Bottle of Sawyer SPF 30 sunscreen
Bottle of Sawyer SPF 30 sunscreen

I Can Sweat Buckets and This (Backpacker-Tested) Sunscreen Won’t Run

I live at a high elevation and spend a lot of time outdoors in the summer. Most of my activities are in the blazing sun, whether I’m backpacking along open ridgelines or kayaking on local rivers. I’ve worn plenty of sunscreens, both chemical and mineral, from ubiquitous brands like Coppertone and Neutrogena, as well as outdoor-specific ones like ThinkSport. While they’ve done the job, I’ve watched some of those sunscreens slough off during sweaty hikes. Others, meanwhile, seem to clog my skin, creating a sticky layer that makes it harder for my body’s natural cooling system to do its job.

Avid backpackers like myself know Sawyer for its reliable water filters that are ubiquitous on trails because they weigh just a few ounces and easily screw onto water bottles. Sawyer also makes highly effective insect repellents — one of which, for mosquitos, may be familiar to Strategist readers. Contributor Maureen O’Connor wrote that its “less greasy” formula lets her “skin breathe more easily” — which is exactly how I feel about the brand’s Stay-Put Sunscreen, a product I started using about a year ago and have since turned many in my backpacking crew on to because of how well it works in the sweatiest of situations — from all-day hikes, to kayak outings, to full days working outdoors.

If your interested in reading more on Sawyer's Stay-Put Sunscreen, continue reading Maggie Slepian's article by clicking here.

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The Strategist

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Media Mentions

It all starts with Sawyer Squeeze + Cnoc VectoX 2L, the best and most reliable filter-bladder combo and the core of my backpacking water storage and filtration system.

Jaeger Shaw
Owner & Managing Editor

Media Mentions

Our top water filter for thru hiking, the Sawyer Squeeze, is 15% off.

Naomi Hudetz
Chief Operating Officer & Online Editor

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People with alpha-gal syndrome show allergic symptoms such as rash, nausea and vomiting after eating such meat.

Stephanie Soucheray
Reporter