The sun is the greatest danger for anglers on the water.
Repeated sun exposure can lead to cancer. A growing number of fishermen, who used to be cautious about the dangers of UV radiation, are now taking steps to protect themselves. Sunscreen is great, but it can be difficult to reapply. Also, the reality of life is unpredictable. This is mostly due to human error.
A new range of UV-blocking neck gaiters is now available, offering reliable and affordable protection for your daily adventures in the sun.
Below are reviews of some of our favorite products, along with some tips to help you make your decision.
Review of the Best Fishing Neck Gaiters & Sun Masks
KastKing Sol Armis Neck Gaiter –Our Choice!
Material: Poly/spandex mix
UPF 50+ UV protection
KastKing is a fishing expert and understands the importance of protecting your skin from the sun.
The Sol Armis neck gaiter by Sol Armis provides great coverage. It can be worn on the back of the head, ears, and top of the nose. Combining it with sunglasses and a cap, you can provide near-perfect protection for everything starting at the neck.
The polyester/spandex blend is well-made and fits comfortably. The seam quality and materials are excellent, with no complaints regarding fogging.
There are many colors to choose from, so there is a lot of choices.
The KastKing Sol Armis neck gaiter offers UPF 50+ sun protection.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Excellent UPF rating
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Never fogs glasses
- You can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns
Cons
- ???? ??
World Wide Sportsman Sun Stopper Multipurpose Headgear
Material: Polyester
UV protection: 95%
World Wide Sportsman’s Sun Stopper has a thin, light design that still provides adequate UV protection. It’s the least effective product on our list. It probably offers a UFP of 30, or something similar, which makes it one of the best UV protection products we recommend.
The neck gaiter is long enough to cover your neck at the collar bone, provided your shirt is not open at the chest. The neck gaiter is designed to fit just below your sunglasses. Your nose might still be exposed if it’s too small.
If you have a full head and a good hat, even a baseball cap, you will be protected from the sun. If you don’t have a full head of hair, you will need a hat that has a wide brim.
Sunstopper is comfortable and won’t sag. It is very soft and comfortable to wear throughout the day. This gaiter can be customized in many colors and patterns for anglers looking for options.
This gaiter is almost guaranteed to be worn together, so it’s rare for people to complain about their sunglasses fogging up.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Acceptable UPF rating
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Rarely are fog glasses visible
- You can choose from a wide range of patterns and colors
Cons
- Our list does not include as many UV-protective options as our other choices.
BUFF CoolnetUV+ Multifunctional Headwear and a Face Mask
Amazon
Material: 95% Recycled REPREVE microfiber, 5% Elastane
UPF 50+ UV protection
Buff is the originator of neck-gaiter, and they are a versatile, efficient product that is hard to beat.
Coolant UV+ gaiters can be worn in many styles. For maximum sun protection, they can cover the entire back of your head up to the top of the nose and both ears. This is the best combination of protection and style.
It boasts UPF 50+ and will not expose you to more than a speck of UV radiation, no matter how long you spend in the sun.
This gaiter was designed for anglers who have to battle unrelenting heat. It is comfortable and cool, making it a great choice for anyone.
It fits well and stays in place so that you can concentrate on fishing, not on changing the fabric. A coolant is a great option because it doesn’t fog.
Buff offers many color and design options, including camouflage patterns for hunting.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Excellent UPF rating
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Never fogs glasses
- You can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns
Cons
- ?? ??
Columbia Deflector Neck Gaiter
Material: Polyester
UPF 50+ UV protection
Columbia has been a favorite for outdoor clothing since the beginning. They are experts at protecting customers from the sun.
The Deflector neck gaiter is rated UPF 50+. It is made of reflective material that keeps you cool and prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the skin.
It is large enough to cover your ears, nose, and back. When worn with sunglasses and a hat, it will protect you from the harmful effects of the sun.
It fits well, stays put, and it is comfortable. However, neither of these products look or feel as good as those from KastKing or Buff.
It does the job and is cool even when it’s hot.
Only a pink/white and gray combination are currently available. This means that color options are limited.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Excellent UPF rating
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Color options that are not good for you
Salt Life Mission Face Shield
Available at Bass Pro
Material: 88% Polyester/12% Spandex
UPF 50+ UV protection
Salt Life makes a variety of accessories for angling that are highly rated. The new Mission Face Shield from Salt Life should be no exception.
