A sunburn on day one taxes every day that follows.
By the Packlist PRO team · Updated June 2026
Nothing ruins a trip faster, cheaper, or more avoidably than a burn. Travel
multiplies the risk: you're outside more hours than at home, often at higher
altitude or on reflective water and sand, and usually too busy to notice until
the damage is done. Sun protection is a system — sunscreen is only a third
of it.
Mineral vs chemical (and the reef question)
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV; they rub in clear and feel lighter,
but need ~20 minutes to bind before they work. Mineral (zinc
oxide / titanium dioxide) sits on the skin and works immediately — better
for sensitive skin and kids, at the cost of some white cast. If your trip involves
coral — snorkeling, diving, reef beaches — pick a mineral,
"reef-safe" formula: several destinations (Hawaiʻi, Palau, parts of
Mexico and the Caribbean) restrict oxybenzone and octinoxate formulas, and
enforcement starts at the beach bag.
How much, how often (the part nobody does)
The tested dose is roughly a shot glass (30 ml) for an adult body
and a nickel-size dollop for the face — most people apply a quarter of that
and get a quarter of the SPF. Reapply every two hours outdoors,
sooner after swimming. The spots that burn on travelers: ears, the part in your
hair, tops of feet, backs of knees, and under sunglasses straps. Budget a
bottle per person per beach week; "we'll make it last" is how
day-three burns happen.
Beyond sunscreen: the other two thirds
Sunglasses with 100% UV (UV400) protection are eye sunscreen
— and the label is the spec that matters; dark-but-unrated lenses are worse
than nothing because they dilate your pupils. Polarization kills glare from water
and road (worth it at the beach and driving; irrelevant to UV safety). A
brimmed hat and a UPF 50 shirt outperform any
sunscreen for the hours you can keep them on — a rash guard for swimmers is
sunscreen you can't forget to reapply.
Our sun-protection picks
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Sunscreen
Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray | Banana Boat Sunscreen Spray SPF 50, Water Resistant, Oxybenzone Free, Sunblock, 6oz each Twin Pack
Hawaiian Tropic Weightless Hydration Sunscreen Spray SPF 70, 6oz | High SPF Sunblock, Oxybenzone Free, Hawaiian Tropic Spray Sunscreen, 6oz
Hawaiian Tropic Everyday Active Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 Sunblock, 8 Fl Oz
Sunglasses
Goodr OG Polarized Sunglasses — Goodr
Polarized; no-slip; cheap enough to lose
Light, grippy, and inexpensive - the pair you will not panic about leaving on a boat.