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Cover up with UPF/UV Protective Wear
Wearing UV protective clothing is a great way to protect your skin and, unlike sun block, it doesn't wear off or need to be re-applied. Certain fabrics, colors and styles are better at blocking UV radiation than others. UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is the amount of sun blocked by fabric. You may notice in our product descriptions indicators such as UPF 30 or UPF 50. The UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) is a numerical rating given to clothing to indicate how effectively the fabric blocks ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A UPF rating of 50 means that only 1/50th (or 2%) of the UV radiation can penetrate the fabric. All of our sunhats are rated UPF 50 or better. Most of the clothing we offer is also UPF 50, with some exceptions at UPF 30, which is still a fantastic protective number.
Loose-fitting designs tends to give better protection against UV. High-collared t-shirts can be flipped up to protect your neck (this is a great little trick many fisherman use). Long sleeved tops help to protect your arms and are very popular. Our UPF 50 mens and womens shirts are quite affordable whilst maintaining excellent protective coverage.
Close-woven fabrics give the best UV protection. Less UV passes through tightly woven or knitted fabrics. Cotton and linen fabrics provide good protection. Heavier weight fabrics usually block more UV radiation than lighter fabrics of the same type. It's a tough balance for many manufacturers to create a lightweight feeling product whilst maintaining the protective inherent abilities of heavier weight fabrics.
Darker colours give more protection from UV rays. But sometimes you'll take them off to avoid being uncomfortable because they usually absorb more heat. Choose colors that you'll end up keeping on.
