Sun protection

Hi, what is everyone's preferred way to protect the head and neck from the sun.  I'm currently wearing a baseball cap which still exposes the ears and  neck.

I know of the caps with the cape and sun hoodies but like to see if there are other solutions. 

I also heat up fast and sweat alot so wishing  the protection doesn't get too hot

Thanks 

I don't think you've got many more options than what you list.

1. Sunscreen.

2. Hike out with a rope draped over your neck when you forget your sunscreen.

3. Climbing hat with cape.  I used to have a cheap walmart cowboy hat that I cut out and attached to my climbing hat for 360 degree protection.

4. Sun hoodie.  The fishing industry has a lot of great options here.  My current go-to is from Bashdash.  It has integrated hood plus face cover.

Don't forget to hydrate.  That's got to be the other half of sun protection.

Light/white colored sun hoodie with nothing underneath it. Its pretty shocking how much cooler you stay while wearing something to keep the sun off your skin. Once you get a little sweat going it starts to act like air conditioning.

Ditto white sun hoodie. I wear mine constantly in the summer and it makes a huge difference. Make sure it fits over your helmet, and that your helmet is well ventilated. 

https://bivysack.com/shop/ols/products/helmet-brim

If you are looking for sun protection with a helmet on, this is a good, cheap option.

Brim that can be attached to a climbing helmet.  

https://dabrim.com/

BD or patagonia sunshirt is the way. 

Umbrella/parasol.

No I'm not joking.

Big Red wrote:

Umbrella/parasol.

No I'm not joking.

Great for belaying on the ground or a big wall; kinda impractical to use while climbing.

Big Red wrote:

Umbrella/parasol.

No I'm not joking.

Ultralight hiking sun umbrellas are extremely underrated; made to strap to a backpack. Probably awesome for a big wall or long approach tbh.

Six Moon Designs, Hyperlite, Gossamer Gear. 

I think you are looking at this the wrong way, I've got an alternate approach that ill give you for free (need good karma for partner finder);

1. Don't wear a shirt; less weight = you climb harder

2. Get sunburned from not wearing a shirt and get cancer; you get increased cell proliferation and gain training weight for a 2-6w period

3a. Get cancer surgically removed; now you shed the cancer and are lighter than before you started, and have now inadvertently gone through a training cycle = you climb harder

3b. The cancer spread to all your organs, you've got 6 months to live, and now you will be more bold on the sharp end since you've got nothing to lose = you climb harder

Don't let big UV fool you brother   

UV buff + UPF shirt. The buff can cover more of your face, neck, ears which is really nice for snow, glaciers, where the sunlight can reflect and burn under your chin. Fits under a helmet easily and will not flap off. Can turn into a sweatband.

I highly recommend the dabrim mentioned above.  Not only does it provide good shade but it is much cooler than a hat because helmets are often vented and suspended above your head.  I wear my helmet with a debrim for the climb and approach/deproach.  

Additionally I recommend sunscreen. In particular aveno/nutregina children's spf 50 mineral zinc sunscreen.  It stays in all day and is very difficult to remove but makes you look like a ghost.  I often apply the sunscreen upon arrival to the climb because the sun exposure is usually minimal in the early morning.  

Baby sunscreen is just as good for adults but does not have ingredients that might cause a problem for a baby, in particular irritation of the eyes.

I might look to the construction industry..... They make capes for helmets, maybe go with that, it will have better ventilation then a sun shirt.... 

I personally am a big fan of the sun shirt, keeping the sun off your skin is really nice. Bonus, treat it with permethrin for bug protection. Sun burns are gone and so are bug bites

Stefanos Apostle wrote:

I think you are looking at this the wrong way, I've got an alternate approach that ill give you for free (need good karma for partner finder);

1. Don't wear a shirt; less weight = you climb harder

2. Get sunburned from not wearing a shirt and get cancer; you get increased cell proliferation and gain training weight for a 2-6w period

3a. Get cancer surgically removed; now you shed the cancer and are lighter than before you started, and have now inadvertently gone through a training cycle = you climb harder

3b. The cancer spread to all your organs, you've got 6 months to live, and now you will be more bold on the sharp end since you've got nothing to lose = you climb harder

Don't let big UV fool you brother   

Um, this isn't all that funny for those of us who have dealt with cancer.

Marc801 C wrote:

Um, this isn't all that funny for those of us who have dealt with cancer.

Forgive me father for I have sinned   

From this day forward I won't make jokes with a morbid undertone on a forum about rock climbing, I have seen the light of the truth and will right the ship to point towards calmer seas   

Stefanos Apostle wrote:

Forgive me father for I have sinned   

From this day forward I won't make jokes with a morbid undertone on a forum about rock climbing, I have seen the light of the truth and will right the ship to point towards calmer seas   

Just pointing it out. I'm not particularly squeamish about gallows humor, but others might and there's far too much post flagging here as it is.

I’m reading this in the waiting room of my dermatologist. I get a full body skin check annually. Highly recommened.

Ditto the suggestion to use 50+ spf mineral based sunscreen. YeH you look a bit wierd but it stays on much better than the other option. 

For me the trick is a sun hoodie into my helmet.  First off the helmet helps keep the hood up which keeps it off my neck which is the part im most worried about.  
Additionally it keeps my hair which has been described as "long luscious locks " "Beautiful" "Very Climber" and "Bailey your hair is way to long get a bleeping hair cut"  out of my face.  Take a guess on which one was from my mom when I went home for Christmas.  

However If I am scrambling or just backpacking I highly recomend the 

https://www.rei.com/product/894435/sunday-afternoons-ultra-adventure-hat does it look dorky, maybe but its so light and does an amazing job keeping the sun off you. Plus I like to use the cape thingy as a rag on long backpacking trips.

If you don't want to do that sunscreen is always an easy idea, use protection 

My usual config:

- short brim cap (Patagonia Duckbill Cap)

- Large Lens Wraparound Sunglasses (Smith Bobcat)

- Coolibar Blackburn Face Mask (I haven’t found anything else quite like it)

- Sunhoody that covers the front of the neck (lots of options)

The face mask compliments a hoody well.  It doesn’t overlap too much with the hoody and your breath can easily escape without fogging up your glasses. I used to use buffs & neck gaiters, but the face mask works much better for me.