I Talked to Three Sun-Protection Obsessives About the Gloves, Hats, and Wraps They Love

First on Park’s list: a proper sun hat. She had plenty of baseball caps and visors in her wardrobe, but not one that fit her specific requirements. She needed a wide brim enough to provide shade for her entire face and neck (all the way to her collarbone was a must) and something that wouldn’t block her peripheral vision (making par was also a must). This Solbari ticked all the boxes and replaced all other hats. She doesn’t step on the course without it.

After success with the hat, Park did a Solbari haul when the brand had a sale. She now has three of these shoulder wraps in different colors — black, white, and nude — which she coordinates with her athleisure. Park also did some research on UPF. She learned that similar SPF, the higher the rating the greater protection, but unlike SPF, UPF blocks both UVA and UVB rays. (We have a deeper dive intohow UPF clothing works, too.) The brand that stuck out to her in her search was Solbari, because it has a high rating of 50+ and is accredited by the Australian Government’s Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). Since first purchasing these, she’s machine washed and dried them dozens of times and they’ve held up perfectly well.

These are a newer addition to Park’s wardrobe. After a recent trip to Korea, where she notes that sun protection is at another level, she picked up a couple pairs of UPF 50+ socks. Even though she applies sunscreen on her legs, they’ve become part of her uniform when she wears dresses and skirts. They’re thin and breathable, so she never overheats while wearing them. These come in two length options — ones that hit right below the knee and ones that hit above around the middle of the thigh.

Because face protection is her top priority, Park uses an extra layer of physical protection on top of the SPF she applies on her face. She discovered From the Skin’s peel off mask while at a beauty store in Korea and decided to try it out. It goes on as a clear gel and dries to an invisible film that provides UPF 50+ for the skin. Park’s had some mishaps with it (it often pills if she has a lot of skin care on underneath), but she’s mastered her regimen: lightweight moisturizer and sunscreen then wait at least ten minutes before applying the mask. For the most part, it’s unnoticeable, but Park notes after about five hours, it starts to lift ever so slightly at the edges.

Because the above mask is a bit time consuming, Park looked for an alternative. She landed on these silicone under eye patches that also have a UPF rating of 50+. Hers are in the sun kiss shade, which are close to her skin tone, but they’re still very noticeable. Often, strangers on the course will stop what they’re doing in between rounds to ask her about the patches. “They’ve been a real conversation starter,” Park says, adding that the patches have sparked lots of comments on her TikToks.

The number one recommendation from Kennedy is these Outdoor Research hoodies. She initially bought one for herself after multiple sun burns on the back of her neck. Instead of having to stop during hikes and constantly reapply, pulling a hood up was her easy solution. Because it’s made with a lightweight, cooling fabric, she says it’s actually better than wearing short sleeves, even on hotter days. And, it doubles as protection on her arms and hands, since these are made with thumbholes. Because she needs to access her backpack at any given moment, the thumbholes are extra handy, as opposed to wearing sun gloves. She was so passionate about the hoodie that she made it part of her company’s uniform and every employee gets a branded Good Trip Adventures hoodie when they start.

When she’s already wearing a hooded parka in the winter months, Kennedy opts for this Mountain Hardwear crop top to avoid the nuisance of multiple hoods. It’s gone with her on every backcountry ski trip to Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Canada. Again, the thumbholes are an essential for Kennedy, since she can’t be bothered to take gloves on and off, especially on the slopes.

Kennedy discovered this brand while on a whale shark tour in Baja, California where she met a woman in a head-to-toe outfit with a whale shark pattern. Immediately after chatting with her, Kennedy bought a top for herself. (Another huge selling point: the brand donates five percent of their sales to green conservation research and education.) In the summer months, when Kennedy takes to kayaking and surfing, this is her go-to since it dries quickly and has UPF 50.

Colin, Kennedy’s partner, spends hours out on the snow on sunny days as a mountain guide. “He is a ginger, so he needs serious sun protection,” Kennedy says, adding that his nose is especially vulnerable. Colin found a solution while in an Alaskan gear store a couple of years ago: the Noz Kon. It’s a foam shell that attaches to glasses or goggles, fully blocking the sun. Colin wears it every time he’s on the mountains, and it’s helped him avoid sunburns. “It makes him look very cool,” says Kennedy. She admits that it is very warm and stays put from the few times she has worn it out.

UPF 50+ is non-negotiable when it comes to UPF clothing, says Beleznay. This ensures it’s blocking 98 percent of UV rays. Another must: tightly woven synthetic fabrics (never cotton, she says). The denser, tighter weaves have smaller gaps, meaning less of a chance of UV rays getting through. One of her most-worn pieces is this rashguard from Free People, since it’s more stylish than a lot of other options on the market. Beleznay always packs it on family vacations to the beach or lake.

On an everyday basis, Beleznay reaches for this shrug from Solbari. It’s covers those vulnerable spots — shoulders, chest, and arms — and is lightweight enough to wear in the warmer months. Plus, it’s easier to throw on than dealing with sleeves. Beleznay often drapes it over tanks and dresses, even if she’s out for short walks.

If Beleznay’s out during peak UV hours for long periods of time, she busts out the Sunshield. It’s not an everyday item, but she likes having it for “next-level protection.” (Most recently, it was packed on her summer vacation where she wore it while paddle boarding.) It fully covers her forehead and face and doesn’t distort her vision, since the plastic’s heat- and warp-resistant. An added benefit: It’s great to have after a laser treatment when your skin is extra sensitive to the sun.