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Field Report: SmartShield Sunscreen and Insect Repellent Products
October 07, 2006
Personal biographical information:
Name: Eric Palmer
Age: 26 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8'' (173 cm)
Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)
Email address: ericj_palmer@yahoo.com
City, state, country: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Backpacking background:
I started backpacking when I was seven years old, on family summer vacations to Estes Park, Colorado, which my dad took my brother and me hiking on. Since then I have moved to Colorado and have been hiking hardcore for five years now. I completed a Hikemaster’s Course in the Rocky Mountain National Park and have led numerous groups on hikes, both short and long, dispensing information on the various ecosystems in the area. My backpacking style is mostly ultralight or light.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: SmartShield
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer’s Website: www.smartshield.com
Listed Weights: not listed on manufacturer website
Available Retail Sizes and Prices:
SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion 4 fl oz (118 ml) $7.99
SPF 30 Lotion Foil Pack, box of 50 foil packs $29.50
SPF 30 Spray with Insect Repellent 4 fl oz (118 ml) $8.99
SPF 30 Sunscreen Towelette with Insect Repellent box of 50 packets $34.00
After Sun Repair Foil Packs box of 50 packets $24.50
SPF 30 Lip Balm not indicated on website $1.75
SPF 30 Eyes, Nose, and Lips 0.45 oz (13 g) $3.25
SPF 30 Faces 1 fl oz (30 ml) $5.99
  
Testing Locations:
I camped and hung out on the water at Chambers Lake at 9200 feet (2804 meters) in the Roosevelt National Forest. This was the first time I used the sunscreen. The trip was three days and two nights. While using the sunscreen lotion I experienced no burns and my skin did not feel clogged or oiled up. The lotion rubbed in very easily and I felt confident that I would not need to reapply very often. I went several hours before reapplying and suffered no burns. The sunscreen lotion stood up to the waterproof and sweat proof claim. The Eyes, Nose, Lips stick worked equally well. I also tested the Sunscreen Towelette with Insect Repellent and while the sunscreen portion did prevent sunburn, the insect repellant did not keep the bugs away. I ended up with a few pretty significant bites.
I also camped and swam in the Red Feather Lakes, Colorado area at 8000 feet (2438 meters). This trip did not involve any sun exposure, but it was a great opportunity to test the insect repellent. Even though I was seated around a camp fire there was still an abundance of bugs. The spray did not live up to my standards. I came home with more than a handful of painful bites. I applied the spray repellant about every 30 minutes and still did not have complete relief from insects. However, I did not feel like my skin was suffocating under the spray repellant. It went on very easily and kept my skin from feeling trapped.
I went hiking with my wife to Grey Rock in the Cache la Poudre River Canyon near Fort Collins, Colorado. The trailhead is at 5473 ft (1668.1m) and the trail ascends 2140 ft (652.3m) for 3.3 mi. (5.3km). I used the sunscreen lotion and was completely satisfied. I escaped the sun’s burn and still had skin that could breath. Once again, the Eyes, Nose, and Lips stick worked effectively as well.
I also worked at a summer day camp this summer and part of my job involved going swimming at an outdoor pool every few weeks and also taking outdoor field trips to such places as amusement parks and baseball games. I used the sunscreen lotion, Faces lotion, and Eyes, Nose, Lips stick. They all prevented sunburn while giving my skin an unhindered and natural feel. The amusement park also involved a water park and the sunscreen stood up to the harsh testing conditions of water slides, wave pools, and tube rides, as well as the less harsher, but more exposed lazy river. I reapplied sunscreen once over a seven hour period at the park. The baseball game required a little more reapplying as we were in the sun the entire game. I did, however, wear a hat to add protection of my face. The sunscreen again performed top notch.
I also used the lotion foil packs daily at the summer camp. They are just as effective as the lotion in the bottle. The packets are nice to carry when traveling, because they are lighter in weight and the foil pack can be disposed of when done.
I did not have a chance to test the After Sun Repair Foil Packs. I also did not have a chance to test the SPF 30 Lip Balm, but when I put it on my lips, it felt just like normal chap stick. I have never had sunburned lips, which I why I felt that I did not need to test the lip balm.
Summary:
The sunscreen-only products are just as effective at preventing sunburn as other products, but had the addition of being easier to rub in and not clogging my skin or making me feel oiled down. Sweat proof and waterproof: yes. The sunscreen and insect spray and towelette combinations were effective on the sunscreen part, but not the insect repellant part. If I was looking for complete protection from insects, I would go with the DEET stuff, but if I was looking for a product that is DEET-free and smells decent, I would use the SmartShield SPF 30 Spray with Insect Repellant. Insect bites may occur, but at least I would not be using DEET on my skin. The foil packs of sunscreen are great for backpacking and hiking, as they reduce weight in a backpack. The plastic bottled products are great for poolside or just when out and about the town or being active. The Eyes, Nose, and Lips stick is convenient because it did not require me to get my hands lathered up in sunscreen, but the foil packs and bottled sunscreen are just as equal in quality. The separate Faces bottle, in my opinion, is unnecessary; just use the one bottle of straight-up sunscreen. No need to carry all that extra weight. In conclusion, the SmartShield sunscreen products are superb and of high caliber. The insect repellant products are an option for those who are anti-DEET, but offer little protection from insect bites.
Remarks:
Thank you SmartShield and Backpack Gear Test for providing me with the opportunity to test the SmartShield Sun Block and Insect Repellent Products.
Read more reviews of Smartshield gear
Read more gear reviews by Eric Palmer
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