Best Sun Protection Clothing in 2018

Hey, hey all my sun lovers out there! Now I know you’re here because you love being out in the sun and want to update your wardrobe with the latest sun safe gear.

Well don’t worry I have got you covered… literally.

We are going to check out the best sun protection clothing for you and your families by going over my greatest hits! This article is going to cover the best:

• UV shirts for women and men
• Sun hats for women, men, and kids
• Swim shirts for women and men
• Sun sleeves

So you might be thinking, why do I need all this sun protection clothing, is sunscreen not enough? sunscreen is a great tool to use to protect you from the sun’s harsh UV rays, however, remember the following – you need to:

• get broad spectrum sunscreen to make sure you are protected against both UVA and UVB rays
• apply before heading out into the sun
• reapply every two hours or after swimming
• take your sunscreen with you

If you are interested in learning more about UV radiation the World Health Organization has some in depth information to help you understand it a little better.

So with that all said, yes, sunscreen is amazing but it does take a bit of discipline and isn’t always practical. Are you going to reapply while you’re rock climbing? What if you’ve gone kayaking and forgot it? You get the drift. Ideally you should use both! Not one or the other. So let’s delve into it and check out the latest in sun protection.

After thorough research into requirements for the best clothing for sun protection to be effective for protecting you and your family from the sun, SimplySunSafe recommends the top 5 products below in the categories above. Read on for a detailed buyer’s guide, comparison table, and in-depth reviews of the best UV clothing.

So you’re ready to start shopping! Let’s start with some fun stuff. These are the features that you want to look for when buying your new sun safe gear.

Style

Nobody wants to be unfashionable so I do take this into account when researching for the best products for you!

If you’re not comfortable in a piece of clothing or wearing an accessory it’s not going to work. You won’t want to wear it and without it you’ll be vulnerable.

That being said if I do think there is a product that provides the best sun protection but might not be seen on the runways at fashion shows I still might recommend it if it’s a clear favorite!

Fabric

It might be interesting to know that there is not one best fabric for sun protection. Depending on what the item is will play a part in what fabric is best for that item.

You probably already know that if I was to list all of the fabrics available to you this article would take you forever to read, so let’s just look at some that are great for sun protection:

• Canvas
• Cotton
• Polyester
• Nylon
• Lycra

UPF Rating

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This rating system provides us with information on how much protection our clothing will provide us against the sun’s rays. Yep, it’s similar to SPF but applies to clothing.

See the table below for further information on UPF ratings:

Even the best UPF clothing can be ineffective if not used correctly. Remembering the following points will help to ensure you have the best sun protection:

• Make sure your clothes fit well. Clothing that is pulled too tight may become thin and transparent, resulting in less effective protection.
• Wet clothing becomes significantly less effective, and
• Old worn out clothing will also lose its ability to protect you from the sun.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency provides a great fact sheet if you want to explore UPF clothing in more detail.

Quick Drying/Moisture Wicking

You and I don’t want to be uncomfortable when out and about on our sunny adventures.

I personally can’t stand being in wet clothing so that is why I always look at moisture wicking or quick drying options for anything I know might be getting sweaty or wet.

If you know you are going to get hot, sweaty or wet this will be something for you to keep an eye out for.

Cooling

You might be a bit confused by this one! How can putting on a layer help you be cooler. Well thanks to some amazing technology an array of sun sleeves actually assist in cooling you down when outdoors.

If you plan on getting hot and sweaty check if your arm sleeves will help with keeping you cool.

Price

This one can be a make or break for all of us. You won’t have to take out a loan to get yourself some great sun protection gear.

I’ve got you covered, there are lots of high quality and cost-effective options.

