sunscreen alternative - cooling clothing

On my IM, I put it on before the swim (cream).

Then in t1, used spray.

Then halfway on the bike after taking a leak, used some cream on the neck and ears from a tiny pack.

Then again spray on in T2.

Even with the clothes you'll still need something for your neck, ears, head if thining, etc.

For shorter races just a quick spray in each T then off, maybe 5-10 seconds, but history of skin cancer = worth the effort.

One thing that sucked was the raw rug burn on the neck from the wetsuit + spray sunblock = agony. So now I wear duct tape on the neck.

I have the cool wings and like them okay, but they get stretched out and end up not covering me as well as I hoped.  I imagined wearing them on bike and run, but they literally fall off on the run.  I now wear them underneath a sleeveless jersey for training/pleasure rides.  I last did this while biking in Vegas at Red Rocks.  It was in the 70s, though, so I cannot testify to their cooling properties.   I was comfortable.   But for serious sun protection issues, it's important to note they do move around a lot.  I'd go for a full shirt.

I am a big sun block fan of all sorts.  You must apply it at least a half hour before activity.  When I'm on vacation,  I apply after my shower in the morning and then reapply as the day goes on.  I used to use Banana Boat, because it was less expensive, but saw Consumer Reports info that showed it was less effective.  Can't remember the top brands, but Neutrogena was good and I buy that often.  I need to look up the info on that again...

I am also the girl with the rash guard and hats at the beach.  This year in Hawaii I swam exclusively in a full body dive skin (same as rash guard).  It was great!

Has anyone worn Cool Wings under a wetsuit for racing? I'm scheduled to race Vineman this summer and plan to buy a set and give them a go during training. If you did wear Cool Wings under a wetsuit did you have trouble with chafing? If you put them on in T1 what was your experience getting them on when your arms are wet?

spudone wears cooling/sunblock gear (he has it on in his avatar) ... those with questions might want to bombard him with PM's, and of course, please tell him Yanti sent you

Tom Demerly (trisports.com) posted a while back that cooling gear really doesn't work for cooling (and he's tried most of it). However, I don't recall him saying anything about their sunblocking properties.

To my knowledge, Australian sunblocks have a more rigorous testing protocol in order to make claims of a certain SPF and waterproof.

I'm not as interested in the cooling properties, more the sun protection. So far I'm going with several coats of sunscreen with zinc oxide (one at night, one in the morning and more after swimming) but I want to cover my shoulders and arms for the long 5-7 hour bike rides. I know that the cool wings don't prove 100% sunblock and should be partnered with sunscreen. I'm just looking for the best sun protection strategy for a long IM day.

Thanks for the feedback! I guess it's worth picking up a set and giving them a go for training. My goal is to limit long term sun exposure. I'm pretty fair and I burn quickly.

Both products work well, BUT you have to keep them wet.  In races, this is not much of an issue since you have regular access to water on the bike and run; however it is an issue in training when you only want to carry water to drink.  I've found them helpful on the bike, but break-even at best on the run due to slower speeds (may be worth it for the sun protection though....I've never been burned through one).

You can try the concept with an Under Armour HeatGear top (<$30).  In my experience it works as well (if not better) and is UPF 50+.

One thing that sucked was the raw rug burn on the neck from the wetsuit + spray sunblock = agony. So now I wear duct tape on the neck.  

as someone who is nursing a bad chafe (?) on the neck from this morning's sprint, i applaud your genius sir. i will not hit the water again without duct tape on my neck.

Old thread. 

So on 2nd IM I ran with the Desoto long sleeve cooler, under my wetsuit to the end of the run. Worked great and the back pockets along the spine are great for having ice! You can't reach the top one, but water station volunteers sure can!

Only used course provided sunblock at T1 and T2 (but put it on super thick) and escaped with no burn at all. 

I also took someone else's advice (either here or ST) and showered and put thick base layer of spf30 cream the night before race. I think that helped a lot. 

Not sure I'd be interested in the arm coolers for sunblock as there is a huge exposure around the shoulders.

I kept it wet on the bike and run and I think it helped with cooling...

This was from the HIM year before, cooler day but it was fine:

Big Desoto/zoot fan. 

I know its an old thread ... I figured I'd dig up and old one and ask additional questions rather than start from scratch.

^^^ Thanks. I hadn't though about using a full coverage top. Did you have any chafing with the top under your wetsuit?

I was thinking of wearing these so I still had the back pockets of my tri top to store nutrition.

I agree ...the basic arm coolers would leave me too exposed, I want my shoulders and "wings" in the back covered.

I don't have experience with those.

I have experience with Pearl Izumi In-R-Cool products (short and long-sleeve) and I highly recommend them. It REALLY does feel unlike any of my other tech apparel. I remember pulling my shirt over my tri suit; it was high noonish and hot. Instant relief. My skin felt cooler immediately. I was surprised it worked that well.

Their In-R-Cool apparel are UP50. I'll be buying a couple more long sleeve In-R-Cool shirts for wearing while sailing. Keep the sun off my skin and to keep me cooler.

I like the product so much, I'd happily forego all my long sleeve tops (I have quite a few) and replace them all with the In-R-Cool tops.