Favorite Gear: The Sun Shirt (aka Clothing for Really White Girls)

Red hair and pale skin means I don't usually rock an awesome tan. I do, however have some freckles that have started to merge together....  Anyways, growing up I was always pretty good about wearing sunscreen at the pool and whatnot, but it wasn't until about 5 years ago that I really had to start taking it seriously. Through some skin checks with the dermatologist, and a visit with a specialist, I found out that I have Dysplastic Nevi, which means my moles are more likely to turn into melanoma (skin cancer). I've had to have about 7 moles removed from my arms, legs and stomach because they were headed in the "wrong direction."

Now, I have to get my skin checked twice a year and pretty much wear sunscreen all the time. Usually at least 30 SPF on a cloudy day in the office, and 100 SPF (Neutrogena is my brand of choice) anytime I do an outdoor activity. It's a pain in the ass, but I'm not willing to take any chances. And I'm certainly not willing to give up my love of the outdoors.

Along with slathering myself in sunscreen, I've become a big fan of "sun clothing". Different companies call it different things, but basically it's clothing made to block out the sun (and make you look like a dork). Of course, any clothing is going to block out some sun, but fabrics made with a tighter weave and certain dyes carry an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value. These ratings range from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent).

Most of the UPF clothing I use are actually long sleeve shirts and jackets, that I can wear as layers over my other clothes. The good ones have ventilation in the sleeves and back so that you can wear them even in the hot desert. My favorite brands are Columbia and ExOfficio, but almost all hiking brands have products that are UPF rated. Stores like REI make it really easy by tagging the clothing with stickers that let you know the UPF value.

As I post more trip photos, you'll probably notice I'm usually wearing one of my sun shirts. I try to only take it off if we are in the shade or it is very late in the afternoon. Oh, and I wear a lot of hats. Again, just trying to keep the sun off my face and scalp as much as possible. Yes, my clothing tends to look a little goofy out on the trails, but, this ain't no runway, k? And until Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs start designing specifically for the melanin-challenged, I'm going to keep wearing my trusty sun shirts.

Mom and I ready to take on the sun.