Sun Protection with a Sarong

Multicolor Web Artisan Batik Sarong

Sarongs as sun protection.

Heading for the beach this summer? Trying to travel light? Remember how, last summer, you lugged all manner of paraphernalia on the long path from the parking lot to the beach, picking your way carefully among the loose rocks and slippery dry dirt, and arrived at the beach tired, achy, and grumpy? You resolved not to make the same mistake this year, but as school ends and beach weather begins, you may be wondering how you’re going to keep that noble resolve.

Lose the Umbrella

One awkward, unwieldy item in last year’s burden was your beach umbrella, right? The one that kept getting blown over by the wind once you finally made it to the beach. Tip for this year’s excursion: Lose the umbrella.

Sarong to the Rescue

Of course, you still need sun protection. Even with the new 70, 80, and 110 SPF sunscreens, you can’t sit in the sun all day. It’s intense. Warming, life-giving—yes;  and still, intense. So you get down to the beach and you find that there’s not a bit of shade to be had. Here’s what you do: Look around till you find two sticks. Surely there are some twigs, branches, or stick-like materials of some sort around. Plant them in the sand and secure them with stones around the base. Then—ta da ta da ta da—unfurl your sarong.

Very Clever

Dig around in your beach bag for the two rubber bands you always keep there. You do always keep two rubber bands in your bag, don’t you? Attach two corners of the sarong to the sticks. Bring the rest of the sarong out as far as it will go, and place some rocks, shoes, or such along its edge. Can you see it? You’ve just created a little tent to shelter you from the sun. You still have a view out the sides, diffused light coming in, and a pleasant breeze wafting through. The only thing you don’t have is the hot sun beating down on you mercilessly.

When you get back from the water and remember that you ditched your towel, too, the sarong can always double as a quick-drying beach towel. Pretty clever, wouldn’t you say?

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