UV Clothes

[All U Get]

Hi all,

My wife and I have been looking for clothes that are lightweight and still offer UV protection. We have plenty of sunblock but prefer clothing instead. Most of the clothes available for UV locally are fleece lined. We are looking for long sleeves and pants. I know we had seen some in Florida last trip down but don't remember where.

All U Get

 

[Kingjim91]

The Columbia brand is good, with a lot of choices. It's available in a lot of sporting goods stores.
REI is excellent, if you have a local store or want to buy on-line.
And West Marine has a selection in-store and on-line.

 

[woodster]

try the goodwill store if for nothing else but having an outing you will be amazed at what may turn up and it has been rumored that some have found old money in some of the clothing ....definition of old money....money that hasn't been spent yet

i have friends that travel the world and they pack very light and when they get to their destination they go the the used clothing stores and purchase what they need to wear and when done return it to the used clothing store before leaving to return home

 

[RIVERCRUISER]

I have the tightly woven shirts rated 70 uv protection.
They do not breathe and in hot sunlight feel like I am wearing a plastic bag.
They are ok in cool breezy wx.
I prefer long sleeved cotton shirts. Not rated protection but seem to work for me.
White and red are the best colors for UV protection.

 

[berner73]

The stuff isn't cheap, but well worth it and seems to last. Haven't tried UV pants, but have a bunch of shirts for sailing

Have had good luck with the LL Bean stuff (UPF 40/50). Ridge Runner shirts have a high collar that works well to keep the sun off your neck. The Tropic Wear line is the best I've found so far. Really good ventilation and is made of a light cloth that doesn't restrict movement much at all.

As mentioned above, REI carries a few manufacturers. The ExOfficio shirts are similar to the LL Bean brand, good ventilation and light weight.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Check out Bass Pro and Cabellas. I work down in Foxboro so it's easy for me to go to Bass Pro in person but it's not too bad of a ride from you.

I have 4 long sleeve lightweight shirts and my wife has 2 or 3. Mine look like the fishing guide style with sleeves that can be held up and lots of pockets. Hers definitely look better and more like normal shirts.

As others have mentioned, the Columbia brand is good. They look more like regular shirts. But Bass Pro has their own brand and they are much cheaper.

Good luck,

Jesse

 

[shemandr]

I bought one of these shirts in Florida in May. I like it very much. It is long sleeve, 80% UV block, very light and mostly comfortable. And quick drying. I took a wave while on the rail and got soaked with 58 degree sea water. I was dry in 10 minutes. I was formerly an all cotton guy but this shirt has turned me around. I bought another and will buy some more. Since I wear sunblock but don't re-apply it enough I hope this works better to keep the nasties from growing on my arms.

 

[Finally Free]

I can't remember the name right now but I the past the wife has bought an additive that you add to the washing machine when you wash clothes. It impregnate the material and makes it into a sunscreen material. You cant tell the difference I the clothes at all. And yes it works as I never burned or anything through any of my shirts while trout fishing at 7000 feet. Amazing how you can burn at that altitude.

 

[Triton 53]

Check "Sailfast", very lightweight, uv, and fast drying shirts.

Pete

 

[CloudDiver]

I'm trying to wrap my head around what you guys are calling 'UV'... I hope you are not paying high prices for clothing that claims to have special features that block UV rays; I'm not even going to Google it to try to get to the bottom of it... Its a rip-off and I'll stand by that backed up by real world experience.
I've been out in some of the worst UV conditions that a person can experience... On boats and US Navy Ships (like many of you as well) but add to that the Middle East and pretty dang close to the Arctic Circle. On top of that, as a welder every time I fire up my any of my welding machines I am generating a plasma arc that is brighter than the sun and will sun-burn your exposed skin very quickly. All I use to protect my forearms for welding? A long sleeve cotton T shirt (a synthetic fabric would melt if touched by anything hot).
The only performance fabric I know of that has a specified purpose for UV rays is the opposite of protection, they are bathing suits for the ladies that allows UV through for even tanning. Just about any fabric that isn't so loosely weaved that it allows light through is going to protect your skin from burning. Ask millions of people who like in the Middle East, they wear cotton, silk, and synthetics to cover their heads, faces and necks with no special 'UV' features. If you are buying some liquid to wash into your clothes that is supposed to protect your skin from UV exposure you are wasting your money. The fabric does fine on its own blocking the sun, the additive you just washed into your clothing is only protecting the fabric from fading to UV exposure.

