I was looking up an Ergodyne accessory when I came across their line of Krew’d sunscreen products.
Ergodyne Krew’d is apparently a line of sunscreen products specially marketed towards outdoor workers. It’s sunscreen for pros.
It seems that the line came out in 2021, but this was the first I’ve heard of it. There also don’t seem to be many user reviews yet.
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Ergodyne says that:
Outdoor workers are 3.5 times more likely to develop skin cancer, a statistic alarming enough for OSHA to classify UV as a carcinogen.
Their Krew’d products are all broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) water-resistant “sport” sunscreen with an SPF 50 rating. It’s said to be dermatologist-tested and FDA-approved.
Ergodyne also says that their Krew’d formulas are lightweight, non-greasy, quick to absorb, and free of paraben, phthalates, and octinoxate/oxybenzone.
They also say that it’s water and sweat resistant for 80 minutes.
Ergodyne offers their Krew’d sunscreen in stick, spray, and lotion formats.
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The lotion is available in standard, pump dispenser, and mini travel pack sizes.
Questions for Readers
It’s likely that Ergodyne contracted with a sunscreen OEM to produce Krew’d for them, but it’s unclear if Krew’d is somehow customized for outdoor pros. Or, it could just be a repackaged sports-type sunscreen.
I don’t want to get into the pros and cons of wearing sunscreen. If you choose to wear sunscreen, what’s your take on this?
Going by Amazon’s pricing, some of the Ergodyne Krew’d products are competitively priced (such as the stick), and others are higher priced than consumer brands (such as the lotion).
Might Ergodyne Krew’d be worth the premium over everyday consumer brands?
Would you buy this over say Banana Boat’s SPF 50 “Sport Ultra” sunscreen?
ball_bearing
Some people have a strong aversion to anything that could be considered girlie. If skin care products start being associated with manly activities, more men are going to start using them.
This is a good thing. People should really take care of their skin, it is the first layer of protection against many pathogens.
Bruce
I prefer spf wool or cotton. Sunscreen is all well and good, but it’s messy, washes off, and is less effective. I’ll wear it if I have to, but it’s rare I can’t protect myself from the sun by wearing proper clothing to work.
ball_bearing
I agree, but think of it as an extra layer of protection. Long sleeve shirts (if bearable), a hat (preferably with neck protection), and then the sunscreen.
James C
Sunscreen can be very controversial. I keep telling this guy to wear some when he goes outside and he throws a fit almost every time. It doesn’t help he has a pale completion like his mom and me. At least he will wear a hat if his options are that or sunscreen.
Stuart
My father had a chunk of meat cut out of his nose, and more recently has a discolored quarter-sized spot on his forehead due to radiation treatment.
If I’m outside for more than a few minutes at peak hours, I wear a hat and sunscreen.
fred
You can modify the old adage to read: “tan in haste repent at leisure”
I grew up using Coppertone – which back then – as its name suggests – was more a tanning lotion than a sunscreen. Many years of boating/fishing has resulted in my regular visits to the dermatologist to have things frozen off. When that no longer works – it’s off to the MOHS surgeon. It is an easily preventable issue given current knowledge about clothing and sunscreen options.
I now use Neutrogena Dry Touch Sunscreen – and usually buy the highest SPF (70 to 100) one that is on display when I shop for it.
James
Most sunscreens don’t do what they claim.
https://www.cnn.com/2016/05/18/health/sunscreen-false-spf-claims-on-labels/index.html
https://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/about-the-sunscreens/928814/Neutrogena_Ultra_Sheer_Dry-Touch_Sunscreen_Lotion%2C_SPF_100%2B/
Best to do a deep search to make sure what your using actually works. Note this was just a quick search. I prefer sun shirts with long sleeves and a large brim hat.
Coach James
A more recent update to the 2016 CNN report.
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-steps-aimed-improving-quality-safety-and-efficacy-sunscreens
Anthony
Having dealt with similar experiences; I learned a long time ago not bother others if they refuse they want to wear sunblock, stay hydrated or anything to that effect. Ultimately it’s not my problem and after having a guy completely lose it on me, it’s not worth the confrontation.
Getting too old for that and the world I grew up in where you could talk to people reasonably, civilly and without the potential of dealing with law enforcement by merely trying to help others seems to have vanished. You are correct; it’s controversial because unfortunately some people, not all of course don’t want to listen and worse some cannot take friendly advice without taking this the wrong way.
