Thoughts on buffs and gloves in the summer

[Luke Barnes]

Do they just protect your skin from the sun or do they keep you cooler? I know light, loose clothing is good in hot weather, I learned this my first summer I spent in Iraq. Having a baggy and light uniform on kept the sun off and kept me cooler than a short sleeve t shirt. Wondering if its the same principal or more for Sun protection. 

[CountryboyinDC]

I definitely have gotten into wearing a buff when I fish, it's easier than reapplying sunscreen 3 times.  Gloves the jury is still out.  Certainly they keep sun off, but I take them off pretty often to do things, and I don't know that they don't cut down on my bite detection (I let the line run over my forefinger).  As for being cooler, it depends on what they're being compared to.  Compared to something cotton?  Of course they're cooler.  Compared to uncovered skin, I'm not sure, I think that direct sunlight would be a factor in how you perceive that.  I can't remember being cool or comfortable in Iraq in summer as long as I was outside of A/C no matter what I was wearing (I was mostly around Baghad and Yusufiyah), but we always wore at least plate carriers.

[CrankFate]

Both. I do not recommend gloves in crowded public places. Trust me, guys will think it’s feminine and you’ll wind up in situations where you have to make sure they know that’s not the case. It’s just not worth it.

[jimmyjoe]

   They do both; they protect from the sun and they evaporate sweat to keep you cooler. I wear microfiber; I've had skin cancer, and I'm gonna cover up no matter what.          jj

[microotter]

Every year I think to myself that it is too early in the year to get a sunburn on my hands while fishing/kayaking. Then I proceed to get a very bad sunburn on my hands and wear gloves for the rest of the year haha. 
 

[Russ E]

15 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

Both. I do not recommend gloves in crowded public places. Trust me, guys will think it’s feminine and you’ll wind up in situations where you have to make sure they know that’s not the case. It’s just not worth it.

what Kind of gloves are you wearing? velvet? Lace?

I wear these.  Never had anyone think they looked feminine

 

 

 

I wear gloves and a wide brim hat. I own several buffs and have never worn one more than 10 minutes they drive me nuts

[CrankFate]

@Russ E you’re lucky. Around here, those might as well be boxing gloves. I wish I could wear those. I cover myself up and use sunblock, but nothing works on the hands. I literally got a mole on the palm of my hand because the only way to cover it is with gloves. I almost always wear a buff.

[Fishin Dad]

1 minute ago, CrankFate said:

@Russ E you’re lucky. Around here, those might as well be boxing gloves. I wish I could wear those. I cover myself up and use sunblock, but nothing works on the hands. I literally got a mole on the palm of my hand because the only way to cover it is with gloves. I almost always wear a buff.

Where in the world do you live?   

[CrankFate]

NY

[huZZah]

21 minutes ago, Russ E said:

what Kind of gloves are you wearing? velvet? Lace?

I wear these.  Never had anyone think they looked feminine

 

 

 

I wear gloves and a wide brim hat. I own several buffs and have never worn one more than 10 minutes they drive me nuts

My gloves are similar and I wear a huge hat. I look like an old lady gardening and don’t care. Keeps me from needing gallons of sunscreen. I also usually have my pants tucked into muck boots to avoid snakes and broken glass. 
If you’re that worried about how you look, wear sunscreen. 
 

No one has ever told me I look feminine. And if they do…ok, whatever. You’re sister didn’t think so ?

[Fishin Dad]

31 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

NY

That stuff doesn’t happen in the Midwest.   

[Happybeerbuzz]

In addition to keeping you cooler, I find that it is less draining.  When I get home from fishing, I find that I recover my energy faster if I cover up from the sun rather than using sun block lotion.  

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, CrankFate said:

@Russ E you’re lucky. Around here, those might as well be boxing gloves. I wish I could wear those. I cover myself up and use sunblock, but nothing works on the hands. I literally got a mole on the palm of my hand because the only way to cover it is with gloves. I almost always wear a buff.

Sounds like some people with some deep seated feelings they're having a hard time coping with. 

 

I wear the gloves and buff. It keeps me cooler along with protecting from the sun. The faux leather on the palm of the gloves protects my hands from fish spines also. 

[DitchPanda]

Columbia button up sun shirt, buff,gloves,ball cap, sunglasses..thats my new sun get up. Went to many years not protecting myself.

[Biglittle8]

Buff and gloves here... Just started wearing this stuff this year. I hate sun screen and hate cancer even more.

[PhishLI]

I don't fool around with the sun at all. Long sleeve UPF 50 shirts. UPF 50 pants. UPF 50 fishing gloves. UPF 50 gaiter/buff. Both my finger tips and face get treated with Neutrogena Clear Face SPF 55 oil free sunscreen for when the buff comes down to drink or eat. Sun reflecting off the water will get you too. If you hate having the oily stuff on your face the Neutrogena oil free is great. I used to use Aveeno Baby, but it was oily. I wear a few versions of Columbia sun hats.

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I definitely have gotten into wearing a buff when I fish, it's easier than reapplying sunscreen 3 times.  Gloves the jury is still out.  Certainly they keep sun off, but I take them off pretty often to do things, and I don't know that they don't cut down on my bite detection (I let the line run over my forefinger).  As for being cooler, it depends on what they're being compared to.  Compared to something cotton?  Of course they're cooler.  Compared to uncovered skin, I'm not sure, I think that direct sunlight would be a factor in how you perceive that.  I can't remember being cool or comfortable in Iraq in summer as long as I was outside of A/C no matter what I was wearing (I was mostly around Baghad and Yusufiyah), but we always wore at least plate carriers.

Yeah it was still hot as literal hell, but I think having a boonie hat and the DCU long sleeve to keep the sun directly off the skin helped. ACUs can kiss my butt. I was in Taji and Balad area and we had full IBAs and I wish we had just plate carriers. Then the army decided to introduce the new body armor, I forget what it was called, I hated it. But it went over your head and not like an actual vest so you couldn't open it up to get a little air. 

 

I digress, the older I get the more I am starting to think about my health more and i never even wear sunblock. At most a long sleeve and ball cap. I have a Columbia boonie hat but its really hot and makes my head sweat worse. I got burned every year and always complained. So thinking about changing that, but if the buff and gloves make you sweat worse, maybe I'll step up to sunblock, hence why I'm asking. 

 

I was issued a neck gaiter in the army we used in the winter but also in the summer in sand storms and being outside for a long period with my kevlar on and not my hat. Kept the sun off but was made of polypropylene so was kind of hot. Thats my only experience with any face coverings.

[throttleplate]

3 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Both. I do not recommend gloves in crowded public places. Trust me, guys will think it’s feminine and you’ll wind up in situations where you have to make sure they know that’s not the case. It’s just not worth it.

when i put my gloves on to fish i forget they are even on as they are skin tight open fingers. They smell like decomposed fish guts and just this past sunday i was putting peanuts and cookies in the palm of them and eating through the smell.

 

You see when i am fishing i dont get all prissy and dainty, i was hungry while fishing and that to me is roughing it in the outdoors. Just today i went grocery shopping at wallmart and asked the self checkout attendant for help to cancel a purchase and he was rocking electric blue fingernails.

always wear sunscreen on my face and large straw cowboy style hat. This year is the first for using a buff and i like it.

I still put sunscreen on my face and then the buff pulled up when needed and still apply sunscreen after a couple hrs as sun can penatrate fabric even if the manufacturer says their buff is sunproof.

[galyonj]

My intent is to take the sun a little more seriously this year. So far, so good.

 

No buffs or gaiters. Figure between sunscreen and this beard I've kinda got that covered.

 

I will say, though, those polyester long sleeves do everything they promise as far as keeping me cool and from getting burnt.

[Fishes in trees]

I like summer fishing clothes.   I have a few SPF 50 microfiber fishing hoodies. My favorites are an ivory/grey refraction style camp and my other favorite is a Patagonia summer fishing hoodie wi several different shades of light green & white.  The design blurry the line between camo & paisley.   Even in 90 degree weather + , the hoodie seems to pull moisture away from my face and helps my cap on in the wind.  I have to wear knee high anti-blood clot socks - so my legs never get sunburned.  I like light shorts and then douse my knee and a few inches up with sunscreen.  I wear wristbands that soak up sweat that runs down my arms and I change them a couple of times per day.  Makes a difference in my hands not getting sweaty and accidentally dropping stuff.  I find a white hat compared to a darker colored hat makes a difference in summer sun.  Shoe wise - I like the geezer sneaks,  i.e. New Balance grey & white nylon fabric walking shoes.

 

It is one thing to gear up - garment wise -  while you're fishing.  A word of advice - your high tech fishing gear - which kept you perfectly comfortable while you were out fishing in the sun is no fun to drive home in, in your air conditioned fishing truck.  (I am presuming that most of us who have fishing trucks, the AC works).  It is a great idea to bring spare appropriate clothes along, and change out at the ramp, before you go home.  I've never been treated great when it was my fault that I was hot & stinky and stopped somewhere to get something to eat.  However, when I changed out into clean, on-sweaty gear, driving home was much more comfortable and people didn't make faces when they walked near me at the BBQ joint on the way home.  

These have been my current thoughts on summer fishing gear - more to follow - maybe - probably not.

[A-Jay]

Gloves & a sun gaitor nearly 100% of the time for me.

Mornings & evenings are almost always 'cool' up here,

so I'm either protecting myself from the cold or the sun.

Often times It's BOTH.

South of the border it's essential. 

I seriously dislike slathering myself all up with sunscreen; although I still do apply it to my face.

Accordingly, I go the way of performance sun clothing for protection;

Full length pants, long sleeve shirt, sun glasses & a some type of hat/cap - do prefer a brim if I can. 

As mentioned here already, the right stuff will always keep me much cooler than bare skin.

Cover up & Fish Hard

?

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[CountryboyinDC]

9 hours ago, CrankFate said:

Both. I do not recommend gloves in crowded public places. Trust me, guys will think it’s feminine and you’ll wind up in situations where you have to make sure they know that’s not the case. It’s just not worth it.

It could be your delicate good looks.  

5 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have a Columbia boonie hat but its really hot and makes my head sweat worse. I got burned every year and always complained. So thinking about changing that, but if the buff and gloves make you sweat worse, maybe I'll step up to sunblock, hence why I'm asking. 

 

I was issued a neck gaiter in the army we used in the winter but also in the summer in sand storms and being outside for a long period with my kevlar on and not my hat. Kept the sun off but was made of polypropylene so was kind of hot. Thats my only experience with any face coverings.

I almost always wear a ball cap, but with so many old dudes wearing the gigantic straw jobs I have to wonder if that approach is wrong (old dudes tend to do what works that they figured out by experience).  But with a buff, a ball cap seems to work, and mine is usually one of the trucker (mesh back) ones in the hot summer.  I still put on sunscreen before I dress to go fishing in the summer, just don't reapply.  These gaiters are nothing like the standard Army-issued gaiter, which we also wore to keep the rotor wash from getting sand under our tops even in the summer.  They're very light, and not nearly as hot.  They may (and do for me occasionally) cause certain sunglasses to fog, but I just move the glasses a tiny bit down my nose for a few minutes, and it passes.

 

[CountryboyinDC]

1 hour ago, Fishes in trees said:

 (I am presuming that most of us who have fishing trucks, the AC works)

You infer too much sir.  Although I do have a '2-60' air conditioner that works as long as someone cranks the windows down.

[CrankFate]

@CountryboyinDC it doesn’t help.

[huZZah]

Also, as people mentioned, my gloves have the thicker “raw hide” type stuff in the palm and along fingers. Man, it REALLY saves you from hooking yourself or getting finned.  But especially hooking. 
 

Like when your kid hangs up and yanks it and your hand is all you can get in front of your face.  Saved me multiple ER visits. Cause after they fix my hand they’re gonna have to fix my boy when I’m done.