I recently got a UPF 50 sun-protective long sleeve from [Manggear](https://www.manggear.com/products/restore-the-flow) because I often forget to apply sunscreen, and even when I do, I tend to forget to reapply it. The fabric’s tight weave so far feels great. Have any of you transitioned to wearing sun-shirts instead of relying solely on sunblock? If so, what have your experiences been?
by iowasolar
30 Comments
I greatly prefer long sleeves than wearing sunscreen.
I absolutely love my long sleeve sun shirts. Will never go back to bare arms in the sun. They keep me cool enough on hot days and provide just a bit of extra warmth if it’s chillier than expected. I still bring sunscreen for my face and knees but not having to slather up my hairy, sweaty arms is amazing.
I don’t like using sun cream as I always find it quite sticky and uncomfortable. Particularly as I’m extremely fair skinned so I feel the need to use a high spf.
If possible I prefer to cover up. I don’t use a sun shirt but I use stretchy sun sleeves that I can wear with any t shirt.
Then for my head I have 2 coolnet uv buffs. One goes round my neck and the other is twisted into a beanie for my head. I’m bald so I’ve always got some head protection on. I like the buffs because they’re lightweight, packable and versatile. And on super hot days I can soak them in water to stay cool.
My legs are the one place I’ll tend to wear sun cream, as I don’t find it as uncomfortable as on my face and arms.
Arm covers, old school bike cap, neck buff and/or sun shirts by far.
I loathe sunscreen and I strive to use as little as necessary.
I only use sunscreen for my wrists and everything above my collar. Everywhere else is covered.
Team sunshirt all the way. So much easier and less greasy.
I’m wearing a white sun shirt with a hood to protect me…got 2nd degree burns 2 yrs ago on a week long large tour and was in pain and uncomfortable camping each night.
Went to sun shirts like four years ago. Its pretty much all I wear even not cycling. I’m a hot bodied sweaty person and they help so much keeping me dry. The smooth texture is great on my skin as well. I have inverse psoriasis and my skin is extremely sensitive to abrasions.
Sun shirts are my pick too. The only issue I have is I’m a little dude so a lot of them end up looking like blouses on me.
I do prefer button down sun shirts just so I can open a few buttons or even open the shirt entirely depending on the weather/heat/direction of the sun.
Melanoma survivor here. I use arm coolers/sleeves. Getting them wet adds additional cooling. I use good sunscreen on my face, neck, and legs. Having the sleeves provides additional flexibility as opposed to a shirt, and they are very compact/light. I even use them for hiking. But yeah, sun shirts, sleeves, etc. are great! Thanks for asking this question! Everyone should consider the dangers of too much sun exposure and sun burns on their tours!
My sun hoodie got me through the intense sun and heat of the midwest states in mid-summer. Sunblock on the legs only.
What about for your face and legs? I have the same problems you describe with sunscreen, mainly just plain forget to use it or reapply it.
Sun hoodies all the way. Cotopaxi Sombra is my favorite. Sunscreen on my face, and on the bits of my legs between my bib and my socks.
I always touring in a long sleeve fishing shirt. Keeps you cool, keeps the sun off of you, and since they dry fast cleaning them often wasn’t a problem. Essentially just have to sunscreen face and hands, unless you wear gloves. Additionally, scrubbing sunscreen off at the end of the day as a chore is like to avoid.
I prefer to block the sun. Long sleeves, neck gaitor, DeBrim hat. Sunglasses.
That said I can’t stand having my face covered as I need the airflow. Wide brim hats (DeBrim) do a good job on the primary rays but don’t block all the secondary rays simply bouncing off the pavement. So high SPF on the face.
Another exception is my legs. I need them free to move so SPF sunscreen goes on them. Long chamios spandex shorts go down just above my knee. I don’t like leg covers as I’ve never found a pair that doesn’t fall down.
Long sleeves, bandana under helmet around face & neck, spray sunscreen wiped on cheeks & back of neck & calves & thighs if in shorts
Also a cycling cap to keep the sun off my head, but still use sunblock on my nose & ears
My use case is mostly rock climbing.
But sun hoody + face specific sun screen for my face and neck. (Face specific because it does not sting my eyes when sweat drops down into my eyes).
Sun hoodies are bomb and I’ve 100% transitioned away from short sleeves for outdoor adventures.
I wear a linen or hemp button up when touring in sunny places. Found they breath even better than most so called “sun shirts”. Also + for style points 😉
Sunscreen on hands and face. Possibly underarms. Clothing for the rest. Well, maybe calves…
Long sleeve saves a shitload of sunscreen
Snorkling and when in the water sunshirts are awesome, but I haven’t tried a full shirt on the bike yet. I have sleeves that I pack with me for when I feel like my forearms are burning.
This leads to a new question. The internet is full of warnings that a t-shirt only offers about spf 5. (ie 20% of the sun gets through).
Normally, i burn if I’m in hot summer sun for two hours. However, when I’m cycling I’m usually in the sun for at least 12 hours every day.
That should mean i finish each day with a sunburn, because i never apply sunblock under my t-shirt.
İ don’t get burned. İ finish a month’s tour usually with a very slight tan under my t-shirt.
(btw I’m white-skinned.)
So is this just corporate bullshit trying to create a market? Or is there something genuine?
what are some good brands ?
Yeah, I don’t love sunscreen for a variety of reasons, and I’m not good about applying it. Virtually all of my cycling is done in inexpensive long-sleeve tech tees – which are, fundamentally, just long-sleeved cycling jerseys without zippers. This plus gloves, and all I need personally is to put sunscreen on my nose, my wrists, and the tops of my legs.
Sun shirt all the way. Sun gloves. Sun pants. Sun neck tube. Sunglasses. Bike cap. When I’m on a 2h, 5h, or 7h bike ride, I don’t want to stop to reapply sunscreen. **I want to enjoy myself.** Whatever sunblock I use is for the nose and face.
Yup, I get tan even with copious amounts of sunscreen so I made the transition. I carry around a lightweight jacket for shadeless days.
I cannot stand wearing sunscreen so avoid it where possible so go with a sunshirt and head covering of some sort. I have used a Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt for years and it is a great bit of kit. Very comfortable, cool and durable and easy to wash although it does suffer from the downsides of any artificial fibre item of clothing.
I always wear long sleeves because I don’t like the greasy feel of sunscreens.
For face and neck I used this Dabrim. They keep your face and neck shaded and still allow the air to circulate and evaporate perspiration. I’ve been able to travel in temperatures up to the low 40°C that I otherwise couldn’t.
https://dabrim.com/collections/frontpage/products/cycling-classic
I usually just wear whatever with no sunscreen under it. Even close to the equator my back hasn’t burned except the one time I wore a loose-weave linen shirt.