Gear

Our Favorite Clothes for Everyday Sun Protection

The sun is a giver of life—but get too much of it and you’re toast. These are the best hats, arm coverings, and shirts to shield yourself.

The sun is a death laser and it’s trying to destroy your skin. This is a condition of living on planet Earth, and most of us don’t do enough to protect ourselves. Yes, you should wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s overcast. And yes, you should seek shade whenever you can. But cowering under an umbrella isn’t a fun way to spend time at the park with friends or hanging out at the beach.

This is where sun-protective clothing comes in handy. Most people only think about sun protection during the spring and summer months, but I have a congenital allergy to UV light. If a glove, sleeve, or shirt advertises a higher protection level than it actually has, my skin tells me in the form of an itchy rash. I have to wear UPF clothing every day, so it’s safe to say that I have opinions when it comes to the fit, finish, and feel of protective clothing. After weeks of testing this summer (and so, so, so many rashes), these are my favorite sun-protective clothes for everyday wear.

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  • bottle of sunscreen
    Photograph: Getty Images

    Crunching the Numbers

    How Is UPF Different From SPF?

    Much like the SPF numbers you see on sunscreens, sun protection clothing also has a numerical “ultraviolet protection factor” (UPF) listed on the product. This number signifies how much ultraviolet light passes through the fabric. A shirt with UPF 50 for instance, means it will absorb or scatter 98 percent of ultraviolet light, allowing only 1/50th of the original UV light to reach your skin. 

    UPF differs from SPF in that SPF measures the amount of time it takes for skin to redden in the sun. It's hard to gauge exactly how long a specific UPF will protect you, because the UV index changes with the weather and geography in your area. Regular clothing will also protect you; in general, densely woven or darker colors tend to absorb more UV light. The most important factor in choosing sun protection clothing, however, is that unlike an SPF lotion, you never have to reapply a shirt. 

  • Photograph: Columbia

    A Stretchy Shirt

    Columbia PFG Super Tamiami

    Fishermen know about sun, and Columbia's performance fishing gear (PFG) button-down shirts are excellent for hot days when you know you’re going to be outside for a long time.

    It’s discreetly vented, so it’s more breathable than a standard button-down, and with Columbia’s Omni-Shade technology, it provides UPF 50 protection to all the areas it covers. I used it as a lightweight outer layer, but you could also wear it against the skin. 

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric.

    $23 at Amazon
    $55 at Columbia
  • Photograph: REI

    Soft, Lightweight Fabric

    REI Co-op Sahara Hoodie

    Synthetic sun protection shirts can be plasticky, and if you happen to sweat at all they stick to you like cling film. It’s not a great vibe. By comparison, REI’s Sahara hoodie (which also comes in shirt and T-shirt form) is super soft to the touch and extremely breathable—you can absolutely feel a cool breeze through it when it’s warm and windy out. 

    I particularly like that the shirt has little thumb holes in the sleeves, so the fabric can protect the backs of your hands. Wearing zero sunscreen (always wear sunscreen, kids), the UPF 50 fabric protected my arms and the backs of my hands from developing any uncomfortable rashes or sunburn. We also like the Duluth Armachillo hoodie ($60), if you'd prefer a shirt with a kangaroo pocket to protect your hands. 

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric, covers arms and has fingerless glove built in.

    $50 at REI
  • Photograph: Columbia

    Leggings With Pockets!

    Columbia Anytime Pull-on Pants

    Finding comfortable leggings as a plus-sized woman is pretty hard; finding them with pockets is like striking gold. My forearms and calfs are the parts of my body most affected by sun sensitivity, and if I’m not wearing jeans, I’m usually resigned to the fact that spending time outside will leave me with a few itchy bumps when I get home. 

    These leggings are affordable and have a wide size range. I can finally be outside without worrying about staying out of direct sunlight, like an athleisure-clad vampire. And did I mention they have pockets? Pockets!

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric, available in plus sizes.

    $40 at Amazon
    $50 at Backcountry
    $50 at Columbia
  • Photograph: REI

    Light and Lovely

    REI Co-op Sun Sleeves

    Most shirts provide some sun protection, but your arms are usually uncovered. These sleeves have become a part of my everyday wear. I usually grab them on my way out the door and go about my day without worrying about sunburn. 

    They cover your entire arm from the elbow, but they’re fingerless. Your hands are covered, but your fingers are free to grab things or use your phone. Perfect for running errands, and the undersides are made of a breathable mesh so they keep cool nicely.

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric, covers arms and the back of hands but not fingers.

    $29 at REI
  • Photograph: Cornelia

    Everyday Elegance

    Cornelia James Audrey Gloves

    One of the worst parts of having serious sun sensitivity is having to cover your hands every day. It's annoying, and stretchy spandex gloves aren't very cute. 

    These are a luxury pick, but I was extremely stoked to check out UPF gloves from Cornelia James, a British glovemaker who brings much-needed fashion sense to the category.  The Swiss cotton Audrey gloves feel super breathable and comfy on the hands, and I didn’t have any problems using my phone through them. On top of that, they look and feel luxurious and elegant. They're more like part of an outfit, rather a medical necessity.

    UPF 50, cotton fabric, full protection even without sunscreen.

    $223 at Cornelia James
  • Photograph: REI

    Head Gear

    Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat

    I don't usually wear a hat—I'm more of a sunglasses and hoody girl. But my colleague Adrienne So loves hats from Sunday Afternoons for both herself and her kids. The hat comes in two different adjustable sizes, and it has a long tail to cover the backs of big or little necks. It has mesh panels for breathability; it's collapsible so you can shove it into a bag on your way out the door; and there's even a sunglass sleeve for keeping track of your eyewear while you're out and about. 

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric, available in two sizes.

    $42 at Amazon
    $42 at REI
  • Photograph: Duluth Trading

    Yard Guard

    Duluth Trading Heirloom Gardening Shirt

    The Duluth Gardening shirt is like any other button-down, but it has a bunch of super convenient pockets and killer UPF 50 sun protection. It wears just like a lightweight outdoor shirt, breezy and breathable, but it has a few features you won’t find in other shirts. First up, it has deep vertical pockets perfect for carrying gardening tools, a phone, a pair of gloves, peanuts for neighborhood crows. You’ll find two of these pockets on the front side of the shirt, and two on the back side. It’s basically like a pair of cargo shorts but for your torso. The sun protection is top-notch; I never blistered anywhere I was covered by the shirt’s fabric.

    UPF 50, synthetic fabric, with long sleeves and deep pockets.

    $40 at Duluth Trading
Jess Grey is a product reviewer at WIRED, covering all those devices that make your life easier—and sometimes much more difficult. Since her first byline in Dragon Magazine to her more recent work at Digital Trends, she’s covered a little bit of everything from crime, courts, and patent filings to... Read more
Writer and Reviewer
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