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Sun Protection Gear I Actually Wear Paddleboarding Instead of Reapplying Sunscreen
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items Spending half your SUP session fumbling with a greasy sunscreen bottle that slides off your board is the worst. I got torched on a 3-hour paddle last summer and finally built a full sun-protection kit that lets me stay out longer without stopping. If...
Sections
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UPF Sun Shirts That Don't Feel Like Garbage Bags
Sun Hats That Stay On Your Head in Wind
Water Shoes That Grip Wet Boards
Sunglasses That Won't Sink When You Wipe Out
Reef-Safe Sunscreen for Spots You Can't Cover
Dry Bags and Gear Storage for Long Paddles
UPF Sun Shirts That Don't Feel Like Garbage Bags
I used to overheat in long sleeves until I found shirts that actually breathe on the water. Now I forget I'm even wearing one until I peel it off with zero tan lines.
Grab this if you run hot on the water. The venting on the back actually works. I paddled four hours in July humidity and never felt like I was suffocating. Sizes run a little big so check the chart first.
Columbia Men's PFG Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Wore this three days straight on a kayak camping trip and it dried overnight every time. If you're the person who sweats through everything by 10am, this fabric handles it without smelling like a gym locker.
HUK Men Icon X Long Sleeve Performance Fishing Shirt
Use this under a PFD without chafing. I switched from a cotton tee after rubbing my shoulders raw on a 5-mile paddle. Fits snug so water doesn't balloon it out.
O'Neill Men's Basic Skins UPF 50+ Long Sleeve Rash Guard
Toss your sunscreen back in the bag. UPF 50+ and the fit is loose enough to layer over a swimsuit. Picked this up for my mom who burns in 15 minutes flat and she wore it all week in Florida.
Coolibar Women's Long Sleeve Swim Shirt
Perfect for anyone who wants a relaxed fit without looking like they're wearing a wetsuit. The thumb holes keep sleeves from riding up when you're paddling. Wish I'd found this two summers ago.
baleaf Rash Guard for Women Sun Protection Swim Shirts
Sun Hats That Stay On Your Head in Wind
Lost two hats to the ocean before I figured out what actually stays put. A chin strap alone isn't enough when you're catching gusts on open water.
Keep this one cinched and it handles 20mph gusts no problem. The brim is wide enough to shade your neck but not so wide it catches wind like a sail. Wore it through a squall and it stayed put.
Bora Bora™ II Booney Hat
Try this if regular bucket hats fly off your head the second you pick up speed. The fit system in the back locks it down. Floats too, which saved me once when I wiped out near a dock.
Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure UPF 50+ Hat
Brought this on a saltwater paddle and rinsed it in the shower after. Dried by morning. If you fish from your board, the dark under-brim cuts glare so you can actually see into the water.
HUK - Wide Brim Fishing Hat with Sun Protection
Snag this for those mornings when rain is 50/50 and you're going out anyway. Keeps your head dry without trapping heat. I paddle year-round and this is my go-to from October through March.
Frogg Toggs Breathable Bucket Hat Gray-One Size
Use the drawstring on windy days and the mesh panels when it's dead calm and 95 degrees. My buddy borrowed mine once and ordered his own before we got back to the truck.
GearTOP Wide Brim Cooling Sun Hat, UPF 50+ Protection
Water Shoes That Grip Wet Boards
Slipped off my board barefoot so many times I finally admitted I needed actual footwear. The right shoe grips the deck pad and protects your feet on rocky put-ins.
Wear these from the parking lot straight onto the board. The toe bumper saved me when I kicked a submerged rock at a river launch. They drain fast and the sole grips wet EVA deck pads like glue.
KEEN Men's Newport H2 Water Sandal with Toe Protection
Grab a pair if you hate bulky water shoes. These feel like socks with traction. I wore them on a coral beach in Hawaii and my feet survived. Dry in about an hour in the sun.
Speedo Speedo Kids Surfwalker Pro Mesh Water Shoes
Hear me out. I wear these to the launch, kick them into my dry bag, and put them back on after. Perfect for the person who wants one shoe for the whole lake day, not three.
Crocs Unisex LiteRide 360 Water Shoe Clog Sandal
Pair these with board shorts and they look normal enough for the taco spot after paddling. The drainage ports actually work. I stepped in knee-deep muck at a launch and they rinsed clean in seconds.