	UPF	Quick Drying	Color Options?	Material	Price
Columbia Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve Shirt	50	Yes	Yes	Polyester	$$$
UV Skinz Half-Zip Ruched Sun Shirt	50+	Yes	Yes	Pique (Cotton)	$$$
Columbia Bora Bora Booney II	50	Yes	Yes	Nylon	$$
Camo Coll Boonie Sun Hat	50	No	Yes	Polyester	$
Coolibar Bucket Sun Hat	50	No	Yes	Polyester & Spandex	$
Speedo Easy Long Sleeve Swim Tee	50	Yes	Yes	Polyester	$$
Baleaf Long Sleeve Splice Swim Shirt	50	Yes	Yes	Nylon & Spandex	$$
Aegend UV Arm Sleeves	50	Yes	No	Polyamide Fiber & Spandex	$

After thorough research that combined discussing issues with customers, reviewing customer feedback, examining manufacturer specifications, and participating in sun safety forums, SimplySunSafe has chosen the 5 best UV protection clothing products for protecting you from the sun!

All of these items provide a great UPF rating, won’t break your bank, and will be sure to protect you from the sun!

Men’s Sun Shirt – Columbia Terminal Tackle Long Sleeve Shirt

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This awesome shirt is 100% polyester and Columbia’s own ‘Omni-Shade, Omni-Wick’ fabric. It has a rating of UPF 50 and offers second-to-none sun protection. Designed to be breathable, wick away moisture quickly, and dry fast this shirt is perfect for hot summer days and/or highly active people.

It has a classic t-shirt design (loose fitting and long sleeves) and doesn’t have a collar. This makes sunscreen and a hat must-haves to ensure you’re completely protected.

The lightweight material feels cool even on sunny days. As is normal for Columbia Sportswear apparel, sizes run large. This is good in that you can be sure it won’t stretch when you wear it and, in doing so, reduce its UPF.

Women’s Sun Shirt – UV Skinz Long Sleeve Half-Zip Ruched Sun Shirt

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UV Skinz focuses on producing comfortable and fashionable sun safe products. They hit the nail on the head with their UPF 50+ Women’s Long Sleeve Half-Zip Ruched Sun Shirt.

It’s a good looking and practical sun shirt made of a closely-woven cotton (pique) and it provides great coverage with its a mock turtle collar and thumb hoops in its long sleeves.

The pique fabric is quick-drying and lightweight. That the base material is cotton helps the shirt stay breathable on even the hottest of days. However, he material can feel a little heavy on very hot days. It may be better for days by the sea, where there are high winds, or in cooler climates.

The styling is cute but not super-chic. It comes in a variety of colors including pink, blue and black. Perhaps the most thoughtful detail is that the zipper pull is UV sensitive and changes color in sunlight.

Men’s Sun Hat – Columbia Sportswear Bora Bora Booney II

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This one is the ultimate all rounder! A huge UPF 50 rating will block out 98% of the sun’s rays.

It’s ventilation and cooling functions include a sweatband plus a mesh vent panel to help heat escape. For sizing it’s only available in the one size but it does have an adjustable drawcord that will make sure it fits nicely as well as a chinstrap for additional security.

Ok so, it’s not the prettiest hat, but It’s available in 7 different colors so there’s plenty of options, you can buy one for yourself, and your adventure partner!

Thinking about going for a dip? No problem! This guy is fast drying meaning it will be back up to its maximum UPF protection in no time. This hat has so many amazing features.

So that all sounds great, what about the cost? Well! Thats where this hat just kept coming out on top. It is so reasonably priced that it continues to be my champion of sun hats.

Women’s Sun Hat – Camo Coll Outdoor Boonie

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Now for the ladies, the classic bucket hat. It might look standard, but it is anything but, and that’s why this one makes our best of the best article.

The soft polyester of this hat makes this a comfortable hat for all adventures. A rating of UPF 50+ gives you lots of protection. It has mesh ventilation to keep you nice and cool and a chin strap to prevent it from blowing off your head mid hike!

One size fits all for this one but there is an adjustable drawstring to help it fit you just right. Color options! There are 13 of them! From red to pink, from grey to khaki. You will find one that you like. However, if you don’t find one, this budget friendly option means that you can just buy two, or three!

