Swimming shirts are shirts worn by people participating in water activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, surfing, or casual swimming. They are sometimes referred to as a rash vest or rash guard. These shirts can be worn on their own or under a wetsuit and are also often worn when it is too hot to wear a wetsuit.
Why They Help Performance
Swimming shirts protect the wearer from sunburn due to extended exposure to the sun or from rashes caused by abrasion. The latter is important during water activities like surfing or white water rafting, where you could potentially hit rocks on the bottom of a lake, ocean, or river. Swimming shirts also prevent chafing from sliding on a waxed surf board. Most swim shirts carry an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating of 50+, which means they block out approximately 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. They are more effective than sunscreen, particularly for people who are allergic to the chemicals found in sunscreen.
What are They Made of?
Swimming shirts are usually made of polyester, nylon, or spandex. They are athletic shirts that are thin enough to keep the wearer comfortable and mobile, but thick enough to protect against the sun and other obstacles in the water. Most swimming shirts can be worn underneath a wet suit for extra protection.
Washing and Care Instructions
Taking care of your swimming shirt is a similar process to taking care of your swimsuit. After you use it, you should immediately rinse it with cool, fresh water. Do not use hot water. Never put your swimming shirt in a washer with other clothes. You should wash your swimming shirt by hand. To remove chlorine and salt residues, use a biodegradable soap instead of a harsh cleaner or bleach. Once you have washed your swimming shirt, hang it up to dry. Never place the shirt in the dryer, and avoid placing it in extreme heat or direct sunlight, which may cause the shirt to shrink or its color to fade. To remove strong odors, fill your sink with cool water and add baking soda. Allow it to soak overnight, and then rinse out the baking soda with cool water the following day.
Who Makes Them?
The most popular brands of swimming shirts are Quicksilver, Roxy, O’Neill, Billabong, and Body Glove. These brands are popular among people who participate in water activities and offer very high quality shirts. Billabong is one of the biggest names in surfing, manufacturing swimming shirts that can be worn under wetsuits or in place of wetsuits. This helps protects surfers from damaging their skin against their board or against the water. Roxy is a subsidiary of Quicksilver, and makes similar swimming shirts for women.
Price Range
Compared to other articles of clothing, swimming shirts are generally inexpensive. You can expect to pay anywhere between $20 and $50 for a swimming shirt. It is important to pay attention to the size of the swimming shirt, however. You want it to fit snugly as opposed to loosely. It should be tight enough that you can wear a wetsuit over top of it, but not too tight that it could rip or tear.
