Sun Protection

How To Protect My Body Against The Sun During Hiking?

Spending time in the outdoors undoubtedly leads to encountering lots of sunlight. Since too much sunlight can be harmful to the skin short-term and long-term, it is vital to provide your body with ample protection during your hikes. To find out how you protect yourself best, and to learn more about the hidden locations where sun damage can occur, be sure to read on.

Which Hiking Areas Are More Likely To Cause Sun Damage?

Before we tell you how to protect yourself better, we need to mention that there are certain areas you may not necessarily associate with sun damage. However, these areas still cause sun damage, even though you may believe no harmful sunlight is present.

Aside from the obvious locations such as the sunny beach, altitude is certainly a contributor. The higher a hiking trail, the closer you are to the sun, this means sunlight can reach havoc on your body.

Even when you are hiking during a cloudy day, you still need protection against the sunlight. There may be clouds that are blocking sunlight, but they do not block UV rays. So, protection should always be present.

Which Methods Can I Use To Protect Myself Against Sun Damage?

There are various things you can do to protect yourself against sun damage. Below, we have listed the most effective and advised methods for hiking. So, if you do not know how to protect yourself, we urge you to read through the tips below.

Sun lotion - A good sun lotion is essential to protect yourself against harmful UV rays and sunburn. Even if you only intend on hiking for an hour or two, sun lotion should be applied when you leave your home.

Naturally, sun lotions come in various strengths. The SPF of a sun lotion indicates the degree of protection. The higher the number, the more protection the sun lotion provides. For essential protection, you will need at least SPF 30.

Please note that your sun lotion should provide protection against both UVA and UVB light, this will be mentioned on the bottle. If you are buying your sun protection from Anaconda, you can find details about the sun lotion on the product description page.

Good sunglasses - Sun protection should not be limited to the skin alone, as your eyes require sun protection too. To ensure full sun protection, you need sunglasses with 100% UV protection, this will protect the eyes as well as the skin. Once again, be sure to look out for UVA and UVB protection. To provide ample protection, the glasses should have UVA and UVB protection higher than 90%.

Hiking clothes - The right clothes can also make a difference when you go hiking. Wearing a hat is one of the vital things, as this will protect the top of your head against direct sunlight. Unless you are bald, it is difficult to add sun lotion to the top of your head, this is also one of the reasons why a hat is an essential.

Clothes with plenty of breathability are recommended during your hike, this ensures that your clothes do not hold onto moisture and sweat, while keeping you nice and cool. Of course, you should always have some additional clothes on you, just in case the weather turns.

Lip protection - As we mentioned earlier, the skin is not the only part of your body that should be protected against the sun. In fact, the lips are often neglected when it comes to sun protection, even though they are likely to get damaged by sunlight during your hike. Therefore, make sure you have a good lip balm with some UV protection.

Sun Protection Available At Anaconda

Anaconda provides a wide range of sun protection products for anyone who loves hiking, this includes a wide range of sunscreen. We provide standard 200 ml bottles, but also larger bottles up to one litre, this ensures you do not run out on your regular hikes.

In addition to sun lotions, Anaconda also provides clothing for hiking, this goes from hats to breathable tops and pants. So, if you need further sun protection for a future hike, be sure to check out the rest of our catalogue.