SA UV/Dust Face Shields

SA UV/Dust Face Shields

I wear one of these as a face shield when I mow my own property as well as my customers’ lawns. I discovered these one day through a sponsored ad on my Facebook page – I must have googled “sun protection while mowing” in the recent past. These shields have made working outside foer extended periods of time much more enjoyable for me.

You can catch a lot of damaging UV rays when you’re on a zero-turn mower for several hours at a time in full sun. This exposure adds up over time and can really take a toll on your health, not to mention the appearance of your skin.

These SA UV/dust shields cover your nose, mouth, cheeks, ears, and most of your neck when worn as a face mask. These parts never get sunburned when I wear this shield, especially when worn with a boonie hat as the shield’s material is rated at 40 SPF. I am religious about wearing mine, as I am at higher risk for skin cancer and have had a couple of cases of it. I still apply sunscreen to the lower part of my neck when wearing this, as this area could stay exposed to the sun depending on the style of shirt you’re wearing.

You can wear these in a number of different styles: face shield, headband, neck gaiter, full hood, balaclava, and more (I had to look up some of these). The material is very soft and breathable. It doesn’t feel overly hot even in 90*+ temperatures and, in any case, it beats the alternative of getting sunburned.

The shield stays tight on your face and won’t fall down as you move around. This is the most important thing to look for with a product like this. I can put one of these on and then focus on mowing or trimming without having to constantly readjust it on my face. They come in one size, which will fit any adult (male or female).

In addition to protecting your skin from UV rays, this shield is also effective for preventing breathing in dust, grass particles, and bugs while you mow. Tree and grass pollen is still going to get through, but you’re not going to be inhaling anything larger.

I was skeptical how these would hold up given how cheap they were. I have had my original set of five for more than a year now and as I’ve already said, I wear them and wash them a lot. The colors have faded ever so slightly and I’ve noticed some very minor pilling, but I fully expect to get at least another year of service out of them.

When COVID-19 became a thing, I kept one in each of my vehicles to use as a mask for entering stores and other indoor public spaces. They take up almost no room in a center console or glove compartment.

These shields are available in many different colors and styles, although I prefer the solid earth tones, with the olive green being my favorite.