The official start of summer is next week, and the heat is already soaring around the country. We all know by now that our youths spent applying Bain de Soleil to bronze our bodies did us no favors. So, if you’re planning to spend any time outside this summer, we’ve got some ideas for swimsuits, sun shirts, hats, and other items to help protect you from the rays while still enjoying your outdoor time.
When evaluating sun protective clothing, look for the Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF), which indicates the amount of UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) that a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays, allowing only 2 percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus significantly reducing your exposure risk.
We’ve got you covered! Read on for a FabList of clothing to keep your skin safe.
Shirts (for hiking, walking, tennis, pickle, etc.):
Sunsense: These shirts are super lightweight, making them perfect for staying both cool and covered up. Lighter colors, of course, will keep you even cooler.
Patagonia Cool Daily: Chrissie, Jo, and most of their hiking friends wear this shirt on the trails. It’s lightweight, long-sleeved, and has a hood. You might think, ‘Why do I need a hood in the summer?’ It helps to protect your neck and allows you to put it over a hat to cover your ears. It’s the best shirt we’ve found for summer hiking.
Coolibar: We haven’t personally tried this brand, but we are impressed by the fact that all of their items (tops, bottoms, dresses, swimwear, accessories) have sun protection, and they were the first clothing company to receive The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation. You can also sort items by level of sun coverage (levels 1-4) and by activity (travel, yoga, fishing, swimming, golfing, etc.). This long-sleeved tee (level 4 coverage) seems like a good one, but they have SO much more, all of it 50 SPF.
Swimsuits/Rash Guards:
tutublue: Loved by FabLister Jen V., these lightweight UPF50+ suits block out 98% of UVA & UVB rays, keeping you safe in the sun. Choose the amount of coverage you desire. They offer full-body suits, shorter body suits, tops, and bottoms in a variety of fun patterns. Options for men and kids as well. If you are a midday lap swimmer, an ‘all day on the beach in the sun’ person, or just someone who wants a lot of protection, these are great options.
Watskin Swimwear: Chic sun protection in many styles and colors. We love the long-sleeved tops with thumbholes and a half zip. And these long-sleeved suits are such great patterns! They also have one-piece ‘catsuits’ and much more.
Athleta: Athleta offers a Sun Shield One-Piece Rashguard that’s ideal for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, etc. It features a high neck for added sun protection and doubles as UV defense on high-index days, whether in or out of the waves.
Tuckernuck Stylest Puff Sleeve Swim Suit: With French compression fabric, this high-fashion long-sleeve suit pulls out all the stops. Puff sleeves give you a stylish look, and UPF 50+ provides excellent sun protection.
Andie: Chrissie loves the Andie Malibu since it snaps up high to protect your chest from the sun (but can also be unsnapped if you want to reveal skin and have a sexier look) and also has a higher back to protect your upper back area. We love the new gingham pattern it comes in! It also has good compression. The material itself, however, is not SPF rated. Also available in a long-torso option, as well as a full-coverage option.
Quince: At a terrific price point, Quince has a suit that resembles Andies’ Malibu, but it has a zip instead of snaps. Chrissie has another of the Quince suits that she loves, and finds their material has just a bit less compression/thickness than the Andie suit, but it still feels and fits great (and dries faster than the Andie one). The material itself is not SFP rated, however.
Solbari: Solbari is a leader in sun protective clothing, and these rash guards are best sellers. Designed for long days at the beach or pool, this UPF 50+ swim top offers reliable sun protection with a comfortable crew neck and full-length coverage.
Summersalt: Their Waterside Ruffle Rash Guard features a cute ruffle at the neck and hem, making it a feminine and stylish alternative to traditional rash guards. Designed to be worn over your favorite swimsuits, it features UPF 50+ protection and stands up to salt, sand, chlorine, and sunscreen.
Skorts (for tennis, pickle, golf):
Watskin also has great tennis skirts with UPF 50+. Check out all the options, along with pants, shorts, jackets, and more – all with UPF 50+!
Coolibar Skort: This quick-dry tennis and golf skort features industry-leading cooling technology for next-level comfort and sun protection on the course or court. Easily stash an extra ball or your phone with the sleek athletic skort’s undershort pocket—it’s high-performance UPF 50+ perfection!
Hats:
Wide Brim Cotton Summer Hat w/ Ponytail Hole: Bought by at least a dozen FabListers! This is an excellent hat for gardening, hiking, or just running errands. It has a setting wire at the brim so you can change the brim into any style you want, and a windproof cord to keep it in place on windy days. And it’s packable!
Coolibar offers a full array of hats, providing sun protection, from straw to bucket hats and even those that offer complete protection, covering everything but your eyes.
Solbari has the Bondi bucket hat, which Wirecutter recently reviewed as one of the top 3 sun hats and a great choice for more relaxed outdoor adventures.
Eric Javits is the leader in fashionable straw hats, and this one is perfection! Packable, stylish, and it blocks 98% UVA/UVB rays so you look your best while enjoying the sun! Through independent testing, Squishee® hats receive the highest rating of UPF 50+, which means you can count on the best sun protection possible.
If you’re looking for a hat for pickle, tennis, and other sports, this wide-brim baseball-type cap will do the trick, as regular baseball caps don’t protect the sides of your face very well.
For hiking, we recommend this OR bucket hat, which features a wide brim, UPF 50+ fabric, a chin strap to keep the hat secure on your head, and a headband that wicks away moisture and dries quickly.
