Best UPF Clothing
Who Knew That Caring For Your Skin Could Be So Stylish?
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Can you feel the burn? Like, right through your shirt?
When the summer sun is blazing, and you're starting to feel like an ant under a carefully situated magnifying glass, it might be time to add another layer of protection to your summer wardrobe. And some expertly designed clothing with a built-in ultraviolet protection factor (or UPF) will do just the trick.
RELATED: 19 Best Body Sunscreens of 2021
The surprising truth is that most clothing doesn't fully protect your skin from the sun's rays, especially those lightweight summer styles that don't have a tight weave. And you can forget about it if your clothes get wet; most fabrics provide far less protection from the sun's rays when they're damply pressed against your skin. So unless you're putting sunscreen on under your clothes, you're probably getting exposed to some potentially harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Fortunately, a ton of brands are now making clothing with built-in UPF. And not only are they effective, comfortable, and really breathable, but they can also be really stylish. No one would even know that you're being totally proactive about your skin health just by looking at the UPF clothing we've picked out below.
But What Is a UPF Rating?
Basically, UPF ratings are to clothing what SPF ratings are to sunscreen. They let you know what fraction of ultraviolet rays are able to penetrate through the fabric of that piece of clothing.
Ratings may vary, but according to The Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendations, a UPF of 30-49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ rates as excellent. Anything lower than 30, however, does not get their seal of approval.
Why Choose UPF Clothing?
Whether hiking, fishing, or just grilling in the backyard, boosting your outdoor wardrobe with UPF-rated pieces is super convenient for several reasons. When your clothes provide sufficient protection from the sun, you don't need to worry so much about reapplying sunscreen lotions or sprays on unexposed skin. You also don't need to be concerned about the potential harmful effects of chemicals in sunscreen, on both you and the environment.
You won't want to ditch the SPF altogether, though, so opting for a safe, organic sunscreen is the ideal supplement to protect skin that can't be covered with UPF clothing.
So if you'll be spending lots of time outdoors with full exposure to the sun in these dog days of summer, these are the wardrobe essentials you'll want to have your back (and basically every other part of your body, too).
Best UPF Clothing for Men
Best UPF Tee
Vapor Apparel Men’s UPF 50+ Short Sleeve Performance T-Shirt
This lightweight tee feels just like any other jersey-like shirt, except it's been superpowered with moisture-wicking, anti-odor technology and superior protection from the sun's UV rays. It's the perfect relaxed and casual fit for all outdoor activities, from workouts to backyard barbecues, and it's available in more than a dozen colors to enhance your warm weather wardrobe.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "I purchased [four of] these to use as active workwear around the farm in the Mississippi heat. When working in direct sunlight, they keep me much cooler. I also gave the supposed 'stain resistant' claim a good workout the first day I wore one. By the end of day, I had red-dyed liquid vitamins, goat dewormer, animal feces, Pepto Bismol, and various types of dirt on the shirt. Cold water and Tide detergent and it came out of the washing machine stain free." – Wren Village
Best UPF Shorts
Little Donkey Andy Men's Stretch Quick-Dry Cargo Shorts
Lightweight and breathable with the perfect amount of four-way stretch, these quick-drying cargo shorts won't hold you back from moving around freely outdoors. Their streamlined silhouette will avoid snagging anything on your hikes, and the zippered pockets will keep your gear safe no matter how much you need to jump, climb, or scramble. They also come in several bold and neutral colors to fit your style.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "Let me tell you about my new favorite shorts. These little donkey pants have a funny name, but they’re excellent! They’re extremely stretchy, quite durable, and feel incredibly nice. The zippered pockets hold much more than you’d expect, plus they stretch, too. If you’re contemplating buying these, get them." – Brett
Best UPF Pullover
Columbia Men's Omni-Wick Shotgun 1/4 Zip
This quarter-zip pullover layer doesn't offer quite as much UPF protection as some other choices, but it's certainly one of the more stylish items on this list (and it's available in dozens of really great colors). With a convenient sleeve pocket for secure storage when working out or exploring outdoors and phenomenal moisture-wicking fabric to keep you comfortable, it's pretty much the best of both worlds in terms of form and function.
