The sun dims in the sky during winter and the temperatures drop. People typically find themselves yearning for the feel of the warm summer sun against their skin. But it’s this very feeling that often misleads people into thinking that the sun is absent rather than just dimmed. Because the same issues with sun exposure that are a concern during the summer are dangerous in winter as well. In fact, there are even a few more to take into account. Thankfully the solutions, sun-repellent clothing in particular, also work just as well in winter, and there are four important reasons why people need to consider those options even in the winter.
1- UV Rays
UV rays are the biggest reason to wear sun-repellent clothing during the winter – and during the summer too! The sun’s rays are more spread out during the winter, but that doesn’t make them safe. Even a cloudy day only reduces rather than blocks UV rays. The same concept holds for winter weather. UV rays are safer, but not safe. Winter cold can even lead you to a false sense of security. As such it’s important to find winter clothing with UV protection. Thankfully increased awareness of the need for sun-repellent clothing has led to greater availability.
2- Staying Dry
You probably don’t think of winter as a time when you need to worry about working up a good sweat. However, just because the weather is cold doesn’t mean that you’re not going to sweat. Moving around in difficult terrain like the snow is often enough exercise to make you perspire. And that’s a very bad thing in the winter. Thankfully, sun-repellent clothing is designed to wick sweat away from your skin. This can keep you dry when you’re pushing your way through harsh winter terrain.
3- Avoid Windchill
Moisture wicking is part of staying warm in the winter. However, there’s also the issue of the wind. The wind works against you in two ways during the winter. The first is by blowing away your body heat. The second is by pushing cold air onto your skin. This can be made even worse if you have moisture on your skin. Sun-repellent clothing combats both issues. It keeps the cold air from making direct contact with your skin while also ensuring there are layers of warm air between you and your clothing. This can create a natural buffer, somewhat similar to the air layer in double-glazed windows. The clothing also keeps the cold air from making direct contact with your skin.
4- Avoiding Snow Reflection
Most people think of UV rays as a danger from above. But snow can reflect almost all of the sun’s rays up again. And that means if you’re out in the snow then you’re getting hit by UV rays from both above and below. This can be even more risky for people enjoying sports in higher elevations. Sun-repellent clothing will block the additional UV rays that come from reflected sunlight just as they do normal sunlight.