Most people who spend long hours in the sun struggle to find an easy and comfortable way to protect their skin from harmful UV rays.
Sunscreen is greasy and needs to be reapplied every couple of hours. Wearing a long-sleeve shirt will give you better coverage of your arms, but it can get extremely hot and sweaty in the summer heat. You can also get a sunburn through many regular t-shirts.
Thankfully, many clothing brands have started making t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and hooded shirts with added UPF protection.
UPF sun shirts are a staple for anyone seeking additional sun protection while hiking, running, biking, kayaking, or spending the day at the beach.
If you’ve never owned a sun-protective shirt before, how do you know what to look for when shopping for one? Well, we’re here to help.
We research and tested the top-rated sun protection shirts to help you find the best shirt for your needs.
The criteria we used for rating and reviewing the UPF shirts is below:
- Sun Protection – Does it protect you from getting sunburnt?
- Breathability – We want fabric that will allow your body heat to escape.
- Comfort – We are all about comfort. Avoid any itchy synthetic fabrics.
- Moisture-wicking – Stay dry and comfortable during and after a workout.
- Price – Get the best value for your money.
Here are the best UPF sun shirts to buy in 2021
- Best Sun Protective T-shirt – Hanes Men’s Sport Cool Dri Performance Tee UPF 50+
- Best long-sleeve UPF Sun shirt – Hanes Men’s Long Sleeve Cool Dri T-Shirt UPF 50+
- Best hooded UPF shirt – Willit Men’s UPF 50+ Sun Protection Hoodie
- Best Button-up Sun Protective Shirt – Columbia Silver Ridge Lite Long-Sleeve Shirt
- Best Performance Sun protective shirt – Eddie Bauer Solarfoil® UPF Hoodie
Best Sun Protective T-Shirt
Hanes Sport Cool Dri Performance Tee
UPF Rating: 50+
Fabric: 100% Polyester
The Hanes Cool DRI t-shirt for men is our top rated UV sun protection shirt based on the low price point, versatility, quality, and comfort.
How well does it work?
This shirt has a 50+ ultraviolet protection factor rating to protect against the sun’s harmful rays.
I tested this shirt during the summer of 2021 and I can confirm that it actually works.
As long as you are not concerned about protecting your forearms and neck from the sun, this is an excellent option.
It is a great lightweight and breathable activewear shirt that is ideal for running, walking, bike riding, hiking or spending the day at the beach.
Hanes’ “Cool DRI” technology wicks away moisture and helps the polyester fabric dry quickly to keep you comfortable.
I wear this for long days at the beach and even wear it for sun protection while swimming in the water.
The shirt dries surprisingly fast after swimming in the water as well.
Price
This is the best value UPF t shirt you can find. They normally retail for around $18 each but you can buy a 2-pack on amazon for as low as $11 depending on your color choice.
Best long-sleeve UPF Sun shirt
Hanes Men's Long Sleeve Cool Dri T-Shirt UPF 50+
UPF Rating: 50+
Fabric: 100% Polyester
It’s no surprise that Hanes earned the spot as the the best long sleeve UPF shirt because it uses the same “Cool Dri” technology and fabric as their sun protective t-shirts. They offer incredible value for the price and they work perfectly.
How well does it work?
I am a big fan of Hanes’ Cool Dri fabric.
These shirts have a 50+ UPF rating and the sleeves provide additional coverage to protect your arms.
This is a great option in you are planning on sitting in the sun for long hours, but it does retain a bit a heat if you are doing a lot of physical activity during the summer.
We recommend the short sleeve Cool Dri t-shirt for physical activities that might cause you to sweat.
Price
The price for Hanes long sleeve UPF shirts fluctuates on Amazon quite a bit, but they usually have 2-packs available for around $10 to $20 depending on your color choice.
Best hooded UPF shirt
Willit Men's UPF 50+ Sun Protection Hoodie
UPF Rating: 50+
Fabric: 100% Polyester
The Willit Men’s sun protection hoodie is my go-to shirt for long days at the beach, kayaking, and boating.
The fabric is very lightweight and breathable. I have no problem sitting at the beach for an entire day in 90+ degree weather while wearing this hoodie.
Why I like this shirt
It has a hood. The hood protects your neck from the sun which is ideal for kayaking or spending long hours on a boat.
The fabric is smooth and silky. Some 100% polyester sun shirts have a synthetic and scratchy feel to them. This fabric is thin, lightweight, and has a silkier feeling to it.
Thumbholes. The thumbholes help cover your hands to protect them from the sun and they prevent your sleeves from riding up while running or kayaking.
Stylish. I get a lot of questions and compliments while wearing this hoodie at the beach. The design looks cool and more importantly it keeps you safe from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays.
It works! The hoodie provides maximum skin coverage and it has a UPF 50+ fabric rating.
Price
The Willit men’s UPF 50+ hoodie is available on Amazon for just $16.99 with many color options available.
This is an amazing price point as I’ve found the quality of this shirt is comparable to similar UPF shirts that cost over $70.
Best Button-up Sun Protective Shirt
Columbia Silver Ridge Lite Long-Sleeve Shirt
UPF Rating: 40
Fabric: 100% Polyester
The Columbia Silver Ridge Lite is designed to keep you cool and protected from the sun on a hot summer day.
The polyester fabric dries quickly and is moisture-wicking to keep you comfortable throughout your day of activities.
This button up sun shirt style is popular among fishermen and hikers.
Features we like
Hidden back vents to keep you cool and increase air flow.
Roll-up sleeves with tab holders to help you adapt to temperature changes throughout the day.
Best Performance Sun protective shirt
Eddie Bauer Solarfoil® UPF Hoodie
UPF Rating: 50+
Fabric: 100% Polyester
The Eddie Bauer SolarFoil UPF Hoodie offers superior sun protection and skin coverage when you are out in the sun for extended periods.
Some notable benefits are the moisture-wicking and odor control fabric properties.
Whether you are hiking, running or relaxing in the sun, this hooded shirt will keep you dry and comfortable while staying safe from harmful sun rays. This shirt is a great alternative to putting on large amounts of slimy sunscreen.