MM
I’m assuming this is a child you’re talking about? It may be worth your time to figure out *why* he doesn’t want to wear sunscreen and then address that specifically. I hated sunscreen as a kid because of the greasy feel it had. Once my parents figured that out they bought a different brand and the problem vanished.
Wayne R.
I spent most of my early career working outside in the South, year ’round. No sunscreen, no window tint (or aircon), rarely even a hat.
Sure am paying for all that now, and it’s only going to get worse. Dermatologist beats me up pretty good, pretty regularly.
I’m in Mexico right now, in southern Baja. Booney hat, Banana Boat spray, SPF creme for my mug, SPF Chapstick for the kisser. Hanging out most of the day in Riddick-levels of solar blasting – and surprisingly few skin/sun problems. That stuff works better than I expected.
Andrew D.
SPF rated Chapstick is highly underrated, even disregarding the sun protection, I’ve had quite a few instances of chapped and split lips because of a combination of dehydration/sun, and I feel sorry for those who feel a need to make me talk by asking questions, I tend to get really unpleasant after the third or fourth time I feel my lip split. I keep one in my pocket, and a spare in my vest, and everyone seems to be happier for it.
Big Adam
The grey packaging is all good and manly, but they missed a trick not calling it ‘EDC Tactical Sun Armour’ for full grrr butchness.
Apparently women work outdoors too but guess they worked out years ago that ‘girly’ regular sunscreen is pretty effective.
Quick hint for anyone actually on the fence on this subject. Just do it. And ignore the brand names. Go look in the section aimed at kids where you’ll find the hard wearing waterproof stuff with the highest UVA/UVB protection.
Patrick T
I’d buy anything over banana boat sport. I think the ubiquity of the old school banana boats and copper tones of the world are a big reason why people hate dealing with sunscreen. My wife and I are big fans of Supergoop. We buy it in big pump bottles with our FSA. I think we get it from fsastore.com (or something similar).
Sun Bum and Bare are also pretty good. Have also had good luck with. Neutrogena sheer. La Roche Posay is also tops. Bought some of it in Mexico about a decade ago. That stuff was like Tactical Sun Armour!
My dad has had a ton of spots removed from his time in the sun. Face, legs and arms for him. Have another friend that has had some serious stuff removed from his face. The sun is no joke.
Blocky
I’m a Banana Boat man myself. But there might be something to this Krew’d.
Steven L
I started with baby oil and iodine to get a tan! Now my dermatologist sees me regularly.
Lots of companies make sunscreen for sweating outdoors. Wish Ergodyne luck.
For spending time outside my dermatologist prefers covering up and 100 SPF on exposed skin. I prefer 50 SPF and just keep slapping it on – nothing lasts all day.
JoeM
Uh… in theory? If eye black works for athletes to cut glare (superstition or practical, still depends on the user.) and there’s archaeological proof that the Egyptians wore makeup, and provided makeup to their builders, all done for protection from the sun and sand damaging their skin… then I suppose this stuff makes sense, in a way?
I only have one issue here… 80 minutes? It lasts for 80 minutes? So, every hour and twenty minutes, you need to reapply the stuff to get it to protect you… Outdoor workers aren’t exactly all that keen on being stopped so frequently, are they? I know some guys who work the equivalent of 9-5 outdoors, and others that’ll pull a solid 12 hour day, including commute time. I can assure you, they’re not stopping every hour, or setting a timer, or having a big announcement from the foreman, telling them all to hydrate and apply sunscreen. Every minute they can get in productivity, they take so the project moves forward.
I will admit, that some of these guys I know, I call “younger brothers”, and due to their outdoor lifestyles, they do already look decades older than I do. I do worry about them (Because, like I said, I call them brothers, I care about them.) and the long-term effects they may need to undo some of the sun damage they’ve gathered. There’s been talk of spa treatments, and all sorts of health checkups. But I’m quite positive that stopping them from working every hour and twenty minutes to apply this sunblock, won’t be something they’d be willing to do. If the company was serious about it being for outdoor workers, it would last somewhere in the 3-4 hour range. It might seem impossible, or somehow nit-picky, but if they’re going to market it to Work? It had better last a lot longer than other products. Workers don’t stop what they’re doing that often. As the saying goes… Time Flies when you’re Having Fun… and I know the guys get up to some pretty crazy stuff on-site. I know because they are always forwarding the pictures to me to laugh at. If the company isn’t going to make significant improvements to how long it lasts? They might as well be using pretty much any sunscreen.
