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'?

@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.

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.

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.

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 🤣

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

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

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

Because most people are obsessed with getting skin cancer a tan

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

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.

It's swimming costume material, not hot

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!

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

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 😉

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

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!

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.

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.

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

@Hardingham291 I’m with you op - I think a lot of it is just ignorance and people not realising, where I live (uk) most adults own rash vests of some sort or have an awareness of them from living by the sea and being involved in water activities throughout the year not just when on holiday so it’s on their radar to wear them. We wouldn’t go away without them, I don’t wear it the whole time but it makes life easy at times when I know I would be higher risk to burn etc

Completely agree - doesn’t feel like clothes at all, you barely notice the difference

I wouldn't use them in the swimming pool, lots of cream and then sit in the shade afterwards. In the sea I wear an old t shirt over bikini as often in the sea for longer. Wouldn't bother forking out for a rash vest, I've got lots of old t shirts that do the job

Just bought two Hunza G bikinis for my hols next week. I wouldn’t be seen dead in a rash vest. I’m fair skinned but I would rather wear something stylish on holiday, than look like I was going Kayaking with the Girl Guides.

We were in the ridiculous temps in Turkey last year. All bar 1 v pale. None of us wore rash vests and none of us burned. Spent a lot of time in thr water.

I think people burn because:
A. They don't wear sunscreen- or wear v low spf.
B. They don't reapply.

It's weird, but if I put 15 on my legs instead of 30, I can feel the heat more. Not that 50, 20, 15 makes any difference to my skin- the sun bounces right back off it.

But you can still look nice in shorts or a rash vest
I wouldn't pay £175 for a bikini I couldn't fit one boob into but we are all different
Covering up means I can be outside more, I get burned putting the bun out