Sun Protective Clothing

"the best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt"

     The Australian Government, a leader in UV research for over two decades, has stated that, "Over-exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can cause sunburn, skin damage and an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Clothing provides one of the most convenient forms of protection against UVR but not all garments offer sufficient sun protection"

    Clothing provides one of the most convenient forms of protection against UV Rays, and has been used since Eve's fig leaf, but not all garments offer sufficient sun protection. 

Below the jump we will examine

* Ratings again: review  the SPF rating
* How UPF ratings are derived
* Composition:
* Cost: some thoughts the economy/false economy of this kind of clothing.
* Sources: a look at several  different manufacturers and online retailers of sun-protective clothing
* The Threads:check out some hats, shirts, pants, gloves, and yes, parasols.
* Do It Yourself:  Fabric, SPF DYES, Spray on UV protection for your clothing.

So  suit up, put on your shades, and lets jump

Soundtrack
 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Heat Wave 1963

UPF: The rating for for Clothing, simple to Geeky

This rating is derived a little differently than the SPF.

Simple:

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Think F for Fabric. The Higher the number the better. Aim for 50+.

Geekier:

UPF Range	Protection Category	Effective UV-R Transmission (%)	UPF Rating
15-24	Good	6.7-4.2	15, 20
25-39	Very Good	4.1-2.6	25, 30, 35
40-50, 50+	Excellent	Less than 2.5	40, 45, 50, 50+

So a UPF rating of 50 indicates the fabric of a garment will allow only 1/50th (roughly 2%) of available UV radiation to pass through it. A garment rated UPF 25 permits roughly 4% (1/25th) UV transmission.

Just as a reference, a plain white long sleeve shirt has an UPF of between 5 and 8 meaning it could allow as much as 20% (one-fifth) of available UV radiation to pass through. Not much help.

Geekiest:

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It is the amount of ultraviolet radiation that a fabric blocks.  It is the ratio of the average effective ultraviolet radiation (UVR) irradiance transmitted and calculated through air to the average effective UVR irradiance transmitted and calculated through fabric. Hence UPF values are used in the Fabric's UV transmittance test by spectrophotometer equipment. – Source Int’l UV Testing Labs

    UPF fabric rating requires that fabrics claiming to be sun protective must be prepared in the following ways before testing:

1. Undergo 40 simulated laundering
2. Be exposed to 100 fading units of simulated sunlight
   (equivalent to 2 years light exposure)
3. And, if intended for swim wear, exposure to chlorinated water

The following is a comparison between the UPF and SPF ratings:

Classification Category	Rating	% UV Blocked
Very Good UV Protection	UPF 25, 30, 35	96.0% - 97.4%
Very Good UV Protection	SPF 25, 30	96.0% - 97.4%
Excellent UV Protection	UPF 40, 45, 50+	97.5% - 98.0%
Excellent UV Protection	SPF 30+	97.5+%

Composition:

     The fabric used in most of the sun protective cloth is often a rip stop nylon.The rating is based on the weave of the cloth (tight ) and in some cases the addition of Zinc Oxide as a reflective agent and /or  a compound containing silver. (for anti bacterial protection) to the fibers. They are tested and rated by the  number of wash cycles before they loose some efficacy. The best has some proprietary compounds developed by good old Ciba-Geigy, now owned by Novartis, the giant Swiss pharma company.

COSTS:

A quick word about the pricey nature of this stuff - 

     The price of these esoteric togs is a shock for me, a dedicated thrift store shopper used to shelling out at the most $5.00 for a rare find long sleeve white Brooks Bros. Shirt, ($ 88.00 new) or more often $2.00 for a generic white long sleeve to wear in the sun. But a cotton shirt is next to useless for sun protection, usually about an 8 UPF.

So before we go any further, here are the thrifty alternatives:

Make your own Sun protective clothing!

The only places I found  fabric for sale, other than in huge bolts, was here at sungrubbiescom 

 UPF 50, tan/white/black  $12/yd. Made in USA

and

http://www.solarweave.com/ 

who also has bulk tees in 85 colors.

Or Dye the clothes you already have !

RIT DYE'S SunGuard Protection.  

good for 20 washings.

