Sun-Protective Clothing Is a Reliable UV-Blocker. Here Are Some Options We Love. (2024)

White cotton or linen shirts don’t provide ideal protection from harmful rays, especially in strong sun or in situations where you’re outside for a long time.

A linen shirt actually offers less protection than SPF 15 sunscreen, said Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, who leads research teams at the American Cancer Society. (Experts recommend sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.)

That said, many button-up shirts can offer solid protection. Look for those with a tighter weave, a dark color, synthetic or blended fabric, and a loose fit.

Here are the UPF-rated shirts whose comfort, performance, and style made us more likely to stay covered up.

The Cotopaxi Sumaco Long-Sleeve Shirt (women’s, men’s) is the best-looking UPF shirt we tested.

Our testers said they’d be likely to wear this snap-front, UPF 50+ shirt not only for hiking but also while traveling or around town.

With its workwear style and boxy cut, it’s best suited for wearing untucked, either snapped up or open as an overshirt to cover your arms and shoulders. Back vents and a zipper pocket are incorporated into a central chest panel.

The Sumaco shirt wrinkles if crumpled in a suitcase, though not as dramatically as REI’s Sahara long-sleeve shirt. For stashing an extra layer in your bag, it folds into its own pocket.

It’s available in women’s sizes XS to XL and men’s sizes S to XXL.

But thanks to its slightly boxy, untucked cut and understated colors, our testers chose to wear this lightweight, UPF 50 shirt out to lunch and on walks in the park as well.

The dobby weave of the Canyon shirt’s 100% polyester fabric creates tiny, nearly imperceptible checks, giving the shirt a soft, slightly variegated look. There’s no mistaking it for a linen shirt, but it’s more elegant than many other performance fabrics.

It also wrinkles less easily, but is a tad thicker, than other shirts we tested.

The women’s version has a more tapered cut and a single vertical vent down the back, which can look more polished off the trail. Unfortunately, the women’s shirt lacks the extra protective collar that makes the men’s version shine.

We also found that it fits quite snugly, as some buyer reviews note. I usually wear a women’s small, and I found the medium too tight for comfort. We think many people may prefer the men’s version, as our women testers did.

The men’s shirt comes in sizes S to 3X tall, and the women’s version comes in XS to XL.

Columbia’s Silver Ridge Utility Long Sleeve Shirt (women’s, men’s) is one of the least expensive and most comfortable UPF button-ups we tested.

It also comes with the reassurance of a Skin Cancer Foundation seal of approval, which some people may appreciate for such a thin shirt, especially in light colors.

The UPF 50, 100% polyester fabric is silky and a bit stretchy. It has an unstructured style, and our testers said it felt great buttoned up or worn as an overshirt. People who prefer a crisp shirt may find the Silver Ridge too blousy, though.

The Silver Ridge shirt’s outdoor touches are more subtle than those on other hiking and fishing shirts. That said, the collar is floppy in comparison with the one on the Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt and offers minimal neck coverage.

The top two closures on both the women’s and men’s shirts are snaps (the rest are buttons), making it easy for you to adjust the shirt for more coverage or more airflow throughout the day. Both versions have venting along the back and two chest pockets; the women’s shirt has a small internal pocket as well.

The women’s shirt comes in sizes XS to 3X, as well as in printed options. The men’s version comes in XS to XXL, with limited availability in big sizes at this writing, as well as three plaid options.

Sun hoodies may look like sweatshirts, but many are light, breathable, and comfortable on hot days.

While some are better for certain situations than others—the lightest option for running, for example, may show more wear and tear from weed whacking—the basic idea is that their hoods can cover your ears and neck, areas that can get a lot of sun exposure.

REI Co-op’s Sahara Shade Hoodie (women’s, men’s) is a good all-around pullover, suitable for hiking, having iced coffee on the deck, or walking the dog.

The hoodie’s soft, UPF 50+ fabric wears like a T-shirt but feels cool to the touch. Thumbholes keep its sleeves in place during vigorous activity and, along with generous cuffs, help keep your hands covered up.

Its hood is less structured than those on other hoodies we tested, but it stayed in place throughout a long run thanks to its internal drawstring.

The Sahara Shade Hoodie has no pockets and is not the most breathable sun hoodie. One tester enjoyed wearing it on summer hikes in the Northeast, but I found it too warm for running on a 78-degree day. If you want a T-shirt feel and a slightly lighter fabric, you might prefer the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody.

The women’s and men’s versions of the Sahara Shade Hoodie come in different colors. The hem of the women’s hoodie is higher at the hips and dips lower in the front and back.

The women’s version comes in sizes XS to XL and 1X to 3X. The men’s version is available in sizes S to XXXL, including tall sizes.

Cotopaxi’s Sombra Sun Hoodie (women’s, men’s) simply looks better than its competitors, our testers said.

