Gear Review - Sierra Summits

Sierra Summits SPF 40 Sunblock

Between Elizabeth and Lynn I am always reminded of the importance of sunblock. Oh yeah, and that giant ball of fire that swings across the sky is a good reminder too. During the Winter months we often forget about the crucial task of putting sunscreen on. Now, I’m not saying you have to put it on to take the trash out, but any extended period of time spent in the sun can be dangerous without it. Winter can actually be the most dangerous time to be out, especially for those of us who love snow sports like skiing, mountaineering, snowshoeing, snowman building, etc. And remember, each 1,000 feet in elevation raises the sun’s burning intensity by 4-10%.

So, I have been testing this Sierra Summits sunblock out lately. The thing that sets this stuff apart from your regular sunblocks is that it’s designed for US! It is “High Altitdue Adventure Sunblock”. Water resistance is one great perk of the Sierra Summits sunblock. Sweating profusely? No problem. The other thing I really liked about it was that it is oil free. My nose gets a little oily all on its own, I don’t need sunblock making me look all shiny. This product hasn’t been an issue so far. After applying it dries instantly and is ready for whatever you plan on putting it through. I have been on long runs twice with it now. One when the temps were around 35 degrees, and on Sunday… crazy unseasonable temps of 65 degrees. One thing I noticed on Sunday was that I was drenched with sweat but didn’t lose any of the sunblock.

Sierra Summits sells has Single use packets, 1.5 oz. tube, 8 oz. pump, 64oz pump, and the EcoSunblock gallon. They also have a whole line of other products specifically designed for outdoor adventure; pet balm, lip balm, bug repellant, and antispetic.

My mother never let me out of the house in the Winter without a coat. And when I was out for very long she would slather sunblock on me. I thought she was crazy. But she was just watching out for me. Now that we’re all grown up, we have to watch out for ourselves. So don’t forget your sunscreen.

Add comment January 8th, 2008