To wonder why more adults don't wear rash vests

honestly today was the first day i'd heard of such a thing. As a "melanin enhanced" person I don't think they're meant for me. I love the sun, it makes feel effervescent :)

What the point of being out in the sun if you're going to be covered u like a beekeeper? might as well just go to norway and save the hassle

Yes, I am always amazed how few people wear them. Currently on a beach holiday. My 18 year old dd wears hers as she doesn’t want to get skin damage and cancer.

It doesn’t feel like clothes as it’s made of the same material as a swimming costume.

i agree OP, I’m shocked at how few people wear them especially when we all know the dangers of skin cancer and getting burnt.

Agreed, they are as thin (if not thinner) than a swimming costume. Just check it has a UPF50 and pick a lighter colour (black might be slimming but is known for absorbing heat from the sun so is going to feel warmer) and you’ll be fine. I got mine from Lands End but some of the ones from Decathlon shared on here look really good for the price!

I hate the feeling of wet clothes on my body
I have HH boobs, it's basically impossible to find some which then are not the size of a tent and flapping around.
I am careful how long I am in the water and wear a shirt in the shade when dry again
They are expensive for 2 weeks per year and we aren't even on these kind of holidays each year

I’m with you. I’m always the only adult in the rash vest but they are so convenient! Don’t fancy sunburn or skin aging/cancer myself.

We are probably trend setters 😉

We wear them, but if we go on a holiday with swimming, it will either be somewhere where we will also be snorkelling in the sea, or swimming in a lake (so we can just get changed into swimmers and rash top/shorts and walk straight from car to lake).

my husband is also remarkably easily burned despite sunblock.

it’s easier and more comfortable than having him sunburnt

Ghostly pale here- I always wear a rash vest and surf leggings in the pool/ sea/ on the beach.

I simply don’t want to get burned. Some people look at me weirdly but I do not care. When I say pale, I am always the palest shade of foundation there is. Naturally pale blonde hair in my 30s - it was white as a child. Also I have moles everywhere.

My grandad had skin cancer and I’m super pale and moley just like him. Simply not worth the risk!

It's swimming costume material, not hot

I have the pictured Decathlon rash vest. It’s long in the body.

No idea what “swim grade” means but it’s identical to what I have previously bought from Roxy/Billabong/etc and it’s UPF 50 so it does the job as far as I’m concerned. It just goes over my bikini.

My husband does and it's perfect for him. He burns in 20 mins even with factor 50 on

Because most people are obsessed with getting skin cancer a tan

It's because they're adults and they don't want to

I don’t even know what a rash vest is, never mind own one.

Having never worn one I would’ve thought they’d be super hot, I assumed they were a bit like a wetsuit to keep you warm while in cold water. I would probably consider one on holiday if it does the opposite, but the sea here is cold even in the summer so in the UK I’d rather dry off

Really struggle to understand why people would rather cover their bodies in chemicals (like oxybenzone etc) which are potentially bad for us and the environment or even the safer for the body but heavy feeling/whitening zinc oxide ones; when instead they could wear a light cotton/linen over shirt and big hat when in the sun in general and a rash vest when in the water with just sunscreen on the face/scalp if needed.

Too many people seem to worry about what they look like over the environment imo (and money saving too!- decent sunscreen can be £££). But different strokes for different folks etc 🤣

We all wear them in Australia, kids, adults, pensioners, everybody. Where I live 70% of us will get a skin cancer at some point so people take it seriously.

We both have long sleeve UV shirts for swimming, my husband always ways his, I put mine off if the UV levels go above five.

@KnittedCardi that's true, but not quite true. Would you say the same about smoking? Sunrays cause skin damage and are highly carcinogenic. Yes we need a little for Vit D, but very very little. Far less than you'd expect.

The fact that a tan is a little protection against the suns rays is neither here nor there, the fact that you have a tan means the sun has already caused damage.

The question should be why do people go in the swimming pool at 41C and rising.
My rule is, when you go to a country with a difference climate, do as the locals do.
I doubt many locals would be spending a lot of time in a swimming pool at 41C temperatures.
Go before 10:30AM and after 5PM. It's not rocket science. SPF50 at all times applied correctly, sun hat, stay out of the sun mid-day. No need for all these additional vests.
You won't sunburn (and still get some tan if that's the aim).

I've gone for that over a swimming costume for DD. Personally I like swim dress but maybe I should try a rash vest. I'm fat and hairy I don't want too much flesh on show!

I am working class, and I wear them just because I'm ginger and burn easily.

Recently bought myself one, never been a sunbather but pale skin and was burnt a few times in my teens on swimming holidays and currently dealing with skin cancer in my 30s, so they definitely appeal to me as don’t fancy repeating this again!

Uncomfortable, leave tan marks and I have awesome boobs for my age.
I don't burn though, well I might if I stayed out in the sun for long enough but I am careful and cover up when not swimming

Never heard of them until I read this thread maybe lots of people haven't. I guess if many wear traditionaly to do surfing etc is this another class divide as a working class person I must say never heard of them