Kids Sun Hat – Coolibar Baby Sun Bucket Hat

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If you have a baby or know someone who has a little bubba you know how important protecting them from the sun is! Let’s take a look at our top pick for children.

The classic bucket style hat with a twist. Depending on what coverage you need the front brim is able to be clipped up or down which may be helpful for those with children who don’t like the brim over their face or are just getting used to wearing hats for the first time.

Made out of Polyester and Spandex it’s a comfortable snug fit on your kid’s head and also has a easy to use velcro chin strap to keep in securely in place. The baby bucket hat is also superior chlorine and saltwater resistant as well as being rated UPF 50.

For additional information on protecting our tiny humans from the sun, the Skin Cancer Foundation provides important recommendations for you follow. They can’t protect themselves so it’s up to us to help them.

Men’s Swim Shirt – Speedo Men’s Easy Long Sleeve Rashguard

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Speedo! Most of us know this iconic brand, even if it’s just the logo you see you may know exactly who this one is from. They are one of the best sun protection clothing brands of our time, sponsoring some of the biggest olympic athletes.

This long sleeved option provides your entire torso and arms with great coverage. It is rated at UPF 50 for excellent protection. This polyester quick drying option makes it even better as there is no need to try and pull a wet swim shirt off you, you can just go straight to lounging around in the shade.

Another reason why this one came out on top was the fit. It’s a loose fitting option which means it is even more comfortable. Available in 5 sizes, S to XXL, and 9 colors there are plenty of options to choose from.

This one is a little on the higher price side but the quality of this piece is well worth it. I also think that while yes, it is marketed for men its loose fit means that women can also wear this one!

Women’s Swim Shirt – Baleaf Long Sleeve Splice Rashguard

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This swim shirt is great because it has a UPF 50 rating and long sleeves. The Nylon and Spandex blend make it comfortable, breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying.

But I love this one because of the great additional features.

First, it has a back pocket to put your ID, cards, keys (and anything that’s pocket sized). So you don’t have to worry about leaving the important stuff on the beach or at the poolside just waiting to be stolen.

Next, it has board short connectors to secure your shirt to your boardies if you’re wearing them. This prevents those embarrassing moments when your swim shirt rides up exposing your stomach and back. This isn’t important for everyone, but if it is… it’s very important. This shirt has you covered (at all times!).

They has a range of sizes that fit as expected but have only 3 color options.

This one is also on budget so I am a happy camper all round!

Sun Sleeves – Aegend UV Arm Sleeves

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This was our champion sun sleeve. The Agend arm sleeves are a great option they are packed with features. They have different options depending on what you are after. The fabric mix of polyamide fiber and spandex ensures a snug fit which is also great for absorbing moisture – no more soggy arms!

An anti-slip gel ensures that the sleeve does not roll down your arm. They also gently compress your arms so they also provide muscle relief in addition to providing sun protection.

These have a UPF rating of 50 which is great protection! This means your arms will be protected from more than 97.5% of the sun’s rays.

You have 4 color options of white, black, pink or gray for the standard arm sleeve and the over-hand option is available in black. There are 4 different sizes available so get a friend to help you measure up however, there is a 30 day no hassle return available on these if you don’t have the perfect fit.

Conclusion

This article was written for everyone looking to update their sun protection wardrobe. Whether you are after one item or some new gear for the entire family, I hope it has provided some useful guidance on what to keep your eyes peeled for when starting your search.

SimplySunSafe recommends the above items as our top picks for sun protection clothing. After taking into consideration all the features that make UPF clothing great, these were the products that came out on top.

Remember UPF clothing is not your only defence against the sun’s harsh rays. You have a whole list of things you can do to protect yourself:

• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Staying out of the sun between peak times

To refresh your memory on sun protection recommendations visit the Cancer Council’s website.

I love hearing from you guys, so if you make a purchase or find another option you think is better please let me know about it in the comments. I’ll do some additional research and add these to the guide. I hope you enjoyed my article on my top 5 picks for sun protection clothing I hope it has helped you make better choices about your sun protection.