Phillip Jones is a well-seasoned traveler of the Mideast. After spending 30 years in deserts and a bout of skin cancer, he still loves hot, dry places, but now takes the necessary skin precautions.
I lived in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, traveled in Bahrain, Jordan and Turkey. I love the Mideast, people, culture and food. On March 27, I travel to Salalah, Oman for my third visit. Oman tests clothing and travelers with intense heat, sun, strong winds and the reflected sun from the ocean when on the coast. After years in the Tropics and the deserts of Arabia, Jordan, Oman, and Kuwait, my skin must be protected from more skin cancer. Since I travel light, my clothing must be strong, easily hand washed and dried at night, then look sharp the next day.
After 62 years of sun exposure in the Tropics and in four deserts, my skin is in bad shape. My dermatologist has said that I have no good skin left on my hands. The only solution for me has been to wear Coolibar Full Ginger Gloves when I drive, fish or plan to be outside for any length of time. Since my ears have been burned many times by liquid nitrogen, as well as being “trimmed” at Duke Hospital, I often wear the Coolibar protective sun drape in the Middle East and when fishing in the Arabian Gulf or the Indian Ocean. With the sun drape on, I can fish for twelve hours on the ocean and get back to land without any sunburn. This Easter, I spent a week in Oman for the third time, fishing off the coast of Salalah, then returning to Sur for five more days of fishing on the water. This trip, I wore my Coolibar Full Finger Gloves, Protective Sun Drape, Featherweight Bucket Hat and Adventure Jacket. My skin did not even turn pink!
The Coolibar bucket hat works very well in the windy desert or on the water. The 3-inch brim is not too large to flap from the wind and can be tightened with a cord in back as well as the chin strap. It folds nicely for pocket carry as well. When I did not wear the sun drape, I would put the hood of the Adventure Jacket under the Bucket Hat, preventing any neck sunburn. The Adventure jacket works well on many levels. It is thin, cool to wear and has six pockets. When my fishing line would become tangled, I would take my gloves off, stuff them in the outside jacket pockets, and retrieve them when lines were unkinked. I kept my eyeglasses secure in the chest pockets, fastened with Velcro.
I am fair skinned, blue-eyed and a redhead, so I cannot take any more chances with the sun. My wife wants me to wear sunscreen, but with Coolibar products I only have to cover my nose and a bit of cheeks with sunscreen, and still avoid burns. Coolibar products pack well, wash in a bathroom sink when traveling, dry quickly and still look sharp the next day!
Phillip – North Carolina
Coolibar provided Phillip with the Adventure Jacket and Bucket Hat for the purpose of this review.
