Your outdoor wardrobe doesn’t just look great – it also offers a whole host of benefits on the trail. Clothing, hats and other outdoor accessories are some of the most effective, and simplest, ways to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. But what is sun-protective clothing? Most people find it much easier to throw on an item of clothing rather than having to lather up with sun cream every couple of hours – particularly when hiking up the fells or exploring a new town. So how does sun-protective clothing work? Find out in our guide below.
What Is Sun-Protective Clothing?
Sun-protective clothing is exactly what it says on the label – it provides a barrier between you and the sun. It’s specifically designed and produced from a fabric that is rated for its level of UV protection and there are many types of lightweight sun-protective clothing available, with various levels of UPF protection. Find out more about the UPF rating scale below so that you know what to look out for when purchasing.
How Much Sun Protection Does Clothing Provide?
So, how much sun protection does clothing provide? Different clothes provide different levels of UV protection, so it will depend on what you wear. As to be expected, long-sleeved shirts, full-length trousers and longer skirts will cover more skin and therefore offer more protection. A tightly woven fabric will also offer more protection than a loosely woven material, while dry clothes will generally offer a safer barrier than wet ones.
The level of protection that your clothing offers will also depend on its UPF rating. Clothes designed specifically for sun protection will come with a grade, but what is the standard UPF rating scale for clothing?
UPF Rating Scale
Now more than ever, brands are creating clothing that promotes the ultraviolet protection factor. The UPF rating scale determines the level of protection that the fabric offers. The UPF is a standard that is used to measure the effectiveness of the sun-protective clothing. The standard UPF rating scale is as follows:
| UPF Rating Scale | Protection | % UV Radiation Blocked |
| UPF 15-24 | Good | 93.3-95.9 |
| UPF 25-39 | Very Good | 96.0-97.4 |
| UPF 40-50+ | Excellent | 97.5-98+ |
The Craghoppers SolarShield clothing offers UPF40+ protection with 2.5% (or less) UV radiation and 97.5% blocked UVR.
Does Black Clothing Protect You From The Sun?
Not all colours provide equal protection against the sun. Typically, dark or bright colours will absorb more UV than lighter shades like whites and pastels – which is why you might find that your black clothing attracts more heat.
How Long Does Sun-Protection Clothing Last?
But how long can clothes protect you from the sun for? Our SolarShield clothing is made from permanent sun-protective fabric, meaning the technology lasts for the lifetime of the garment. So that when you’re out on the trail, you know you can rely on your clothing to keep you protected as you continue to explore the outdoors. However, you should still cover up any exposed areas of skin with sun cream for full defence against the sun.
Where To Buy Sun-Protective Clothing
At Craghoppers, we have a great selection of lightweight sun-protective clothing available for men, women and kids. Constructed using denser fabrics with tighter weaves, the SolarShield range offers greater protection against harmful UV rays which has been tried and tested to provide UPF40+ protection.
Get out and enjoy the sun without taking risks. Browse the range of SolarShield clothing online and pack up your kit for your next adventure.