor shirt worked awesome, no burn! My wife even commented that I had a slight tan under the shirt, yes, when people say don't trust whitey they look at me.

I was not hot with it on either, really amazing how that shirt works.

Yeah some folks don't get what the fuss is, but my father has had skin cancer a few times, so I am bird dogged relentlessly by my wife over it. Which is good, cause cancer sucks.

Thanks for all the help, we ordered some other stuff recommended here as well, although I can't bring myself to wear one of those hats!
 
#22
Re: Need help with the sun

It's gonna sound counter intuitive, but wear 2 shirts. A regular white cotton t-shirt, & then something white, or light colored with an open weave over top of it. Such is the KISS, inexpensive route, & it worked for me where there was no shade, when I was south of the border. Or I was out on the water all day, 6-7 days a week.

Here are a couple of links to gear made specifically for keeping cool & still having UV protection.
http://www.apsltd.com/c-4002-technical-shirts.aspx
http://railriders.com/
I can't say I've tried a lot of them personally, as fortunately I'm semi sun immune via genetics. But they work for my pale Irish friends when we're out on the water down south, so...
 
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