UPF rating: UPF 30
Promising review: "I loved this jacket enough in blue to have bought it in red and grey as well. Fits very well, comfortable, and lightweight, but does the job." – stangracer9746
Best UPF Joggers
BALEAF Men's Hiking Pants
Made from lightweight, quick-drying material, these comfortable joggers wick away sweat and allow you to move around freely throughout all of your favorite outdoor activities. Available in a range of neutral colors, they also boast two back pockets and three zippered pockets—including one big enough to hold a smartphone—so you can securely stash all your essentials when you head outside for a run, bike, or hike.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "Allows very easy movements such as squats, twists, lunges, etc. I bought them to protect my legs from the sun because of all the pickleball and tennis I play in the sun. I especially like the lower leg zipper...Closing the zipper streamlines the lower leg, but doesn't hamper movement, and it allows me to bike to the ball courts. The pants are also very nice looking." – Roger DiRosa
Best UPF Hat
UV Skinz Men's Bucket Hat
Whether fishing, golfing, hiking, or just grilling in the backyard, this bucket hat with a firm and generous 3-inch brim will have you covered from head to, well, neck. With its high UPF rating, it offers a lot more protection than you'd get from a regular hat on a part of your body that you definitely don't want to get burnt. Even better, its on-trend style and reversible design give you plenty of ways to upgrade your summer wardrobe.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "Excellent! I bought two of these hats for my husband and he loves them. Easy to wash and they wick the sweat when he is working. The quality of the construction is superb." – Lisa J.
RELATED: Best Bucket Hats for Summer 2021
Best UPF Button-Down Shirt
Coolibar UPF 50+ Men's Aricia Sun Shirt
Available in several prints, plaids, and solids, this handsome button-down shirt makes a great choice for those times when you need some extra sun protection in a less casual setting than the trail or the campsite. With a button-down collar, easy-to-roll sleeves, and superior moisture-wicking 3Ddri™ fabric that repels both water and stains, you'll be feeling just as good as you look.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "Delighted with this purchase. This is going to be my new standard for travel shirts. The fabric is light, making it cool and comfortable in hot weather. And the finish is much nicer than other hiking shirts. " – U. Shorr
Best Hooded Shirt With UPF
Willit Men's UPF 50+ Sun Protection Hoodie
With thumb holes and a hood, this hoodie-style long-sleeve shirt offers maximum coverage and comfort for your outdoor activities, and is available in dozens of great colors. Its breathable fabric is lightweight, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking so you can work up a hard sweat while keeping cool, comfortable, and protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays. It also has flat-lock seams and no tags at the collar so you can move freely without any irritation.
UPF rating: UPF 50+
Promising review: "Fits me very comfortably...I especially appreciate the thumb holes on the sleeve ends, which afford me sun protection for the backs of my hands when I walk or work or play outdoors. It has held up well to multiple washings so far while keeping its color and sun protection function. I thought the darker blue color might result in higher temperatures on my arms and torso, but it feels no warmer in the sunshine than my lighter colored sun protection shirts." – JMCx2
Best UPF Pants
ATG by Wrangler Men's Reinforced Utility Pant
If you spend long days outdoors working in the hot sun without cover, you might tend to worry more about your upper body's exposure to the sun, but your legs need some protection, too! This moisture-wicking pair not only provides great UPF protection, but also stretches with you comfortably as you work or play, allowing a full range of motion to squat, stretch, bend, and twist. Choose from multiple neutral colors in the khaki and brown range, or opt for classic black or gray.
UPF rating: UPF 30
Promising review: "Perfection in comfort, ruggedness, style and price. They feel like I’ve broken them in for months at first wear. They’re rugged with extra reinforcement in the high-wear places...I work in the woods and am hard on clothes. These pants barely show any wear after weeks of hard work...I just ordered a second pair knowing I will rely on these pants for my daily work wear." – Wisconsin guy
Best UPF Sleeves
Tough Outdoors UV Sun Protection Arm Sleeves
If the rest of your gear has you covered, but your arms are feeling a bit exposed, these cooling sleeves offer phenomenal UPF protection without compromising your style. They're stretchy, seamless, breathable, and lightweight, and are available in many colors. They're also a great accessory for your daily runs or bike rides as an alternative to stocking up on lots of long-sleeve UPF shirts.
UPF rating: UPF 50
Promising review: "Protective, comfortable and very cooling! There is no seam, the sleeves fit very well, and they are easy to put on and remove. I wear them whenever I am out playing golf—taking 4- to 6-mile walks four to five times a week—and anytime I expect long exposure to the sun. Having had melanoma on my back from many years sunbathing without any protection, I learned my lesson." – The Chief
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