Sun shirts go by a lot of names — UV shirts, performance shirts, swim shirts, solar shirts. They are all trying to say the same thing: a shirt that blocks UV for as long as you wear it, stays cool, and dries fast. Here is what to look for and how ours are made.
UPF 50+ — what it means
UPF is the fabric equivalent of SPF, except it does not wash off. UPF 50+ blocks about 98% of UVA and UVB and keeps doing it wet. (Full explainer: What does UPF 50+ mean?)
The fabric
A lightweight, tightly knit polyester that wicks sweat and dries in minutes. It shades the skin, so a long sleeve is cooler than bare arms in direct sun. Ours are printed into the fabric rather than on top, so the artwork does not crack or peel after a season of salt.
Sun shirt, rash guard or swim shirt?
A rash guard is a tight surf shirt; a swim shirt is a looser one; a sun shirt is built for time around the water as much as in it. Our shirts work as a rash guard for snorkeling and then dry on the boat. (More: Sun shirt vs rash guard.)
Styles
- Long sleeve — the everyday sun shirt.
- Sun hoodie — neck and ears covered.
- Short sleeve — hot afternoons and casual wear.
- Women’s crop tops — recycled UPF 50+ crops (they run snug).
Fit and care
Relaxed unisex cut, XS–3XL; size down for trim. Rinse after salt, wash cold, no fabric softener. Made to order in Key West and shipped from here; free shipping on orders over $75, easy 30-day fit exchanges.
Not just for the water
Most of our customers wear the same shirt on land: pickleball courts, the beach, yard work, hiking, travel days. If your arms would otherwise be in the sun for hours, a UPF 50+ long sleeve is the easiest protection to keep on — and cooler than bare skin.