Every tester—and every houseguest who saw it on my shelf—gravitated toward the rich teal and bright blue piping of the hoodie we tested.

The Sombra hoodie’s UPF 50+, 100% polyester fabric feels like a substantial, waffly mesh. Beyond its visual appeal, this shirt is breathable and comfortable, and it kept me cooler on runs than REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie.

Its thumbholes and scuba-style hood are comfortable and secure.

The zip-close pocket, positioned at the back right hip, was one of the roomiest we tested: I squeezed in my keys, a credit card, and a balled-up standard-size Baggu tote.

The women’s version comes in sizes XS to XL, and the men’s hoodie is available in S to XXL.

The Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie (women’s, men’s) is the lightest and most breathable hoodie we tested. I was no warmer in this pullover than in a short-sleeve athletic shirt when running, and I wanted to keep the hood up for its cooling shade.

The Echo Hoodie’s ventilation comes with decreased sun protection, though: Light colors have a rating of UPF 15 and darker colors are UPF 20. A rating of UPF 15 indicates the baseline for adequate sun protection: Christina Annunziata of the American Cancer Society told us that “the main consideration for clothing is a UPF value of at least 15,” but that “30 is a better target.”

But since a UPF 15 shirt you’ll actually wear is more effective than not wearing anything to guard against the sun’s rays, it may have a place in your sun-protection arsenal. If you want the most robust protection possible, check out other options.

For hot summer runs—especially long treks, when I’d need to reapply sunscreen to my arms partway through—I’d choose the Echo Hoodie in all but the most sun-intensive environments, maximizing its protection by opting for a dark color and loose fit and bringing along a small sunscreen stick for my hands and face.

The Echo Hoodie has thumbholes and a secure hood but no pockets. The women’s version has a ponytail port, allowing you to thread your hair through the hood instead of tucking it in around your neck.

So far, its thin, stretchy fabric has withstood washing and tumble drying on delicate (despite the label’s instructions to line dry), but we’ll keep an eye on durability with continued use.

The Echo Hoodie comes in women’s sizes XXS to 4X and in men’s sizes S to XXXL.

With a UPF 35 rating wet or dry, the Bluesmiths Kanaha Hydrophobic Shirt (women’s, men’s) is ideal for when you’re both in and out of the water—whether you’re surfing and cycling, say, or taking a dip and reading on the beach.

The Kanaha shirt is the most durable we’ve found over five years of testing for our article on the best beach gear, and we love that it sports a front loop for connecting it to your board shorts and keeping everything in place.

As Wirecutter senior staff writer Kit Dillon reports in that guide, the Kahana shirt is just loose enough—neither skintight nor overly billowy in the water—and its “hydrophobic material repels water, which means the shirts dry out incredibly quickly.”

While the women’s shirt comes in seven colors and sizes XXS to XXL, the men’s shirt comes in 12 colors and sizes S to XXXL. Bluesmiths also sells a short-sleeve version called the Lane Hydrophobic Shirt (women’s, men’s).

It’s a serious piece of surfing gear, and its skintight, lightweight fabric provides sun protection without compromising mobility, as Kit has found over years of wear. It has a rating of UPF 40+, and its hood securely covers your ears and neck—even when you’re diving through waves—while the small, stiff brim helps shield your eyes from water and sun.

Nonsurfers may appreciate some of its other features, including a generous back pocket, thumb loops, and a board-short connector to keep your sleeves and shirttails from riding up.

The R0 UPF Hoody comes in black and white and is available only in men’s sizes XS to XXL.

The head and neck “get a lot of play time in terms of sun exposure,” said dermatologist Yemi Sokumbi, who emphasized that they are some of the most common places she encounters skin cancers.

The best sun hat is the one you’ll actually wear, ideally with a 3-inch brim and something to cover your ears and neck, experts told us.

As Liz Thomas writes in our guide to hiking hats, baseball caps don’t fit the bill, but they are better than nothing, especially if you add other neck and ear protection.

But “avoid straw hats with large holes in the weave that can let in the UV light,” Christina Annunziata of the American Cancer Society warned us.

To find hats to fit a variety of uses and tastes, we consulted Wirecutter’s guide to the best sun hats for hikers and polled colleagues about their personal favorites. I also compared seven additional UPF-rated hats that I’d be more likely to wear in the city park, at the pool, or around town than on the trail.

If you’re looking for poolside shade over performance on the trail, the Sunday Afternoons Siena Hat is an easy, flattering choice.

Its UPF 50+ polyester is light and breathable, and the brim is stiff enough to stay out of your eyes. You can easily finesse its fit using a Velcro tab in the hat’s sweatband, and an adjustable chin strap will keep you from chasing a runaway hat if the wind picks up.