Stuart
It is my understanding that 80 minutes is the most the FDA allows advertised on labels.
Collin
80 minutes is better than 0 minutes.
The 80-minute limit is not binary either, it doesn’t cease to give protection after 80 minutes. It’s just that the level of protection falls off by 80 minutes, and it’ll keep working at 80, just at a significantly diminished capacity.
80 minutes of minimized UV exposure * number of days spent working outside professionally = pretty big difference.
JoeM
If the extent of the argument is “It’s better than nothing” then really any argument that it’s any better suited for outdoor workers is null and void.
If the FDA doesn’t allow anything to state it lasts longer, then there’s a lot of these sun blockers that are on exactly the same usefulness scale as Ergodyne. So, again… the whole thing comes down to… Wear Sunscreen.
So… is it worth it at all? You know, besides the fact that it is, in fact, Sunscreen?
John
I’m a Blue Lizard convert. Only sunscreen I have found that doesn’t turn clothing orange. Most sunscreens cause oxidation and the result can be every shirt collar and sleeve are permanently stained.
My father in his 80s now has to have sunspots burned off every year and takes several months for his skin to heal. He dedicates each January and February to this annual need. He never wore a hat or sunscreen doing outdoor chores, mowing etc.
Koko The Talking Ape
Very meh about this Ergodyne stuff. What makes it so good for outdoor workers specifically, other than the branding? Anything?
I use whatever is cheap, not too greasy and doesn’t smell too strong. For years my go-to was No-Ad, but I guess they stopped producing it.
Actually, maybe I’m deluding myself, but growing my hair long enough to cover my neck and ears makes me relax a little. I feel like I can just get away with just a baseball cap. It can be hot, but just soaking my head fixes that. 🙂
Jim Felt
Stuart.
If the FDA says “80 minutes” protection duration is the most sellers can advertise/claim I wonder what the rated protection drop off rate looks like? Perhaps at a half day or 4 hours?
Stuart
Environments can vary.
I haven’t looked into it extensively, but I think the rating is strict to cover the harshest environments, such as profuse sweating, swimming, or whatever else can reduce the effectiveness of sport-type sunscreen.
Daniel L.
It’s good to see this kind of stuff being marketed towards tradespeople, but for me I prefer to go with a good, breathable, mosture wicking technical fabric over sunscreen.
Theres lots of synthetic fabrics out there that’ll work a whole lot better than sunscreen. Moisture-wicking fabrics have the advantage of keeping you cooler on hot days too: both by carrying away body heat through evaporative processes, and by acing as a radiant barrier against the sun’s rays.
I have a feeling that the reason most folks think of long sleeved shirts as not being warm weather clothing is due to the fact that they’ve only tried shirts that that absorb moisture and keeps heat trapped around your arms and torso. Cotton is one of the worst offenders in that regard.
There’s always tradeoffs though. Most synthetic fabrics are dangerous for those who work in trades that could expose them to arc flash or open flame. That said…arc flash-related injuries are relatively rare compared to skin cancer or even heat stroke. Personally, I’ll keep some FR rated stuff in my truck if I need it, and wear the synthetic stuff for daily operations.
Bob
I like the aerosol stuff. Any sunblock seems to sweat off after an hour or so. May as well go with the stuff that is quick and easy to reapply.
Bob
I like the aerosol stuff. Any sunblock seems to sweat off after an hour or so. May as well go with the stuff that is quick and easy to reapply.
APrawks
I’ve had skin cancer twice and it’s not pleasant. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, take care of yourselves!
JMG
Does anyone else here have an aversion to the name itself? First thing that came to mind for me was “crude” sunscreen?… Product name just doesn’t click for me.
Yeah, that’s just another Nova for me.
Coach James
I use sunscreen, but I don’t care about having something manly, etc.. I go for a good SPF level and cost. I more often use CVS brand SPF 70 Sport. I spray it on again every couple hours.
DanB
This kind of thing is why I’m glad we can get hoodies in technical fabric nowadays. As a boater, I prefer simply covering up and limiting exposure as much as possible.