Rashguards are not just for kooks anymore. In fact, if you choose to trunk it without any sun protection, you certainly are a kook. Everybody is doing it these days including professionals like Kelly, Slater, Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, Chris Ward, Shane Dorian, Tim Curran, the list goes on forever. Today's surfing rashguard shirts combine innovation, performance, comfort, durability, and style with total sun protection for your skin. Don't be a Barney dude, get a rashguard today.

There are many types of surfing rashguards on the market today. The major surf companies: Billabong, Quiksilver, Body Glove, etc, all carry a large selection of surf shirts. There are a few different styles that are popular: lycra rashguards, surfing t-shirts, and neoprene/lycra hybrids. The purpose of this article is to fill you up with some good information on each of these styles so that you can choose which one is best for you out in the water.

The lycra rash guard is a tight fitting stretchy shirt best in warm water. The primary purpose of a lycra rashguard is sun protection. Many lycra rash guard shirts have up to 150+ SPF ratings. The surf shirts provide little warmth, but are quite comfortable and more effective than sunscreen. Lycra rashguards also work well underneath your wetsuit to prevent under arm rashes and skin irritation.

A surfing t-shirt is a relatively new style shirt. These are basically t-shirts, loose fitting, but have added sun protection. A regular t-shirt only has an SPF of 5, whereas a designated surf shirt has at least 50+ SPF. The only draw back to the surf t-shirt is that being loose fitting they often scrunch up during movements like ripping up a wave, or paddling, which can expose body areas making them susceptible to sunburn. Like a lycra rashguard, surf shirts provide minimal warmth, and are best used in warm water. These t-shirts are also great out of the water with the total sun protection.

Nikita Women's Intimate Rash Guard

The lycra/neoprene hybrid rashguard is excellent for cooler water or dawn patrol sessions. These rashguards combine wetsuit neoprene material with the light weight stretchy lycra to provide warmth, but with more freedom than your standard spring suit or short-john. A draw back to these is that they are quite expensive as compared to lycra rashguards or surf shirts, however you are definitely getting more bang for your buck. A cheaper alternative if you are on a budget could be to just cut the legs off your old full suit.

Roxy Women's One Flower L S Rash Guard Even if the weather is so nice that you don`t need a shirt keep your back from getting burned with the Quiksilver Women`s One Flower Long Sleeve Rashguard. Made of 6.3 oz. UV tech lycra it shields your upper body from the sun`s harmful UV rays while also eliminating underarm chaffing caused by extended paddling in salt water. 6.3 oz. UV tech lycra. Flatlocked stitched for strength and comfort. Boardshort fastener loop keeps shirt from creeping upward. View our full selection of Rash Guards and Dive Skins

So there you have it, consider yourself up to date on surfing rashguard shirt technology. Next time you stop by your local surf shop you should see all the different types of shirts we just discussed. There are also many great online stores that carry all the name brands and have great discounts. Just watch out for cheap overseas rashguards that are not made in the USA that are not high quality at all. Make sure your rashguard is made in America to ensure quality. Again, don't get burned dude, cover up with a surfing rashguard shirt today!

By Justin Laubscher

Justin Laubscher is co-owner of The Beach Depot, an excellent online store specializing in high quality rashguards and swim shirts and MySurfDVDs.com, another popular store that carries the web's largest selection of DVD surfing titles. World renown for his karaoke skills, Mr. Laubscher is also a drummer, former exotic dancer/model, Olympic curler, and expert in the field of sun protection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_Laubscher
http://EzineArticles.com/?Rashguard-Shirts---Surfing-Rashguard-Shirts-Protect-Your-Skin&id=1680321

Technorati Tags: Rash Guards, rashguard shirts, surf shirts, Surfing, swim shirts, womens rash guard

The wetsuit was originally designed to protect the wearer from hypothermia, a condition which the body heat drops below that which is required to maintain normal metabolism and body function, this can even occur in warmer water. The wetsuit benefits described here are based upon the insulation of the wearer, where a layer of water is trapped in the suits material, which is warmed up by the body heat and thus serves as a layer against the surrounding water. The predominant material used for this is that of neoprene, which is a synthetic rubber.

If one is participating in a sport, such as waterskiing or wake boarding, the wetsuit benefits the wearer from hard falls against the water when the skier or boarder falls. This comes in handy as the speeds that they travel at make the water feel as if they are falling onto a concrete slab. Hence with the help of the material, the wearer will enjoy a little more protection from the stinging fall than that of an individual not wearing a suit.

Scuba divers utilizing wetsuits enjoy a variety of wetsuit benefits in that they are offered a degree of protection from scraping against coral reefs when they are diving amongst the reefs. The users of these wetsuits are also protected from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, and hence the use of sunscreen is reduced over those parts of the body that are covered by the suit.

