Beat the Heat and Harmful UV: Best Sun-Blocking Products of 2018
Summer is coming, and we know what’s coming with it: the sun! At long last, winter coats are a thing of the past. However, despite the fact that you no longer need to hear your mother telling you to put on a jacket, she’ll more than likely start singing a different tune:
“I’m pickin’ up bad vibrations; the sun’s givin’ out radiation; bad, bad burns from radiation!”
Perhaps the sun is already frying my brain. Anyway, it truly is important to prepare for the summer months by stocking up on various summer essentials. In this post, I’ll touch on some of the leading sun-blocking tennis gear of 2018.
Apparel with UPF 50+ Protection
The most important thing to remember is that any skin exposed to the sun is at risk of getting burned, especially during long and intense matches on the court. Conversely, areas covered by clothing naturally receive some level of protection since they are not directly contacted by the sun’s harmful rays. Because of this, many major sports apparel companies stick to developing material technologies designed to keep you cool. This is all fine and good, but others have gone the extra mile to actually implement UPF 50+ protection in their clothing. While the items we feature here have achieved this particular rating, that does not mean each individual item from the brand overall has reached it. If you are looking at other pieces from these brands, and UV protection is a concern for you, then we encourage you to check their specifications.
Men’s Apparel: Babolat and BloqUV
Babolat and BloqUV provide both men’s and women’s apparel items that achieve UPF 50+ ratings. With these two brands, men have a variety of options to choose from to protect their skin, stay cool, and enhance their performance. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Women’s Apparel: Eleven and Tail
Eleven and Tail offer a number of women’s apparel options that reach UPF 50+ ratings. These pieces keep you safe from the sun, and allow you to stay cool and collected from opening serve to match point. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Other Wearables
Anybody who has spent a decent amount of time on the court in the summer sun knows that apparel accessories are needed in order to perform well. This is primarily due to the build up of sweat, glare from the sun, and similar factors. Below, we will outline our go-to performance accessories.
Men’s and Women’s Compression Gear: Under Armour and 2XU
Under Armour and 2XU offer great compressive gear for men and women alike. Under Armour uses their HeatGear® fabric technology to keep you cool, while 2XU incorporates UPF 50+ properties to keep you protected from the sun. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Wristbands & Headbands: adidas, Babolat, and Tourna
adidas, Babolat, and Tourna all provide a wealth of unique sweat-blocking gear to keep your eyes and hands dry in the summer heat. They are great for intense training sessions and matches. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Men’s and Women’s Caps and Visors: Nike
Nike‘s wide collection of caps and visors is hard to ignore. The lightweight, airy, and soft properties of these items make you forget that anything is even on top of your head. All the while, they protect your head and eyes from the sun. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Eye Protection: Oakley and Nike
Oakley and Nike are both tremendous options when it comes to athletic, sun-blocking eye protection. The Oakley sunglasses shown above filter 100% of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays, as well as blue light up to 400nm. The Nike sunglasses depicted above provide 100% UVA and UVB protection. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Socks: Nike and ASICS
Nike and ASICS offer a number of athletic socks to keep your feet from getting slowed down by sweat. The socks shown above not only wick sweat and provide superior ventilation, but also offer additional cushioning and support for performance and comfort. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Equipment for the Heat
High temperatures can take quite a toll on both your tennis gear and body. Now that you are better protected from the sun, it is important to consider your racquets, shoes, personal items, and more. There are also a few more accessory items that can help you out on a physiological level. The following equipment is designed to withstand the heat.
Tennis Bags: Wilson
Wilson makes phenomenal bags for durability in hot environments. Their top options feature Thermoguard 2.0 technology to protect your racquets in both hot and humid environments. While many industry-leading bags protect against excessive heat, these go above and beyond. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
Water Bottles: Takeya
Takeya has broken onto the scene with their colorful, durable, and high-quality stainless steel bottles. They keep your drink cold for up to 24 hours, or hot for up to 12 hours, in any conditions. They’re BPA-free, prevent against flavor transfer, and are constructed from 18/8 stainless steel. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images (from left to right, sizes are 18 oz, 24 oz, 32 oz, and 40 oz).
Towels: Mission Athleticare
Mission Athleticare offers a variety of towels that provide protection from the sun, and a material makeup designed to keep you cool. The towels featured here offer UPF 45 and UPF 50 protection, as well as a chemical-free cooling technology that lowers the temperature of the fabric when wet. You can purchase the above items by clicking on the images.
At Tennis Express, we do what we can to provide you with everything you need to play the sport you love throughout the year. In the summer, extreme heat and harmful UV radiation can sideline you for days and weeks if you are not careful. We hope that you take advantage of the above products, and take away a better understanding of things to look for. Don’t forget to put on sunscreen!
For More Summer Gear
To explore additional summer tennis products, check out our blogs below:
