Best Sun Protection for Surfers 2026: Sunscreen, Rashguards, Hats, and More

Surfers spend more time in the sun than almost anyone. Between sessions, drives to the beach, and everything in between, UV exposure adds up fast. Consider this: 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. Whether you're lathering up before paddling out or protecting yourself on the road, here's what's worth having in your arsenal this summer.

XPEL Automotive Window Tint

Sun protection doesn't stop when you get in the car — and for surfers who spend hours driving to and from breaks, the UV exposure through untreated windows adds up more than most people realize. XPEL's PRIME automotive window film blocks over 99% of UVA and UVB rays using advanced nano-ceramic technology, and in testing, vehicles equipped with XPEL film have measured up to 15 degrees cooler than untreated cars. That's not a small difference on a summer drive home from a long session. The film has earned the Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation, reinforcing what the numbers already show. For homeowners, XPEL's architectural window films bring the same protection indoors — blocking up to 78% of solar heat and 99% of UV rays while preserving natural light. It's the kind of upgrade that does something useful every single day. Find an authorized installer at xpel.com.

Freaks of Nature Solar Shield SPF 30 Mineral Spray

This is one spray sunscreen that doesn't make the whole beach smell like a chemical waft of who-knows-what. Over the last decade, mineral sunscreen has come a long way, and Freaks of Nature's Solar Shield spray is proof. Powered by air rather than hydrocarbons, it delivers a continuous 360° spray that actually reaches your back without a contortionist act. The active ingredient is 16.5% non-nano zinc oxide — broad spectrum, reef-safe, and compliant with Hawaii's Reef Protection Act. Aloe vera, jojoba oil, and green tea extract round out the base. Water resistant up to 40 minutes, fragrance free, and dermatologist tested.

FORLOH SolAir Tech Sun Shirt

FORLOH's SolAir Tech Shirt is built for one job: keeping you protected and comfortable in the sun all day without making you feel like you're wearing a sun shirt. UPF 50+ blocks the rays, an integrated cooling technology manages heat, and odor control means it stays fresh from a morning session through whatever comes next. The cut is clean enough to wear off the water without looking like high-performance gear. But it is, that makes it the kind of piece that stays in regular rotation. Find yours here.

Manda Organic Sun Paste SPF 50

Made by surfers for surfers, Manda's cult-status sun paste had been a lineup staple for years. They went quiet for a few years but now they're officially back in action and just in time for peak summer rays and waves. The formula is built around non-nano zinc oxide, Thanaka powder, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax — packaged in a recyclable bamboo and tin container that fits in a boardshorts pocket. Goes on thick, stays on, and handles serious conditions without complaint. The kind of sunscreen that gets passed around in lineups. Find it here.

Free Fly Pinnacle Hooded Rashguard

When sunscreen isn't enough, cover up. Free Fly's Pinnacle Hooded Rashguard offers UPF 50+ protection and was built for exactly this kind of use — body-mapped seams for chafe-free movement, a fitted visor hood to cut glare and designed with duck dives in mind, and (my personal favorite feature) bonded ear perforations for drainage and hearing in the water. It's the kind of piece that works as hard as you do and doesn't feel like a compromise. Low key logo and reasonably priced at $88 makes this an easy add for summer strike missions.

Needessentials Surf Hat

The Australians know a thing or two about sun exposure, and needessentials has built one of the most solid and comprehensive surf hats on the market as a result. Designed to stay on in the water and keep the sun off your face during long sessions, it doubles as a charitable act — all profit from the Surfrider Foundation edition goes directly to Surfrider Australia's Rise Above Plastics campaign. Form, function, and a good conscience all for only $40.

Addidas Kentro Sunglasses

Unless you've been asleep for the past few years, you've noticed that sunglasses trend could be boiled down to one word: fast. Adidas' new Kentro is a performance sunglass built for athletes who move, yep, fast and need their eyewear to keep up. The full-rim design offers a wide field of vision, rubberized nose pads and temple tips lock in fit during intense activity, and ventilation channels in the frame keep fogging at bay. The real story is the Powervizn lens — a high-contrast base tint with precision mirror coating that sharpens vision, cuts glare, and sheds water, sweat, and dirt without drama. For surfers who spend as much time driving, running, or on a bike as they do in the water, these cross over well. ~$170 at adidaseyewear.com.

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