Need some reliable sun protection tips before your next hike to avoid getting fried out there? Look no further! The most essential sun protection tips always involve using a sufficiently high-SPF sunblock. Combining that with protective headwear already places you in a relatively safe position. If you want to extend your protection beyond that, lightweight and moisture-wicking long-sleeve shirts and long pants made from sun-protective fabrics can keep all parts of your body safe from the sun. To prevent damaging your skin, look for more sun protection tips in the article below.
Shielding Yourself Against UV Rays
The warmer weather conditions of spring and summer always bring with them a kind of lightness of being. Everything just feels easier and more pleasant somehow, no doubt due to the positive psychological effects of sunlight. It is in those times that many of us stricken with joy and carelessness often forget that, in spite of it all, the sun’s radiation is still dangerous to us, and we need to protect ourselves from it.
The dangers associated with ultraviolet rays shouldn’t be neglected. For us – avid hikers and nature lovers – this is especially important since we spend more time enjoying the great outdoors than the average person.
By ignoring proper skin care and sun protection measures, you potentially expose yourself to:
- Sunburns
- Accelerated skin aging
- Heat stroke
- Skin cancer
- Eye damage
- Dehydration
So, while hiking in the summer sun is a fantastic way to reconnect with nature and comes with a range of health benefits, don’t forget to keep yourself safe from its harmful effects. How? We cover specific sun protection tips for hikers in the next section.
Sun Protection Tips to Use on Your Next Hike
To effectively protect yourself against the harmful effects of UV rays, be sure to follow the tips below:
Use Sunscreen Effectively
Apply a hefty amount of sunscreen around 15 to 25 minutes before exposure to your entire body, including your face and other easy-to-miss areas, such as behind your ears and neck or the back of your hands. Use lotions or sprays with a minimum of SPF 30 and opt for products that offer broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
Need to stock up on skin care products? We offer a wide array of lotions, sprays, and restoration creams that will save your skin (literally!).
Know When to Reapply
Reapply your sunscreen every two hours or immediately after taking a dip. When you go swimming, the sunscreen begins to wear off faster in the water, so remember to lather up once you’re dry again.
Also, if it’s a particularly hot day and you’re sweating excessively, you may want to shorten the window between reapplications for the same reason.
Seek Shade
If you want to save your skin, the best sun protection tip to give is to avoid sunlight as much as possible. It may sound rather counterintuitive, but less time spent in the way of UV rays mercilessly bearing down on you lowers your chances of sustaining any damage. Next time you’re hiking with an exceptionally high UV index, try staying in the shade as much as possible on the trail, or better yet, bring an umbrella!
Wear Long-Sleeve Clothing
You might think warm temperatures and long shirt sleeves and pant legs don’t go well together. That’s not exactly correct when it comes to sun protection, however.
Some clothes were specifically designed to protect you against the sun with what we call an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating. This reflects the material’s ability to block UV radiation, and a value of 30 or above is recommended. If you don’t want to spend extra on a new set of clothes, fabrics like cotton or linen are staples for lightweight backpackers for a reason, offering breathability and moisture-wicking to keep you cool and breezy.
Keep Yourself Well-Hydrated
The worst thing that could happen to you on a hike in the sun is forgetting to hydrate. When your body loses too much water, e.g., through excessive sweating in sweltering heat, your ability to regulate temperature diminishes. Your concentration and energy levels drop, too. Step-by-step, this can lead to more severe dehydration and even heat stroke.
As such, a portable hydration bladder with a built-in filtration system makes for an excellent hiking tech gadget. If you plan on staying outdoors for more than just a hike, consider picking up a camping cooler to better stave off the heat with colder beverages.
The Takeaway
The key sun protection tips for hikers include prioritizing sunscreen with an SPF value of 30 or more, applying it diligently and at regular intervals, staying in the shade, and wearing sun-protective clothing. By following these recommendations, you still squeeze as much fun out of your hikes as possible while minimizing the risks related to sun exposure. The longer you and your skin stay healthy, the more hikes you can go on, so by our standard, it’s absolutely worth it!
You may also read: Seasonal Hiking Tips: How to Prepare for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Adventures