Body Glove Men's Dynamo Rapid Water Shoe (9)
Switch to these if flip flops keep betraying you on boat ramps. The grip is ridiculous on wet concrete. Light enough that you don't feel them on the board but sturdy enough for gravel trails.
Merrell Men's Hydro MOC Water Shoe, Black, 11
Sunglasses That Won't Sink When You Wipe Out
Watched a $200 pair of sunglasses disappear into a lake in 2022. Never again. Now everything I wear on the water either floats or stays strapped to my face.
Get the 580G lenses if you paddle in saltwater. The polarization cuts through glare so you can see sandbars and shallow spots before you run aground. Worth every penny after I scraped my fin on a hidden oyster bed.
Costa Del Mar Men's 6S9079 Fantail Pro Polarized
Pair these with a Chums retainer and you're set. I've wiped out dozens of times and never lost them. The lens clarity in bright sun is unreal. Just don't leave them in a hot car.
Oakley Holbrook wayfarer-frame sunglasses | Grey
Try these before spending $200 on something you might lose to the ocean. Polarized, lightweight, and I genuinely can't tell the difference on the water. Bought backups because at this price, why not.
Knockaround Sport Premiums Sunglasses
Strap this to whatever sunglasses you already own. Took me losing two pairs to finally spend four bucks on a retainer. Now they hang around my neck when I don't need them. Stupidly simple fix.
Chums Original Cotton Boys Adjustable Eyewear Retainer
Swap your regular strap for this one. Dropped my sunglasses off a dock last month and they just bobbed there waiting for me. If you paddle in deep water, this is the difference between keeping and replacing your shades.
Pilotfish Floating Sunglasses Strap, Adjustable
Reef-Safe Sunscreen for Spots You Can't Cover
Shirts and hats handle most of it, but my hands, face, and the tops of my feet still need something. These are the ones that don't sting my eyes when I sweat.
Keep a travel size in your PFD pocket for mid-paddle touch-ups. Doesn't run into my eyes when I'm sweating, which was my biggest complaint with every drugstore brand before this. Smells like a vacation.
Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Use this on your face if chemical sunscreens make your skin angry. The bottle changes color in UV light so you know when to reapply. My dermatologist recommended it and it's the only one that doesn't break me out.
Blue Lizard, Sunscreen Lotion, Sensitive Mineral SPF 50
Toss the tin in your dry bag. It won't leak or explode in the heat like tubes do. The zinc formula is thick but that's the point. One application on my nose lasted a full morning paddle without reapplying.
FACE + BODY TIN SPF 30 *Plastic Free
Spray the tops of your feet before you step on the board. I learned this after getting second-degree burns on my feet during a 4th of July float. Reapply after swimming but it holds up to sweat surprisingly well.
Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Spray Twin Pack
Bring this for your hands and knuckles. Nobody thinks about their hands until they're lobster red from gripping a paddle for three hours. Lightweight enough that your grip doesn't get slippery.
Coppertone Pure & Simple Kids SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion
Dry Bags and Gear Storage for Long Paddles
Dropped my phone in the water once and spent the rest of the trip photographing nothing. Now everything valuable goes in a dry bag bungeed to my board before I even launch.
Get the 10L for day paddles. Fits your phone, keys, wallet, sunscreen, and a snack with room to spare. Roll the top three times and clip it. Took mine through Class II rapids and everything inside was bone dry.
Earth Pak -Waterproof Dry Bag
Use this when you want your phone accessible for photos without risking it. Touchscreen works through the material and I've taken underwater shots with it. Lanyard clips right to your PFD.
Nite Ize Expands RunOff® Waterproof Bag Collection
Throw your car keys and ID in here and forget about them. This thing is bombproof. I accidentally ran over mine backing up the trailer and it didn't even crack. Floats too, which matters.
Pelican 1060 Micro Multi Purpose Case
Strap this to your front bungees for quick access to snacks and water. No more stopping to dig through a dry bag behind you. Drains if waves splash in and the zipper hasn't failed me in two seasons.
Seattle Sports Vinyl Coated Mesh Deck Bag for SUPs
Grab this for multi-hour paddles when you need lunch, extra layers, and a first aid kit. Wear it as a backpack to carry everything from your car to the water in one trip. Comfortable enough that I use it hiking too.
Wise Owl Outfitters Waterproof Dry Bag 3-Pack