If you want to buy performance fabrics for warm weather sailing other than the clothing lines marketed to the sailing crowd, try REI or EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports), both have websites as well as brick and mortar stores. Brands like Columbia, the North Face, Marmot, Patagonia etc. (along with the REI and EMS store label stuff) all make excellent synthetic fabric performance clothing that wicks moisture, dries fast, keeps you cool... and look pretty sharp too. Both stores mentioned above have outstanding return/exchange policies, mostly because what they sell isn't crap in the first place. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. Remember, cotton kills... in cold climates, but in tropical climates it gets moldy!

 

[Bad Obsession]

Check out the stuff in Orvis. They have a lot of stuff designed for fly fishermen who fish the flats. They have special gloves, shirts, pants, etc. Orvis stuff is usually pretty high quality stuff.

 

[All U Get]

I'm trying to wrap my head around what you guys are calling 'UV'... I hope you are not paying high prices for clothing that claims to have special features that block UV rays; I'm not even going to Google it to try to get to the bottom of it... Its a rip-off and I'll stand by that backed up by real world experience.

The why is that old people from the north who are fair skinned burn right through cotton shirts, never used to. It's becoming more of an health issue so having protection without the sunblock option is very compelling. Ditto on the welding, that job really burns me up. You are correct about cotton and the high humidity we have on the East coast, constant battle to keep out the musty odors. You're lucky to have a dry climate.

Cabellas seems to have very low prices for the name brands offered by other vendors. We drive by every trip to the boat so stopping in is a cheaper exit off 95. Last trip in Florida I got a pair of swim trunks so I know my junk is safe.

All U Get

 

[All U Get]

We made it to Cabelas and picked up some shirts and pants with UV, fade resistant, stain resistant, and bug proof for less than we found on-line. There was also a 4th of July markdown and a discount to use their Visa card. My wife actually liked the feel and ability to shorten sleeves and pants. She also picked up the baseball cap with wide brim and neck shield that folds away when not needed. Thanks to all and Jesse.

All U Get

 

[Ken Cross]

Consumer Reports just did a test on UV resistant clothing. You should read it.
It seems you may not need to pay those prices.
If you don't have a subscription try your local library.
Ken

 

[Indysailor]

Consumer Reports just did a test on UV resistant clothing. You should read it. It seems you may not need to pay those prices. If you don't have a subscription try your local library. Ken

I've been wondering about this lately. I don't sail in the south, but does get awfully muggy here; my preference has always been a loose fitting seersucker shirt. It's comfortable and as far as I can tell, it offers quite good UV protection. That is to say, at least I've never gotten sunburned wearing it.

 

[jwing]

I'm another one of those guys who has never been sunburned through any clothing. I always thought that UV-protection is inherent in clothing and paying extra for a UV-reducing feature is a waste of money.

One does not need to visit the library to read that Consumer Reports found out what some of us have known all along: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/05/testing-sun-protective-clothing/index.htm

 

[All U Get]

I know it sounds like I'm keeping the polyester worms busy. We went with the 100% polyester and the price wasn't any more than the base layer we bought for hiking. Both wick the moisture but one is for hot temps the other for cold.

Indy I was thinking about the seersucker but the wide lapels would flap in the breeze. My new meds the Doc put me on makes me burn really fast and often plus I can't eat grapefruit. (what's up with that?) Working on the boat deck last week with a wide brimmed hat I still got my face burnt from the reflection. For some of you this may go unnoticed but for a handsome guy like me,,,, well.

I might still be able to find some old dress shirts in the closet so if you see a very dapper sailor heading south next fall, that would be me.

All U Get

 

[Indysailor]

I know it sounds like I'm keeping the polyester worms busy. We went with the 100% polyester and the price wasn't any more than the base layer we bought for hiking. Both wick the moisture but one is for hot temps the other for cold. Indy I was thinking about the seersucker but the wide lapels would flap in the breeze. My new meds the Doc put me on makes me burn really fast and often plus I can't eat grapefruit. (what's up with that?) Working on the boat deck last week with a wide brimmed hat I still got my face burnt from the reflection. For some of you this may go unnoticed but for a handsome guy like me,,,, well. I might still be able to find some old dress shirts in the closet so if you see a very dapper sailor heading south next fall, that would be me. All U Get

I own several polyester, loose fitting rash guards, which I think are more comfortable when I'm perspiring a lot. My seersucker shirts all have button down collars.

 

[woodster]

My seersucker shirts all have button down collars.

and a locker loop in the back ...you ivy leaguer you ...lol

 

[Indysailor]

and a locker loop in the back ...you ivy leaguer you ...lol

Well, I'll be danged, you're right! I freely admit they make me feel taller, tanner and kinda Hyannis Port like. On my lil' tub in a man made reservoir in central Indiana.