This neck gaiter is made from a soft polyester/spandex blend. It features a pattern with tiny holes that allow your air to escape and your sunglasses will not fog. This neck gaiter can be worn over your nose and ears to protect you from sunburn.
It fits perfectly and is well-kept by the seam at its top. It is designed for sun exposure and stays cool all day.
The color options are limited to one light or dark gray shade. If this bothers you, then you might prefer the Buff and KastKing options.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Excellent UPF rating
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Color options that are not good for you
Simms Sungaiter
Material: 92% Polyester/8% Spandex
UPF 50+ UV protection
Simms is known for getting the little things right.
This gaiter is made from a mix of spandex and polyester. It offers all-day comfort and UPF 50+ protection. You’ll also find small holes that allow moisture to escape. This will prevent your sunglasses from fogging, just like the Salt Life gaiter.
It is designed to provide full coverage for serious anglers who are exposed to the sun. You’ll feel almost as protected as if your sunglasses and hat were worn with the sunglasses.
The gaiter is extremely comfortable and one of our favorites. It is lightweight and holds its place so it doesn’t become a hassle.
This is the most expensive option, but only three colors are available.
Pros
- Excellent coverage
- Excellent UPF rating
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Never fogs glasses
Cons
- Comparatively costly
- There are only three color options
How to Choose a Neck Gaiter
Protection
Sunburns are not something to ignore as part of fishing.
Too many people ignore the dangers of excessive sun exposure until it becomes a problem and we are diagnosed with cancer by a dermatologist.
Ask Mark Davis about it. “The sun damage, which is accumulative, adds on to you, once it was too late, I realized I had a problem.”
Mark has squamous-cell carcinoma (skin cancer).
His advice? “I want people out, especially the men, to not be dumb, and protect themselves, every part of which is exposed, including your lips.”
It’s not sunscreen or lip balm that will do it best, but fabric.
Have you ever had sunburns on your shirt, pants, shoes, and hat? It was not something I thought…
Experts at skincancer.org agree that sun-protective clothing is the best way to keep safe. Unlike sunscreen, you don’t need to reapply!
However, not all fabrics provide the same level of protection. For example, thick skin coverings and summer sun won’t make for a pleasant day on the water.
Let’s now look at what you should know.
SPF ratings are the numbers on your sunscreen. This rating is a measure of your sun resistance. The higher the number, the you are more likely to avoid sunburn.
If you are very fair, and you would normally burn in 30 mins, then an SPF 50 will give you 1500 minutes of sun protection. These conditions were ideal. You can reduce the number by adding sweat, water, contact, and other elements – all elements that are present in the real world. You will need to reapply.
UPF is, in contrast, a measure of how much ultraviolet light is blocked by a fabric. This is not a multiplier for your natural sunburn protection, but an absolute measure.
You might assume that all sun masks and neck gaiters offer high UV protection. But they don’t.
Many of the products that we reviewed offered little UV protection, despite covering the neck and face.
Always verify the UPF rating on any product.
Here are some facts from skincancer.org
- Higher protection is offered by darker and brighter colors that absorb more ultraviolet light.
- UV radiation can penetrate fabric if you can see through it
- You need to stretch the fabric so that the seams are exposed.
- Wet fabric can let UV radiation penetrate
Comfort
You won’t wear a gaiter/mask if it’s uncomfortable.
The fabric should be loose so it doesn’t pull too tight. However, the fabric must stay put.
Each product on our list was evaluated for breathability, overall fit, as well as whether or not they fog your glasses.
Insurance
We believe that more is better and made sure to take into account the coverage of each product.
Durability
A quality gaiter or sun mask is built to last. It will also be easy to wash and dry quickly.
These details were provided for every product that we reviewed.
Our Pick: KastKing’s Sol Armis Neck Gaiter
It was close, but the Buff gaiter is just as great, just as comfortable, and just as stylish. The Sol Armis from KastKing is about 30% cheaper than the Buff comparable but still delivers essentially the same performance.
Sol Armis’ neck gaiter has a remarkable UPF protection rating of 50+. This will keep you safe from the sun. You can enjoy all-day comfort and won’t have to worry about fit or fogging.
KastKing’s Sol Armis neck gaiter, which is cool, comfortable, and easy to wash, is our top choice.
