November 20, 2021 6 min read

Rash vests are most commonly used by sailors, fishermen, and other people who spend a lot of time on the open sea. A rash guard is essentially a sleeveless shirt made from nylon with long sleeves that can be tucked into pants or worn outside of pants. It's basically a t-shirt with long sleeves attached to it.

What Are Rash Vests and Do I Need One?

Rash vests are a garment designed to protect the wearer from the sun. A rash guard is worn by people participating in sports, activities that expose them to sunlight for extended periods of time, like swimming,  or by individuals with very fair skin who have difficulty tanning.

A rash guard is an athletic thin t-shirt or top designed to be worn in the water. A rash guard comes in different styles, thicknesses, and fabrics depending on its purpose. The rash guard is also known as UV top, rash guard, or rashie. Rash vests are usually made from spandex, nylon, or polyester. A rash guard is usually worn by sportsmen, like surfers, but also other people who spend a lot of time on the water and when it is too hot to wear wetsuits, like swimming, surfing, diving. A rash guard is protective, but don’t save too much temperature around your body. 

But when to use it? How to use it? When it protects you, and when not? Can this piece of the garment make your rash event worse? Rash vests are very practical and needed clothing when you spend a lot of time on the beach and on the open sea. Just think about the rash you get from the sunburn. Not very pleasant, is it?

Let’s see when and why to wear a rash guard.

What Are Rash Vests for

Rash Vests have been created to prevent your skin from being exposed to the sun’s harmful rays. The rash waistcoat is a protective garment that is worn over clothes and the purpose is to protect the skin from the rush, the ultraviolet (UV) rays. Rash guards are available in different styles, colors, and materials. Rash guards come in wide width ranges to accommodate various sizes. 

Rash guards are commonly worn by people who are likely to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time, such as, swimmers, surfers, runners, cyclists, hikers, or gardeners. Rash guards are also worn by people to prevent the body from burning after the use of tanning beds.

Rash guards have been created for little kids also, and the idea is great. Rash guards help to prevent a lot of children from getting severe sunburns when swimming. This is because the design of the vest prevents the child from getting any direct sunlight from being exposed to their tender skin. The idea is so great because this is not only a fashion statement, but it is a defense mechanism for children.

What Do Rash Vests Do

A Rash guard is designed to keep you cool and dry, even in the hottest conditions. Rash guards are made with a breathable fabric for maximum cooling and moisture control. This is not your average rash guard. 

The outer layer of the rash waistcoat provides the protection you need from most sporting activities, and the inner layer moves with you, providing a cool and slim fit. The design of our rash waistcoat with a pocket is designed to provide a snug and secure fit, giving you a sense of confidence when playing a sport.

What Are Vests Used for

swimming with rash vests

The main purpose that is a rash guard is used for is protection. They are often used by fishermen, surfers, swimmers, to protect against rays and insect bites. 

A rash guard can also be put on to protect against poison ivy. The best way to use a rash waistcoat is to wear one that is made of a mesh material and has built-in fiberglass or other material that reflects light to keep you cool. It functions as a protective suit and the material is such that it does not get wet easily.

Why Is a Rash Vest Called a Rash Vest?

The name rash vest, or rashie, states the fact that the top protects you from rashes caused by abrasion, heat, and sun’s rays.

The word "rash" typically evokes the image of something that is irritating, unwanted, or unpleasant. This sickening feeling is commonly associated with being put in uncomfortable or weird situations. Imagine wearing a tight, itchy long-sleeved shirt to summer camp, or eating cold cottage cheese during your lunch break under your desk.

These are examples of the types of "rashes" that people may experience in their day-to-day lives. Now, imagine trying to fall asleep on your stomach after laying around in the open all day. Chances are you'll wake up to a hot, itchy, red rash on your chest and back, which is commonly known as "sunburn" or "sunburns".

To Sum Up

People are using rash guards for protection from sunburns and rash guards made from sweat, insects, and allergies when they are in the open. It's your decision should you use long sleeve or short sleeve rash vest. Sportsmen, fishermen, farmers, and other people who spend a lot of time in the open, are commonly using rash guards. 

can a rash guard be used for swimming

There is also a special rash guard made for children. You can use them in warriors situations, like surfing, swimming, on the beach, on the boat, etc. The name is made from the fact that they protect you from the rash. 

Other Questions

Can you go swimming in a vest?

It is not recommended. The rash guard is designed to protect against UV exposure on your skin, not against exposure to water. If you are out in the open during the day on your paddleboard or your boat, you will want to wear a high-performance UV sun blocker, like the Kodiak dry fabric, to protect yourself. 

If you are in the water, you should wear full surfboard shorts to protect your genitalia and the rest of you. If you want to dry out quickly, you can wear an always dry shirt like the Sub-Zero shirt, which wicks sweat away from your body to keep you dry.

Are vests meant to be tight?

The short answer is no. Rash vests are meant to be loose and breathable. If you go out and buy rash vests and it’s too tight, you may just need to get a size larger and you should be golden. The reason they’re not fitting is that they don’t work properly.

The reason they make rash vests believe it or not is to keep you safe when you’re out in extreme conditions hunting. They’re meant to be loose and allow your body to breathe normally. 

Is a rash vest a wetsuit?

A rash guard is not technically a wetsuit. It’s not waterproof so it will allow water to move through the skin and enter the body. A suit is designed to keep water out. Most suits will help to protect you from the cold and help to keep the temperature warm. Rash vests are designed to help protect you from the sun and prevent sunburns.

What is the difference between a rash guard and a swim shirt?

why wear a rash vest

Rash guards come with the first layer of the wetsuit and cover more of the body and neck and can be worn on and off the water. They protect you from the rays and stop you from getting burned. It is an indispensable piece of equipment for people who usually spend a lot of time in the open. They come with different degrees of UV protection as well as different features such as pockets and zippers.

A swim shirt is a hybrid between a normal shirt and a rash guard. It has qualities of both of these items. It is limited in the amount you can swim in it.

What do you wear with a vest?

Long sleeve tops are preferred to get the most warmth. If you do need to wear a light top then look for one that has a good zip at the back of the neck. A rash waistcoat is just that, a way of protecting the skin - it's not an outer skin- so if you're very overdressed you're just wasting all that fuel underneath. If you're wearing thermal underwear underneath then you can go without tops (the long sleeves, not the thermal underwear itself) altogether.

Do vests protect from the sun?

Yes, rash vests do protect from the sun. Rash vests are specifically designed to minimize the effects of UV rays. They provide a protective barrier between skin and the sun. With a rash waistcoat, the rays will bounce off the vest’s mesh and not be exposed to your skin. Some rash vests look a lot like a three-season jacket. They have a full exposed zipper and a hood. They have plenty of vents too, which is important because the exposed parts of the body that might be exposed to UV rays need to have a bit of airflow to help reduce the temperature.

Author - Aleksandra Djurdjevic
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aleksandra Djurdjevic          

Senior Content Creator

Aleksandra Djurdjevic is a senior writer and editor, covering surf, kayak and various watersports activities. She has previously worked as ESL teacher for English Tochka. Aleksandra graduated from the Comparative Literature department at the Faculty of Philosophy in Serbia. Aleksandra’s love for the ocean / rivers, getting out waves, season after season, seeking epic adventures across the globe helps her continue to be a top expert at CSG.


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