If you prefer a straw-hat look but still want a crushable, easily packable hat, the company’s Sol Seeker Hat is also comfortable, stylish, and reasonably priced. On a windy Chicago day, I wished it had a chin strap, though.

Many hiking hats meet the baseline requirements that sun-protection experts emphasize, namely a 3-inch brim and 360-degree coverage. But what sets the picks in our guide to the best sun hats for hikers apart is that they’re breathable, lightweight, and comfortable, all of which make it far more likely you’ll keep your hat on in the blistering sun.

A neck shade and a 3.25-inch clamshell brim protect your face, ears, and neck without obstructing your side vision. It’s packable and durable, and it stays put in the wind, thanks to its stiff brim, adjustable cinch around the crown, and chin strap.

The UPF 50 Columbia Bora Bora Booney II Hat, a pick in our sun hat guide, is another breathable option with a 3-inch, 360-degree brim. Our main complaint concerns the floppy brim, which can fly up in windy conditions and leave your nose exposed to the sun.

If you want a hat that’s more structured but less breezy, we recommend the UPF 50+ Tilley LTM6 Airflo in our guide to sun hats for hikers. Its firm brim and optional chin strap hold up to the wind, but its structured build makes it difficult to pack. Since this hat doesn’t have an adjustable band, be sure to measure carefully when ordering to get a good fit.

Sometimes, an accessory can help cover the last few inches of skin on a brutally sunny day at high altitude, or when you can’t wait the necessary 15 to 20 minutes for your sunscreen to sink in.

Dermatologist Yemi Sokumbi encourages patients who prefer to wear baseball hats to add a sun shade of some kind to protect their ears and necks. A bandana can do the trick (bonus points for a dark color, tight weave, or synthetic fabric), as demonstrated in this BackpackingLight forum post.

If you’d rather not finagle a bandana into place, you can try a dedicated sun shade that attaches to just about any hat.

Similar to the sun shades that construction workers often wear around hard hats in the summer, the Sprigs Sunshade keeps your ears and neck shaded. It’s light and easy to adjust. Built-in snaps help create some shade on your cheeks but don’t provide much face coverage.

The Skida Sun Tour is made of a UPF 50+ fabric that is lighter, more breathable, and cooler to the touch than that of other neck gaiters we tried.

This lightweight tube comes in various vibrant prints; the Superstar design we tested struck the elusive balance of looking cheerful and geometric without being garish. No one would call Skida’s prints muted—patterns include bright florals and an abstract design inspired by brook trout.

Buff gaiters have saved me on many high-altitude and desert hikes as I struggled to slather my relentlessly sweating face with adequate sunscreen.

Although you wouldn’t catch me wearing a gaiter as a tube top on Survivor, I’m loath to embark on a day hike, backpacking trip, or afternoon in the garden without one. The CoolNet UV fabric is light and smooth, and it comes in near-endless colors and prints.

Button-ups

If you want a stalwart women’s hiking shirt that’s versatile enough for casual wear: Consider the REI Co-op Sahara Long-Sleeve Shirt. Its UPF 50 fabric is stretchy and comfortable but a bit coarser and thicker than the material of other shirts we tried. Although that does make the shirt a tad less breathable, it’s also less clingy, allowing for better airflow and a more structured style. It runs small, as owner reviews note. I’m 5-foot-9, and I typically wear a women’s small; the women’s medium was a snug fit, and the ends of the cuffs failed to reach the base of my wrists. Another tester noted a tight fit around the chest. The shirt also wrinkles especially easily, though that may not be a problem for casual wear. REI sells a men’s version as well, but we’ve noticed quality complaints in recent customer reviews—and for only a few dollars more, Mountain Hardwear’s Canyon long-sleeve shirt is a more compelling choice.

If you want a women’s shirt without a hint of woodsiness: The UPF 50+ Coolibar Women’s Rhodes Shirt may be for you. Compared with our favorite outdoors shirts, it lacks the extra touches, such as an extendable collar. But that’s part of the appeal, as the Rhodes Shirt pairs nicely with dressier pants and skirts, as well as more casual outfits. It’s pricey, but it’s the thinnest, lightest UPF-rated white shirt we tested. It also boasts a Skin Cancer Foundation seal, a nice reassurance for something so thin. It comes in several colors and in sizes XS to 3X.

If you want a men’s button-up shirt more suited for town than trail: Check out the Outdoor Research Men’s Astroman Long Sleeve Sun Shirt. It’s more expensive than other shirts we tested with similar functionality, but it’s lightweight, pleasantly stretchy, and made with a suave cut. The light colors have a UPF 30 rating; the dark colors are listed as UPF 50+. As GearLab notes in its review, though, the stretchiness that makes this shirt so comfortable may cause its sun protection to decrease with wear. We haven’t tested the women’s version, which has fewer owner reviews.

