Why choose sun protective clothing (I)

sun protective clothing

As you know, the sun and its ultraviolet (UV) rays can be harmful to the skin. Hats, shirts, pants and other clothing with sun protection help prevent these rays from reaching you.

Designed for travel and outdoor activities, these sun protective clothing also have other qualities that make them valuable allies.

Look for ultraviolet protection factor

“Regular” fabric, like that of your favorite cotton t-shirt, offers minimal protection. Clothing with sun protection (sometimes referred to as a UV filter or UV protection) is specially designed to protect you against the sun's UV rays.

They are accompanied by a number, the protection factor against ultraviolet rays (FPRUV). The higher the number, the more the clothing protects you. It therefore allows less UV rays to pass through.

The protection factor depends on several elements such as the type of fabric, its density and even its color. Additionally, some fabrics are treated with compounds that reflect UV rays.

Discover other benefits

These sun protective clothing are designed for people who travel, hike or do other outdoor activities. They therefore have other advantages, in addition to protecting you from the sun:

• Lightweight
• Breathable: they allow the passage of moisture from the body to the outside
• Comfortable
• Dry quickly (most)

All appreciable benefits when you want to equip yourself for travel and the outdoors!

Your clothes not only look great. It also absorbs or blocks harmful UV radiation and remains one of the most effective forms of protection against sun damage and skin cancer.

Additionally, sun protective clothing is the easiest way to stay safe; unlike sunscreen, you never need to reapply!

UPF: what it is and why it matters

The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98% of the sun's rays and allows 1% (50/50) to penetrate, significantly reducing your risk of exposure.

What you need to know: A fabric must have a UPF of 30 to qualify for the Skin Cancer Foundation. Seal of Commendation. A ultraviolet protecting factor of 30 to 49 provides very good protection, while UPF 50+ is excellent.

(this post related to ultraviolet protection factor will be continued)