Rash Guards & UV Shirts
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Rash Guards and UV Shirts for Water Sports and Sunny Days
A UV shirt is a lightweight, quick-dry top made from UPF 50+ fabric that lets through only about 2% of UV rays and protects your skin in the water and on land. Unlike sunscreen, it doesn't wash off, so it protects you for as long as you wear it, with no reapplying. Wear it for swimming, SUP, surfing, boating, at the beach or when travelling somewhere hot.
Our range covers fitted rash guards (also called rash vests or lycras), loose-fit UV shirts, swim shirts and quick-dry performance tees for water and land, for men and women, with short or long sleeves. Every shirt is rated UPF 50+; the differences are in fit, sleeve length and fabric. UV shirts are part of our sun protection range, and for little ones there are kids rash guards.
Which Rash Guard or UV Shirt Should I Choose?
Fit and sleeve length depend on whether you'll spend most of your time in the water, on the water or on land.
| Activity | What to choose |
|---|---|
| Swimming, snorkelling, surfing (mostly in the water) | fitted rash guard, short or long sleeve |
| SUP, boating, kayaking (mostly above the water) | loose-fit or fitted UV shirt + long sleeves for the midday sun |
| Kitesurfing, windsurfing, wing foiling (wind and harness) | fitted long sleeve rash guard |
| Beach and travel (water and land) | loose-fit, quick-dry UV shirt, short or long sleeve |
| Cycling, hiking, everyday (on land) | performance tee with UV protection |
| Under a wetsuit (cooler water) | thin fitted rash guard |
Types of UV Shirts
There are four main types: fitted rash guards, loose-fit UV shirts, swim shirts and performance tees with UV protection.
Fitted rash guards (rash vests)
A rash guard is a fitted UV top made from stretchy fabric that sits like a second skin. It won't balloon in the water or ride up, which makes it the go-to choice for surfing, swimming and kitesurfing. Flatlock seams don't chafe under the arms, and a thin rash guard can be worn under a wetsuit. The name comes from its original job: protecting surfers from the rash caused by board and wax.
Loose-fit UV shirts
A loose-fit UV shirt, often called a surf tee or sun shirt, looks and feels like a regular T-shirt but is rated UPF 50+ and dries fast. It's airy when dry and comfortable on a paddle board, a boat, the beach or the road. Hybrid styles are made to be worn in and out of the water, so you can jump in and head straight to a café in the same shirt.
Swim shirts
A swim shirt with UV protection is a fitted top for swimming, snorkelling and playing in the sea, worn over a swimsuit or bikini. Some women's styles feature prints or decorative details.
Performance tees with UV protection
A performance tee with UV protection is a lightweight sports shirt that wicks moisture and dries quickly, so it works for SUP, cycling and hiking. Some styles have a hidden pocket and odour-reducing fabric. Find more in our performance T-shirts.
Recycled UV shirts
More and more UV shirts are made from recycled fibres, such as recycled plastic. Protection and quick-dry performance stay the same, with a smaller environmental footprint.
What Does UPF 50+ Mean?
UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rates how much UV radiation a fabric lets through: UPF 50 lets through 1/50, so it blocks around 98% of UVA and UVB rays. SPF is the rating for sunscreen, so the correct label for a shirt is UPF 50+, even though many people search for an "SPF 50 shirt".
Protection comes from the density and composition of the fabric, so it doesn't wash out. It is reduced by stretched or worn fabric and by light colours. Once a shirt turns see-through, it's time to replace it. Independent tests have shown that a plain white cotton T-shirt protects poorly, especially when wet.
Based on wetsuit manufacturers' recommendations, a rash guard or UV shirt is enough in water above roughly 26 °C. At 21–25 °C, or when it's windy, you'll be more comfortable in a 1 mm neoprene top.
Fitted or Loose? Short or Long Sleeves?
A fitted cut is better when you're in the water, a loose cut when you're on the water or on land.
- Fitted – stays in place even when wet, doesn't balloon and doesn't chafe. Best for surfing, swimming, kitesurfing and wearing under a wetsuit.
- Loose-fit – airier when dry and easier to put on. Best for SUP, the beach and travel. It can balloon in the waves.
- Short sleeves – more freedom of movement and airflow on hot days.
- Long sleeves – cover your arms and shoulders, where skin burns first. For a full day on the water they're the safer choice.
- With a zip – easier to put on and lets you vent heat.
Men's and Women's Rash Guards
Men's rash guards are broader in the shoulders and longer in the torso, while women's are narrower at the waist and shaped to the body. Women's styles come fitted or loose, with a zip or with prints; men's come as classic rash guards and loose-fit UV shirts, also with prints.
How Should a Rash Guard Fit?
A rash guard should fit snugly with no wrinkles, without restricting you when you raise your arms. It should cover your lower back and not ride up while you paddle or swim. If you're between sizes, size down for a surf or swim rash guard and take your usual size in a loose-fit shirt. You're welcome to try sizes on in our shop in Ljubljana.
UV Shirts for SUP and Surfing
On a SUP you're in the sun the whole time and light also reflects off the water, so you burn faster than on the beach. Choose a breathable long sleeve UV shirt that dries quickly after a fall. When it's windy, a fitted shirt that doesn't flap is more comfortable. For surfing, a fitted rash guard is the better choice, as it also protects against board rub.
Who Else Should Wear a UV Shirt?
- swimmers and snorkellers,
- kitesurfers, windsurfers and wing foilers who spend hours on the water,
- boaters, kayakers and anglers,
- travellers heading to hot and tropical destinations,
- anyone with fair skin, lots of moles or tattoos,
- parents looking for sun protection for the whole family at the beach.
What to Wear with a Rash Guard?
- Bottoms: boardshorts or UV leggings to protect your legs.
- When it cools down or gets windy: a neoprene top over or instead of your UV shirt.
- When you get out of the water: a changing poncho to dry off and change quickly.
- Face, neck and hands: mineral sunscreen, as a shirt only protects the skin it covers.
How to Care for a UV Shirt
After every use, rinse it in cool fresh water to remove salt, chlorine and sand. Hand wash or machine wash on a low temperature without bleach or fabric softener, and dry it in the shade, not in the sun or on a radiator. That way the fabric keeps its stretch and protection for longer.
Related categories
Sun protection · Kids rash guards · UV leggings · Boardshorts · Performance T-shirts · Neoprene tops · Changing ponchos