Sun hoodies

If you want a lightweight women’s jacket that’s easy to throw on before heading out the door or over a swimsuit at the beach: Consider the Mountain Hardwear Women’s Sunshadow Full Zip hooded jacket. Testers appreciated its light fabric, loose fit, and secure hood.

If you’re looking for a T-shirt feel and a slightly lighter fabric than the REI hoodie offers: Check out Mountain Hardwear’s Crater Lake Hoody (women’s, men’s), which has a rating of UPF 50+ and a Skin Cancer Foundation seal. The hood of the men’s version fits closer around the face than the REI Sahara Shade’s hood, with an extra panel under the chin. The women’s version has a slightly looser hood and a drawstring around the hips.

If you prefer a sun hoodie with a zippered front: The Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie (women’s, men’s) has an ultrathin, almost papery feel and perforated side panels to increase airflow. The light colors have a UPF 30 rating, and the dark colors are UPF 50+. It’s the hoodie I’d choose for a hot day at the beach for its light, breezy feel. But it’s pricey, it lacks functional features such as thumbholes for more-active pursuits, and its hood is looser than those of other shirts we tested.

If price is a priority and you’re willing to sacrifice breathability: Baleaf’s hoodies (women’s, men’s) are sturdy and functional—and at a price of $20 or so for the women’s version and $25 for the men’s, they cost less than half as much as others we tested. They’re thicker and warmer than the other shirts we recommend, but they’re a solid option if you just want a functional, UPF 50+ shirt with a hood and thumbholes.

Sun hats

If you love prints: Barrière’s UPF 50+ bucket hats are recommended by theme-park journalist Carlye Wisel, who has spent many days traipsing through sun-soaked parks. As she writes in our article about theme-park gear, their bright colors and patterns are more vibrant than what you can find on many other adequately protective sun hats.

Ultraviolet protection factor, or UPF, ratings are to fabrics what sun protection factor (SPF) ratings are to sunscreen: They indicate what fraction of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can penetrate the rated fabric.

A UPF rating of 25, for example, means the material allows 1/25 (4%) of UV radiation in, and a UPF 50 garment lets in 1/50 (2%).

Every fabric has an ultraviolet protection factor, though most clothing is not tested to determine its UPF rating. As the Skin Cancer Foundation points out, dark denim has a UPF of about 1,700, offering near complete sun protection. On the other hand, a white T-shirt has a UPF of around 7 (though that varies from garment to garment), well below the protective threshold, and that drops to 3 when the fabric gets wet.

In a study of children’s summer clothing, 60% of tested textiles made of 100% cotton offered adequate protection, with a rating of UPF 15 or higher. That number increased to 88% for blended fabrics.

Like sunscreen, UPF clothing goes through testing at independent labs—but unlike with sunscreen, that testing is completely voluntary rather than a regulatory requirement.

Companies that make and sell UPF fabrics in the US typically adhere to complementary standards set by ASTM International and the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), and they may also test garments in accordance with the European Standard or those set by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

Clothing tags often state a UPF rating, but not necessarily whether companies have complied with those specific standards. A garment’s original UPF rating can vary with wear, stretch, washing, and whether the fabric is wet or dry.

A Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation does indicate compliance, though not all brands apply for that distinction; to be eligible to apply, a company must be a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation Corporate Council, and the annual membership fee is $15,000.

A garment isn’t considered sun protective if it has a UPF rating lower than 15, a threshold that Christina Annunziata of the American Cancer Society told us was “essential” for sun protection, though a higher value is preferable.

To earn the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, a recognition for which companies voluntarily apply, a garment must have a rating of at least UPF 30 from an independent laboratory.

Of course, some non-UPF-rated clothing—including garments you likely already own—can protect you from the sun, too. An easy metric is to look for a “non-see-through fabric when held up to light,” Margaret Frey, a professor of fiber science and apparel design at Cornell University, told us. If you’re looking to dress with sun safety in mind, here are a few general qualities to consider.

Dorie Chevlen contributed reporting. This article was edited by Kalee Thompson and Ben Frumin.

1. Yemi Sokumbi, MD, dermatologist, Mayo Clinic, phone interview, February 9, 2024

2. Margaret Frey, professor of fiber science and apparel design, Cornell University, email interview, February 1, 2024

3. Christina Annunziata, MD, PhD, senior vice president of extramural discovery science, the American Cancer Society, email interviews, February 19 and April 5, 2024

4. Christian Martin, director of NOLS New Zealand and wilderness first responder, email interview, February 5, 2024

5. Andy Blair, director of NOLS Teton Valley, email interview, February 2, 2024

6. Adele D. Haimovic, MD, dermatologist and Skin Cancer Foundation spokesperson, 2019