To wonder why more adults don't wear rash vests

[Hardingham291]

On holiday in Greece, it's 41 degrees and rising. I'm wearing my long sleeved rash vest in the pool. It's so easy, don't have to worry about how long I've been in the water for or re applying the sun cream all over my body. Its also great for keeping cool if you leave it on after a swim.

A few kids are wearing them but I'm the only adults. So many burnt shoulders here. Why aren't they a 'thing'?

They were designed to prevent wetsuit rash - that's why most adults done wear them in a swimming pool. Our bodies were designed to be in the sunshine.

I've often wondered the same and I'll be getting DH one for when we go away, as he's a knobhead when it comes to using sun cream effectively.

I’d never heard of them until I joined MN. Most people go on holiday to hot countries to sunbathe and get a tan, especially from cold/damp/dull countries like the UK.

So many people here are burnt though, they're obviously exceeding their bodies ability to be in the sunshine. I'd be burnt within 10 minutes in this heat.

I haven't been swimming with clothes on since I had to do lifesaving in my pyjamas at school. I don't think it would feel nice, I prefer to reapply lotion when I get out.

Dh has one which he wears but he had to take it off when we went to a water park in Italy, they didn't allow them!

I wear one all the time on holiday

I'd wear a rash vest in the sea, but not the pool. However, I'm very pale so I apply suncream and keep covered up.

DH wears his when snorkelling as his back is exposed fully. DS1 and 2 started off wearing them, but then just for snorkelling after a week. They are mixed race so not as pale as DH but have seen sunburn on others and don't want to experience it themselves

We are the same , husband and I will be sporting them and no one else. They are a bit uncomfortable though and not very flattering. People still like a tan. I consider it a huge failing if I come back from
holiday any less deathly white than when I set off.

Because lots of people dont like the feeling of wet cloth against their skin and do like the feeling of water/sun
Because its an extra thing to think about washing and drying and storing (1 vest takes up the space of about 2/3bikinis)
Because its another thing to spend money on! Even a cheap rash vest is about 20 quid, you could get 2 cheap bikinis for that
Because they aren't easily purchaseable - obviously they aren't hard to buy if you want one but most supermarkets etc dont sell adult sized vests in the way they make it easy to pick up a new bathing suit
Because some people like showing off their bodies in minimal clothes!
Because they arent the most fashionable and attractive item and some people care about that
Because they dont have a huge range of sizes
Because most people dont spend that long in the water!

I can't think of anything worse than lying in a damp rash vest after ive got out of the pool when i'm trying to sunbathe!

Surely most people you see with burned shoulders got them from spending all day in the sun, not from the 20 mins they were in the pool?

They don't feel like normal wearing clothes though.

I have just come back from Greece. I wore a rash vest for the first time in my life....when I was in the pool and sea. I used to always burn so much on my shoulders and back. This year was a revelation.

I have one which I wear if I think I'll be outdoors in the pool/at the beach most of the day. I know we are designed to get a little sun, but also agree that so many people just let themselves burn which looks awful and clearly is not healthy.

I found I burn a lot more in the pool and sea. I love to swim a lot on holiday and found the cooling effect of the water would lead me into a false sense of security as to how hot the sun is

I actually don't like the style of a lot of rash vests but I found a short sleeve black one with a zip on the front and ruched sides which I found a lot more flattering

I've been wearing one for years. I don't tan, so I don't risk getting burnt. I don't find them uncomfortable. Mine is from J Crew, and it's flattering.

I have two and do sometimes wear them but the reasons I don’t always:

• I want a tan
• I might be in and out of the water, I don’t want to be lying on the sun-bed wearing one or for going for lunch but putting a wet one on isn’t fun
• it’s not always necessary if I put suncream on properly

I was wondering if they would allow them in the pool in France. DH would prefer to be covered up. I would be surprised though, considering the rules don't allow loose swim shorts only tight.

I love mine! But it took me a long time to find one I liked. They often look very sporty - and a bit plain and drab, which I don't think is the look that lots of people are going for on holiday. But I completely agree. Most people - particularly white people - are not designed for the sorts of temperatures we're currently getting in high summer.

It's nice to feel the sunshine, air and water on your skin. That's the whole point.

You're not meant to be out in the sun between around 1-3 anyway and outside of that just apply sunscreen properly and there's no reason you would burn.

DH always burns his shoulders and the resultant grumbling always ruins the first few days of the holiday. Rash vest packed this year - hoping for great things from it.

If you are melanin enhanced then your body has evolved to be in strong sunshine. If you're a pasty northern european, it's not.

I’ve never had a tan in my life and love my rash vest.

I find them sticky and uncomfortable and they ride up over my large hips and bunch up around my waist unflatteringly. But I use decent sunscreen so I don’t get burned.