OR SPRAY ON

ray-bloc-uv-protection-for-all-fabrics

Ray Bloc UV Fabric Protector

Earth Friendly

Water-Based

Formulated For:All fabric types including those found in Awnings, Canopies, Covers, Umbrellas, Tents, Gear, Clothing, and more!

 

I believe Medical Insurance should subsidise the purchase price of these kind of threads as a preventative or prophylactic tool.  Wearing  this stuff  does minimize or eliminate costly hospital visits for anyone who has had Chemo or Radiation resulting in a compromised immune system, not just Stem Cell Transplant and Melanoma Cancer Survivors. In my case, a solar induced Chronic GVHD reaction would result in an inpatient hospital visit with IV drugs, and  perhaps renal failure and/or vision loss. So once again we are presented with 

Manufacturers and distributors of  Sun Protective Clothing - Shirts, Pants, Hats, Gloves:

Head wear:

I have expanded my fedora collection  to include Buffs which  I am finding  to be great, versatile, and functional, and have UV protection. Check out the UV ones, and the video on the many ways to deploy them.  Also speciality buffs for Military, Culinary, Cycling, Safety, Firefighting and more. The site is worth a look-see. Their gloves are cool too, for fishing and any outdoor activity. Once again, Buffs

The best I have found is Sun Precautions Solumbria.

• • Solumbra is made in a special factory in Seattle, WA.
• • Solumbra has been reviewed for its sun protection in medical presentations and published medical journals. 
• (Other companies pay an annual fee to a skin cancer prevention organization to obtain the right to put a seal on their products that their fabrics are 30 UPF or higher and the hat brim is 3" or greater.) 
• Good for 500 washings as opposed to 40 cycles.

This outfit in Seattle  http://www.sunprecautions.com/ is for you readers in this hemisphere, uses a proprietary fabric called Solumbria,  fashioned into a line of clothing developed by a skin cancer survivor. 

Hats, gloves, shirts, pants, and speciality items too, for firefighters, military, extreme sports, etc.

And, they also have Sunblock Parasols!

So we have come full circle from
the 1920's.

1927 Jantzen Swimsuit ad showing cover ups and parasols

Watch for Robinson Crusoe visits Cape Lookout, coming later this summer.

Another Mfg;

No Zone is another great company, fabrics from all over (Australia?) and " By keeping all our clothing manufacturing in Canada and the US, we ensure no children or underpaid workers are involved in any step of our manufacturing process.  "

( from their site ) 

Sun Day Afternoons  has a good line, and  these nifty SunSleeves.  

They claim their DermaSafe products to have a 50+ UPF for UVA and UVB

LINKS TO OTHER CLOTHING SELLERS:

IN the UK

http://www.equatorsun.com/index.jsp

In OZ

http://www.coolibar.com

http://www.cwear.com.au/

For infants sunchasersclothing.com/sun-protective-clothing-for-infants/

LLBeans has a line called Sunsmart

In the clothing line, while Columbia available at Worst Marine.

This outfit http://www.coolibar.com/ from Oz been a pioneer in protective clothing.

Wallet World  (Wal Mart )  is reported to be carrying  a Solarquard line of clothing for fishing.

SanSoleil... Sun Care You Can Wear  has mostly golf and tennis, long sleeve polo and tee's for men made from Soltek fabric.

Here is an online retailer named Triple J

SPF Store  carries 21 different brands of protective clothing, and it is not just hot weather stuff.

Check out  their Hoodie

And a bunch more  Here http://www.apparelsearch.com/retail_sun_protective.htm

And finally,

What I really want is a Lawrence of Arabia outfit, complete with Keffiyeh,
but wearing one " To the Cape"  might  risk the wrath of Homeboy Security Troopers.

T.E.Lawrence

His last ride, on a Brough Superior May 19, 1935

Peter O'Toole in the Movie

Maybe I can stitch one up from a high denier bed sheet, soak it in the RIT Sunguard, and become 

 Sources:
Sungrubbies. All the info you need,
Very good info here at the REI site

More on the history and development of these kinds of  fabrics can be found at this WIKI site., and as with most Wiki Sites, a grain or two of salt may be required.

If any of you have direct experience with these products, or know of others that are worthy, please post in the comment box.

Chris