I had a basal cell cancer removed from my nose 2 years ago. Ever since then I’ve been using sun block cream. No matter what kind I buy it ends up in my eyes and I spend the next few hours with burning eyes. Can anyone recommend a hat that will cover my face, neck and ears? Is there such a hat?
Thanks
I think there are any number of wide brimmed hats that will do that job priced between about $10 to way out there. I have a straw I picked up at BPS and an army issue boonie hat that I wear when it’s a little cooler. The straw has a mesh fabric under the brim that keeps the sun off my face, but the wide part in my hair is unprotected.
I have a hat they primarily use in salt water with a drop down curtain in back for your neck and ordered one of those elastic tubes that go from your neck up over your nose and keep your face covered. You’ll see pics in Orvis catalogs of guides using them. Should go a long ways toward protection you need.
Tilly makes a uv sunblock hat, so does Columbia
I wear a Tilley that protects my face, ears, and neck. I have, however, noticed that in bright days I can still get burned from sunlight reflecting from the water. While hats are great, they do not give perfect protection. Saltwater fishermen often use buffs to give full protection.
David
I have a Mumz hat (purchased at REI) that has a bill and a wrap around fabric that hangs over your ears and shields the back of my neck. It has also been treated with Buzz Off to supposedly keep insects away. As others have stated though, the sun reflecting off the water will still burn your face if you don’t sunscreen. Simms makes a similar style hat. I really like them as it does provide some protection and keeps the wind off the sides of my head–a real plus in the winter.
I agree with the others that you need both a good hat AND sunscreen. I have found that SOL sunscreen is very effective and does not irritate my eyes if it drips into them with sweat. I have problems with most other sunscreens.
Ted
I wear a wide brim hat except in the rain then a baseball cap since I want the hood of my rain coat to fit over my head. I also wear a Buff heck/head piece. I pull it up over my ears and around the top of my head, yea, the old hair up there ain’t what it used to be. When it really gets sunny I can pull the Buff up to only expose my eyes. But, I still use sunblock around my nose and just below my eyes. I have never found a sunblock that won’t irritate the eyes so I never use it on my eye lids and I try to keep my sunglasses on at all times (which you should anyway to protect the eyes from flying flies) which keeps me from rubbing my eyes. Get a wide brim hat and get a Buff and always use sunblock on exposed areas of the nose and such and wear your sunglasses. Get Buff gloves or other types of sunblock fingerless gloves and always wear them. Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants. Then you are protected from the sun as well as you can be.
Larry —sagefisher—
They do make UV face masks if sunscreen cream is a problem. Checkout this link I found.
I agree with Sage, the Buff is very convenient. You can wear a wide brim or a conventional baseball style cap.
Gene
I vote for the buff and hat. You can pull the buff up over a (baseball) and help hold it on in the wind.
Just remember to take the buff off before entering banks, convenience or liquor stores.
UJ , that was great;);)
Reminds me of that VW commercial where some guy goes into a convenience store with a ski mask on to get some snacks for the road trip.
I wear wide brim hats I find at WM, usually in the fishing area, long sleeve shirt and zip off pants, and sunscreen on my hands, face and other exposed areas as needed. I pick 'em up on sale for $10 or less all the time and have several in the closet as replacements when needed.
Obviously there are folks who are more sensitive and vulnerable to sun rays then others. I’d guess that I fall somewhere in the middle, but as the aging process has taken it’s toll, I’ve had to make some visits to the dermatologist. So I now take precautions that I ignored in my younger years. I do the wide brim hat and sun screen thing. And I agree very much with others about the reflective rays on the water. I’ve tried a lot of different brands of sunscreen and have found those with zero fragrance added to the contents are easier on the eyes. Also, the natural zinc oxide formulations have been my Doc’s recommendation. To help with keeping the stuff out of my eyes, since I’m wearing a wide brim hat, I don’t apply to the forehead, because when I do sweat the residue does not run down into my eyes. I apply the stuff to my face below the sunglasses, the nose, ears and neck.
The stuff I use is called “Industrial Strength Sunscreen” and has a SPF30 rating. And here’s a link to some of their information ~
http://www.industrialsunscreen.com/truth-about-sunscreen.html
Tilley Airflo hat and a Buff for me.
Go fishing anywhere in the Keys and EVERYONE wears a buff. There is no hat substitute.
I hate sunscreen. It stinks, it stings, its not waterproof etc etc etc. Between my distaste towards it and an increase in studies pointing towards the ineffectiveness of sunscreen and how at best it might last an hour (without sweat and river water), I have been using a lot more buff type items. Between a buff and a long billed hat, you should be able to cover most of your head most of the time.
My problem is covering my arms. I like the breathable long sleeve fishing shirts but I’m 6’4" and they never seem to fit me right. They’re either too big in the body or too short in the arms.
greetings Earthling carbon based unit…
take me to your leader… 
Holy cow…we are being invaded…save the women and children:cool: