i have been searching high and low to try and work out the best sunscreen, what works best for everyone else here? lets get our heads together to work it out.
i want to hear;
how well it works
if it lasts
gets in your eyes
stains equipment
etc
also has anyone located a decent herbal sunblock, we use so much of this stuff who knows what it could do to our health in the future.
herbal sunblock? are you kidding me? have you seen what happens to herbs when they have too much time in the sun?
Zinc is the absolute ducks nuts, and not that bullcrap 'clear zinke' nonsense, I mean covering your whole head in white grease, apply once, wear a long sleeve rashie, and you can kite for 6 hours straight. It doesn't go in your eyes either.
I rate the cancer council sunscreen. You can save a heap of money by getting the large 2ltr pump packs and transfer to smaller bottles. Keep the pump pack in your home as sunscreen goes bad if it is kept in the sun or in a hot car!
I also wear a hat and use zinc for my nose, ears etc
I just tried a cheaper brand from the chemist and it was oily, got in my eyes and i still got sunburnt in a short period of time. I dont get sunburnt with the cancer council stuff.
fyi, some sunscreens are now using nano technology, and latest research has indicated that some nano technology is harmful to human dna. There is now a strong push to label all sunscreens sold in australia to indicate if that sunscreen is using nano technology or not.
see here >>> www.abc.net.au/catalyst/nanotechnology/11008694
this might sound povo but the bilo brand sunscreen's ok as long as you put heaps on.
- it doesnt get in eyes or anything
- lasts for a good session
- heaps cheap too
works for me
i have found that if you kite at night you can aviod all these pitfalls,,,, dont forget to get your night light sticks ,and it also pays to put one on the board hard to see at night 
......have found that i am getting a little moon glare need some good night sunnies can anyone help ....
sorry i have not seen anyone else post this up!
maybe a sticky of best sunscreens would be helpful?
^^^^Saff MAY? have been referring to the "night kite" saga... (fwiw i love a night kite after a few beers!)[}:)]
but on topic, the hawaiian (sp) tropic 50+ is a ripper, fairly thick and doesnt run into your eyes. lasts well too.
Cant beat ZINC
Doesnt get in your eyes
Lasts all day
although it does get on everything ( hands ,kite bar,kit etc .....but better than a melonoma
Banana boat, it's 30 plus, it lasts for hours, for hours for hours da da da da banana boat!
^^^ Banana Boat Ultra (black tube)
The cancer foundation also do sunblock in a neat little 50ml tube that has a carabina on it (so you can clip it to your bag etc). The lid screws off so you can refill it from a bigger (cheaper container).
Also, try searching the forum, has been discussed before, including link to comparison of hundreds of sunblocks.
Invisible Zinc on the face and hands - wear a long sleeve rashie and 30+ anything (Hamilton sunscreen) on the legs (if you are like me and have hairy legs that seems to work fine)
I wear a Gath helmet - not so much for the impact protection but the sun protection to my scalp.
I also wear Seaspecs.
Secret is to apply 30 mins before going into water ie. put it on before you go to the beach, and reapply when you take breaks for water/food etc.
Ive been using Hamiltons for years, the green labled stuff works great easy to apply and lasts a good 3-4 hrs on the watter doesnt seem to get all over bar kit and havent had it rub in to my eyes. They allso do a heavy duty version thats ment to be for water sport it has a orange lable but it is super thick hard to rub in and because of this it seems to end up in your eyes when you go to wipe water off your fase but it does last a lot longer, looks like zink when you put it on but a little bit goes a long way.
HI Everyone,
As big time sun users (Kiteschool and shop) who is on the beach from 11.30 until dark EVERYDAY, we have put a few sunscreens to the test and the one that works best for the instructors is Hamiltons Quadblock. No one gets burnt. I wear the Hamiltons Optinal and it works great. I rarely get burnt but do re-apply if in the water and the sun for long periods. I also wear an Akubra wide brim hat which keeps the direct sun off my face when on the beach.
Reminds me I need another skin check! 
ie time to get more bits cut out 
Cheers,
KH
Invisible Zinc, Lasts for a good 5 hours and water beads off you its that waterproof.
Really good for the face and non greasy. I've tried about 10 different sunblocks over the last couple of years and have finally found a winner.
Banana Boat - the black tube? - has to be one of the top ones. Its thick & creamy, lasts for ages and definitely doesnt run &/or sting eyes.
How do we get a product that does that is beyond me!!! - and there are so many of them. Perhaps they are good for ppl who work in airconditioned offices 
You have to remember that sunscreen is not the overall solution to sun protection. It kind of defeats the purpose if you layer on the sunscreen and then kite without a shirt on etc. Obviously the best way to minimise the risks of sun damage is to avoid the sun completely. This is near impossible especially given the nature of the sport. Therefore when out in the sun, cover as much skin as possible with clothing. Long sleeve rash vests, sunnies and hats are good for this. It's obviously a bit harder to cover your legs unless it's cold and you wear a steamer/long john. Sunscreen should be the last resort for those places you can't cover up with clothing. You would be suprised at the sun damage to peoples neck (the v in under your chin where a typical shirt doesn't cover, and the backs of your legs (mainly surfers).
Having said that, I find Banana Boat good and the Cancer Council sunscreen that gets around. Zinc is excellent, but I always forget it's on and I get it everywhere. Avoid the spray on stuff; its useless!
It's funny that the OP mentions the risk of sunscreen to our health in the future; it seems like we can't win. Thats why I think covering up is the 1st priority to sun protection.