Flap Happy Kids - Wet Suit (Infant/Toddler) (Fiji Combo) - Apparel 6pm.com is proud to offer the Flap Happy Kids - Wet Suit (Infant/Toddler) (Fiji Combo) - Apparel: Let him spend all day having fun in the sun. ; Comfortable one-piece wetsuit has raglan sleeves and two-tone colorblocking. ; Zip front for easy on and off. ; Convenient quick dry material. ; Wonderful fabric has UPF 50+ protection which blocks more than 97% of all ultraviolet sun rays. ; Made in the USA. ; 80% nylon, 20% spandex. ; Hand wash cold, line dry. ; Product measurements were taken using size 2T (Toddler). Please note that measurements may vary by size.

The wetsuit benefits are not without controversy though, as those who utilize a suit in open water swimming events and triathlons believe that they enjoy a competitive advantage over those not wearing a suit. It is believed that a wetsuit benefits the wearer in terms of buoyancy and hydrodynamic curve, the later term basically meaning that the individual gets a distinct advantage from the more streamlined effect, as well as additional water forces aiding the wearer. In some triathlons the competitors are not allowed to wear a wetsuit and one should inquire as to whether this is allowed or not prior to entry in such a triathlon, as this may result in disqualification from winning any prizes in the competition.

Body Glove Ex3 Men's Full Dive Wet Suit 7mm Body Glove Ex3 men's fullsuit 7mm made of future flex in the shoulders lumbar area and sleeve; nylon-2 metalite in torso; and glideskin-lined wrist ankle and neck seals. It is constructed out of vaporlock seams and is anatomically cut. It features supratex softshock kneepads an adjustable velcro collar and an interior key pocket. /p>p>

The wetsuit normally represents an investment in ones interests, in terms of the sport or hobby that one pursues. It also provides additional benefits as described above and therefore one should ensure that proper care is taken in terms of the storage and maintenance of the item. There are a number of practices that you should follow when allowing the wetsuit to dry, such as rinsing out and hanging up correctly. One is advised to follow the instructions in washing and storing the wetsuit, as per the manufacturers instructions, in order to retain all the wetsuit benefits and features that these unique accessories offer the purchaser and wearer.

By Chris Kennelly

Wetsuits offer a number of benefits to the wearer. Some people, however may even struggle with their wetsuits, why not pop through to Baby Wetsuits for more info and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Kennelly
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Added-Benefits-of-a-Wetsuit&id=1986147

Technorati Tags: baby wetsuits, infant wetsuits, wetsuit benefits, wetsuit resources, wetsuits

Coolibar, a Minneapolis based clothing design company, is working towards making the world a safer place for people looking for some fun in the sun. They recognised the growing risk of skin cancer from sun exposure and created a brand of UV protective clothing that can be worn for any outdoor activity. Their range includes swim wear, leisure wear, and clothes for gardening golf and walking, as well as accessories such as umbrellas, hats, bags and sunscreen.

UV protective clothing was first designed in Australia, where high skin cancer rates proclaimed a need for advanced sun protection that wouldn't need constant reapplication, or wear away and wash off. Scientists found the answer by creating fabrics specially woven with UV absorbing chemicals. A graded Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UVP) for clothing was introduced and soon sun protective clothing hit the Oz market via pharmacies and anti-cancer societies.

UPF clothing is designed to be cool and lightweight, while covering as much skin as possible, for example, Coolibar's Sun Block Jacket has hidden vents that make the most of the gentlest breeze. Caring for your protective garments is also easy as most fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and machine washable. The jacket blocks 98% of UV rays.

Many people know, but forget, that the sun remains a danger even on cloudy days. To address this, Coolibar has a range of umbrellas that offer protection whatever the weather. All feature their patented double-tier design, are coated with durable titanium-coated nylon and weigh 1lb or less; less than half a kilogram. They also block 98% of UV rays. Styles include a fashion umbrella - 'elegant enough for weddings' - a travel umbrella and beach umbrellas.

Other accessories include a protective drape that covers your face completely and makes you look like a storm ship trooper, a face shield that covers the lower half of your face and should be paired with a hat, shade wraps designed with women in mind and that cover your head, and an extra-length sun shawl that is generally worn pashmina-style, but can be used in a variety of ways.

An interesting accessory is the sun sleeve, which is advertised for people who 'like to hang one arm of the window when they drive'. It's essentially just a tube of fabric that fits over your exposed arm. It comes in two colours, white and sand. And while I don't think that it'll take the fashion world be storm, it does serve an important function. I'm sure farmer's wives the world over will ensure that their husbands never leave home without one.

UPF clothing is a godsend for those who live in sunny climates; especially for those with sensitive skin that always seems to burn no matter how much sunscreen they slather on. As one who has been every shade of red, and who has lost untold layers of skin to the sun, I look forward to seeing these UV protective garments widely available the world over, and not just in specialist clothing stores and pharmacies.

By Sandy Cosser

Recommended site:

http://www.coolibar.com/

Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Outlook SGE specialists in South African safaris one of the most successful companies organising safaris, catering especially to smaller groups.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Cosser

http://EzineArticles.com/?SPF-Clothing-For-A-Life-Outdoors&id=1043903

Technorati Tags: protective clothing, skin cancer, skin care, UV protection, UV rays