How to choose a sun shirt for hot places
Six things to check before you buy a sun-protective shirt for the tropics.
A sun shirt has one job: keep UV off your skin without cooking you. Here is what to check before you buy one for a hot, humid place.
1. Look for a lab-tested rating
Look for a UPF number tested to a named standard, like AS/NZS 4399:2020, and ideally a report number you can check. "Sun-safe" on its own tells you nothing. What UPF 50 means
2. Cover the places you burn
Most shirts stop at the wrist and the collar. The backs of your hands and your neck get the most sun when you walk or drive. Long sleeves that extend over the hands, and a collar that covers the neck, close those gaps.
3. Pick a weave that breathes
Tight weave blocks more UV, but it should still move air. Light woven nylon and polyester dry fast in humid heat. Heavy cotton holds sweat.
4. Fit loose, not tight
Stretching opens the weave and lets more light through. A relaxed fit keeps the fabric at its tested density and lets air move.
5. Think about colour
Darker and brighter colours tend to absorb more UV. Lighter colours feel cooler in direct sun. A tested rating matters more than colour alone.
6. Check the care label
Wet, worn or stretched fabric can protect less. Wash it as the label says and replace it when it wears thin.
A shirt is one part of sun protection. Add a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen for the skin it doesn't cover.