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Since they dry quickly, they are also great for swimming. They have replaced traditional rash guards for many people. I get dressed at the beach and in the pool. When I go on vacation, I take three or four sunscreen jackets with me, and I often end up doing laundry in town when I don’t have any non-salty sunscreen jackets due to sweat and/or the ocean waves in Maine.
On a hot, sunny day, it is also often cooler than bare skin. Yes, long-sleeve sun jackets block you, but because the fabric is so light and breathable — and I wear mine a little looser — they block sunlight and shed heat so well that I find them more comfortable than any other clothing or no clothing.
What are you wearing?
Here are four favorites from my collection of sun jackets – I have a few that I wouldn’t recommend or that are now over the season and out of production.
Heavy rotation: The sun jacket I wear the most is EMS Sunguard Hoodie Top. It is very soft and comfortable with a wide cut that wicks away sweat. I wear it to the pool in town, and after a few minutes of sitting on a lounge chair, it’s dry enough to wear to the grocery store without dripping everywhere.
Heavy Duty: The heaviest sun jacket I wear, and the one I wear up the mountain, is Direct Sun Series North Face Summit Jacket. This hoodie is a little thicker, although still light and breathable. Since it has a zipper, you can also get more ventilation if you need it, so weight is never an issue. When fully zipped, the shirt also has a collar to protect your neck and jaw from the wind or sun. There is a special finish applied to the fabric of The North Face’s SPF-rated clothing, which varies depending on the garment.
More confidential: “Day to night” clothing that seamlessly transitions from the office to casual dinners and nights out is a bit of a cliche in women’s fashion. But sometimes you really want something that can do double duty. When I wear a sun jacket to a bar or restaurant, I’m arriving Blackstrap Hoodie Salty SunWhich looks more like a regular T-shirt than any other arrow in my quiver. I have the Gore Shark Tooth, a red and black pattern that looks like something I’d wear even if I wasn’t trying to keep the sun off my back. I also really like that it’s safe to wipe down the lenses – I’ve scratched quite a few pairs of glasses and I’m very careful about what I wipe them with.
Completely natural: I tested a previous version of FreeFly Bamboo Hooded Lightweight Performance Jacket And I really like that. Bamboo is super soft and naturally odor resistant, although less so than wool. This jacket wears a little on the warmer side and only offers SPF 20 protection, but it dries relatively quickly, and the loose fit is excellent.
What about your legs?
Hoodies with shorts are a bit controversial in some circles, but I’m glad our fellow… GQ has blessed the look—repeatedly. The best way to wear a sun jacket is with swim trunks. You may think that swim trunks are only for the pool or beach, but I would like to stress that they have the potential to become the masculine equivalent of yoga pants, which you can wear everywhere in the summer (again, GQ agrees). Fortunately, I’ve also tested some of these things.
Eye-catching: These are minnow fish With a red and white striped pattern called the gondola it has a Venetian feel. It’s on the short side (6″ inseam) but is stretchy and soft. They’re advertised as comfortable enough to wear all day long, and I can confirm they’re great at the pool, out, or at happy hour. It’s a great look, but you’ll need a dark, neutral-colored hoodie to match it.
