RASH VEST BUYING GUIDE

Whether you're relaxing in the sea or participating in water sports activities like paddle boarding, kayaking or surfing, it is important to have the best attire to maximise enjoyment, comfort and safety whilst out in or on the water.

Whilst you’ll likely be familiar with swimwear, wetsuits and other specialist water wear such as life jackets, you may not be as familiar with rash vests.

With this in mind, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to provide you with everything you need to know about rash vests.

A rash vest (also known as a rash guard, swim shirt and surf shirt) is a thin, tight fitted shirt which is typically made of nylon or spandex. Sold in various styles including short-sleeve, long-sleeve and sleeveless variations, they are designed to provide protection and comfort during water-based activities and sports. Known for their quick drying capabilities, rash vests provide a variety of benefits including:

• Abrasion resistance: They help to prevent skin rash and irritation from friction caused by surfboards, wetsuits and/or sand, which is where the name rash vest comes from!
• Sun protection: Many rash vests including all AquaTec vests have a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating, which protects your skin from harmful UV rays.
• Comfort: They provide optimal comfort, and allow for freedom of movement, giving you flexibility to move around when worn either on their own or under wetsuits.
• Temperature regulation: Some rash vests have thermal linings that can provide some level of warmth in cooler temperatures.

Rash vests are made from a special blend of materials. If you have ever owned a rash vest, you will notice that they are stretchy, flexible and durable. Rash vest materials include spandex, which gives it the stretchy feel, nylon for the durability and quick drying properties and polyester for UV protection.

Rash vests are usually fairly tightly fitted, but despite their snug fit they should also be comfortable. A well-fitting rash vest should deliver on the following:

• Fit close to the skin: A snug fit is important to keep the vest in place during activity without it riding up or bunching. A close fit also minimises water flow under the vest, something that is important as a loose fitting rash vest would increase drag in the water whilst not providing the desired warmth.
• Allow for unrestricted movement: Although snug by design, a rash vest shouldn’t be overly tight to the point it restricts any part of your arms, shoulders or torso. Instead, rash vests should allow a full range of movement without any chafing or irritation.
• Feel comfortable: All parts of the rash vest should fit comfortably. The collar should be snug but not restrictive, the sleeves (either long or short sleeve) shouldn’t be too tight but also shouldn’t sag, and the length of the vest should be long enough to overlap swim shorts/bottoms.

Whilst the above all accurately represents how a rash vest should fit, there will also be an element of personal preference when it comes to how an individual wants a rash vest to fit. This will also be impacted by the intended use for a rash vest, as using a rash vest for UV protection at the beach is very different to using one for surfing.

Our AquaTec rash vests all have size guides which include all the key measurements you need to determine what size rash vest to buy.

One of the big pluses of rash vests is the protection they offer against UV rays. Although most people love swimming and relaxing in the sea, you can unknowingly get sunburn if you are not properly covered. Owning a rash vest offers protection from the sun, reducing your chances of sustaining burns. It’s important to note that even though rash vests have UV protection we still advise that sun cream should be used.

How you wear a rash vest will largely depend on the kind of activities you plan to participate in. The most common way to wear a rash vest is as a single-layer top, pairing them with either swim shorts/bottoms or normal shorts. They are also commonly worn over swim costumes and can be paired with other bottoms.

Rash vests are also great for layering and can be worn under wetsuits to add extra warmth and prevent chafing. They can also be worn under buoyancy aids and other types of water sport vests, highlighting the versatility of rash vests.