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review

Premax Sunscreen For Sport SPF 50+

7
£15.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Easy to apply, long lasting protection
Strong protection
Portable size
More breathable than normal creams
Tube tends to splurge
Weight: 
63g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Premax Sunscreen For Sport SPF 50+ offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB light. It's designed to be breathable yet water resistant and long lasting, but while it's great at the last two, it can still block pores – though it's a definite improvement over ordinary suncream. The small tube is handy for carrying in a jersey pocket, too.

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Our skin takes the brunt of the weather whilst out on the bike and it's important to protect it. This sunscreen comes from Australia where they experience far worse UV levels, and as such it should have an easy time protecting us in UK summers.

The 50ml tube is usefully pocketable for later reapplications, while the four-hour water resistance time means it's long lasting.

It feels nice on the skin. The aloe vera provides a subtle soothing feel and is easily absorbed, plus there's no repugnant smell and the colour is very neutral. Importantly, this suncream doesn't sweat off the way most supermarket brands do, and doesn't stain your kit, either.

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Premax claims this cream is breathable, and while it's definitely an improvement over regular options, it's by no means perfect. The cream can still enter and block up some sweat pores which can lead to added discomfort while riding. Also, it's hard to regulate the flow from the bottle – it can shoot out – so often you end up wearing more than you bargained for.

At £15 it's cheaper than the excellent Ultrasun Sports Gel Sun Protection SPF 50 at £28 or less-protective Pelotan SPF30 at £20, but then you're only getting 50ml – with both those Ultrasun and Pelotan products you get over 200g. However, Ultrasun's 50ml Face SPF50+ Sunscreen Lotion is £24, and Pelotan's 50ml roll-on version is £10, so Premax sits somewhere in the middle.

If, like me, you despise using heavy, cheap sunscreens, Premax Sunscreen For Sport SPF 50+ is an effective, pocketable and trustworthy choice.

Verdict

Easy to apply, long lasting protection

road.cc test report

Make and model: Premax Sunscreen For Sport SPF 50+

Size tested: 50ml

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Premax says this is a "dry, non-greasy, broad spectrum sunscreen formulated just for sports and exercise. UVB & UVA protection in a 4-hour water & sweat resistant formula. Athletes will appreciate the dry and breathable texture, allowing the skin to perspire normally optimising thermoregulation and athletic performance."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Premax says:

UVB & UVA, BROAD SPECTRUM

VERY HIGH PROTECTION

4-HOURS WATER RESISTANT

DRY-TOUCH, NON-GREASY LOTION

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Effective protecting on the hottest of days, and does not come off as a result of intense sweating.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

A significant improvement over supermarket offerings, but still noticeable.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Extremely well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The lack of any offensive smell, plus the aloe vera is soothing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Dispensing the cream is sometimes tricky.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's mid-market, coming up cheaper than some sport-specific competitors, a little more than others.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Premax sunscreen does very well in both protection and longevity, but I did have some breathability issues, and it can be tricky to dispense. It's good, though, and scores a seven.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 20  Height: 6 ft 2 in  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride: Giant TCR  My best bike is: Giant Trinty

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, club rides, the occasional bit of track

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