Because we collectively know everything...
For the purposes of a fair skinned guy going on water slides and lazy rivers without needing an entire bottle of SPF 50 every hour, should I go all the way to a "Rash Guard" shirt or will an activewear shirt be enough? My secondary concern is fit. I'm on the heavy side and want to keep the man boobs covered.
Conversely, I'm in tank tops whenever possible.
Swim shirt with autocross hat and sunglasses. Lots of sunscreen on top of that without forgetting your legs and feet because of the lazy river and standing in line.
Not ginger, but blonde. I have a long sleeve rearguard for waterworks and I use spf one million on what the shirt doesn't cover. Edit- I too like to eat. Buy big, and try before you buy if possible. Most shops at those parks will sell swimwear, let you try it on, at least in my case, they even had my size. Was like...30 bucks. Edit2- most rashies these days have spf built in. I can't guarantee your under armor will.
The tighter is is, the more your nipples will thank you. I too am white as the driven snow and I don't go near water without a long sleeve surf shirt of some sort.
The rashguard shirts are great for the fairskinned.
I couldn't believe how comfy the rash guard type shirts are. Got one for some travel that involved beach time, and I'm sold. So much better than spending time putting on lotion. Dries fast, super comfy and breathable. And yeah, I look better with more clothes on.
Added benefit, they stay cool because water retnention!
I never knew there was such a thing as rash guard shirts. My fat ass will be a lot happier at the beach and water park this summer.
I'm likely to go for a Hardcore brand shirt. $20 on eBay for a 2X loose fit. Although I will try a few more stores locally as I have yet to find one.
Go snug fitting if you can, you end up with chafe and rub if they can move around to much. Other than that, I'm a big fan of rashies, they really cut down on the sunburn I inevitably end up with when I'm at the beach or water parks.
If your that guy that people point at and say "he should stay home", I'd go Speedo Thong and a crazy hat with orange crocks. Screw them.
Just DO EET! Whatever to cover up. I did not, go in for my third surgery for squamous cell skin cancer next Thursday. I watch fishing shows, those guys have some interesting shirts. Don't know if a balaclava would be acceptable at an amusement park though.
In reply to cwh:
Columbia (known to me for making coats that would keep me warm if hell froze over) has the pfg line designed for fishing. A lot of really comfy stuff.
The baroness is a ginger. She wears rash guards for going out and doing stuff.
She says "check the label" on outdoor wear shirts, because usually they have something that says like "UPF 50".
She says go for the rash guard if you can. They're designed for water and don't go floating around everywhere as you swim.
No swim shirt for me. Just have to remember the sunscreen cause I swear I miss a spot every darn time!
Many rides at waterparks don't allow you to wear shirts. So you have to take it off and hold it in your hands as you go.
In reply to NGTD:
I have not really encountered that. Maybe something about loose clothing, but not a blanket "no shirts".
Dicks had some shirts that I tried on. My takeaway was NO compression fit, no white. I just wonder about how badly dark colors will heat up in sunlight, or if staying wet will negate that.
I have some shirts from Coolibar that I wear when out on the water. The long sleeve ones are my favorite. They have decent sales at times, otherwise they are a bit on the pricier side for a shirt. I also have some off brand versions of similar shirts I bought on Amazon and they are not as nice feeling, but they seem to block the UV rays the same.
In reply to Brian:
A long sleeve swim shirt that is wet will cool you off compared to no shirt at all even if the shirt is a darker color. The magic is in the fabric...I guess it wicks the moisture away and thus feels cooler.
I wore a dry-fit polo shirt to a water park the other week. It was the perfect thing to wear. It has a zippered front pocket that I put my license, credit card, and locker key in. It isn't a tight fitting shirt, but it didn't bother my skin at all. Heck, by the time we walked to the car the shirt was dry and I drove home in it. I don't care if I look like a goober Dad (which I am) I was comfortable and didn't get sunburned. 10/10 would recommend.
NGTD wrote: Many rides at waterparks don't allow you to wear shirts. So you have to take it off and hold it in your hands as you go.
Not a problem with rash guards, at least in florida. Half the people there have them, and they sell them in the shops. It's a different time.
Brian wrote: In reply to NGTD: I have not really encountered that. Maybe something about loose clothing, but not a blanket "no shirts". Dicks had some shirts that I tried on. My takeaway was NO compression fit, no white. I just wonder about how badly dark colors will heat up in sunlight, or if staying wet will negate that.
Mine is neon yellow. I figure I might as well look as crazy as possible, given my beard down my chest and hair nearly to my ass.
What are these problems
As a lifelong ginger and man of girth I've always worn thick cotton t-shirts without much trouble.
Full morph suit for the water park, then, as an added bonus, you don't need to worry about if you're checking out the scenery too long.
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