Equestrian’s Guide to UPF Sun Protective Clothing

As a Florida-based equestrian, I am always looking for ways to protect my skin from the heat to avoid sunburn and other damage. This blog will explore the concept of UPF protection and how it is applied to sun-protective clothing for equestrians

What is UPF?

Before we can explore equestrian long sleeve sun shirts and other UPF 50+ clothing, we need to understand what UPF is.

What is UPF on clothes?

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and it is a measure of how much UV radiation can come in contact with the skin through fabric. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that UPF 30-49 is very good for a product, while UPF 50+ is considered excellent.

UPF vs SPF

UPF tracks how much UV radiation can cut through fabric and reach the skin. SPF or Sun Protection Factor measures how long it takes for skin to burn following UV radiation exposure. SPF only monitors UVB sun rays, while UPF tracks both UVA and UVB.

Why Is UPF Important?

UPF is important because it gives your skin more protection from the sun than non-UPF products. It blocks the sun’s rays from reaching your skin.

The fabric of these clothes is woven much thicker and has more threads to keep light from penetrating through.

Best Equestrian Long Sleeve Sun Shirts for Women

Kerrits has a wide variety of the best UPF sun shirts for hot-weather riding in their Ice Fil Long Sleeve Sun Shirts. I absolutely love the Ice Fil line, and it currently takes up more than half of my riding clothes collection. Let’s look at these long sleeve sun shirts in more detail.

Ice Fil® Lite Long Sleeve Riding Shirt

This long sleeve sun shirt has UPF 30+ protection, keeping your skin safe from the hot Florida sun. The Ice Fil fabric keeps equestrians cool by lowering body surface temperature by 5 degrees. It is moisture-wicking as well which keeps you from feeling sticky in the humidity.

This shirt comes in navy, black, burgundy, and navy with sizes running from XS to 2X. The zip collar provides extra ventilation, and the shaped fit follows the contours of the body for a flattering look without feeling restrictive. Check out this product by clicking here.

Ice Fil® Lite Long Sleeve Riding Shirt

$59.00

Wear it as a base layer top or on its own, the featherlight fabric provides UPF+30 sun protection and stretches with every move, while the Ice Fil® in this long sleeve shirt keeps riders cool by lowering skin’s surface temp… read more

WHITE / XS - $59.00 WHITE / S - $59.00 WHITE / M - $59.00 WHITE / L - $59.00 WHITE / XL - $59.00 WHITE / 1X - $59.00 WHITE / 2X - $59.00 BURGUNDY / XS - $59.00 BURGUNDY / S - $59.00 BURGUNDY / M - $59.00 BURGUNDY / L - $59.00 BURGUNDY / XL - $59.00 BURGUNDY / 1X - $59.00 BURGUNDY / 2X - $59.00 NAVY / XS - $59.00 NAVY / S - $59.00 NAVY / M - $59.00 NAVY / L - $59.00 NAVY / XL - $59.00 NAVY / 1X - $59.00 NAVY / 2X - $59.00 BLACK / XS - $59.00 BLACK / S - $59.00 BLACK / M - $59.00 BLACK / L - $59.00 BLACK / XL - $59.00 BLACK / 1X - $59.00 BLACK / 2X - $59.00

Add to Cart

Always Cool Ice Fil® Long Sleeve Shirt

This is the ultimate sun-protective clothing for equestrians in the spring and summer. Ice Fil fabric offers UPF30+ sun protection. It is also featherlight, highly breathable, moisture-wicking, and cools skin by up to 5 degrees. The cooling and quick-drying properties ensure you stay cool in the heat without feeling sticky.

This shirt is available in multiple solid and print color options and in sizes XS to 2X. The zip collar provides extra ventilation and the discreet hip pockets allow storage of treats and other small essentials. The shaped fit flatters the body without feeling restrictive. Check out the solid version here and the print version here

Conclusion

UPF is a measure of how well clothing protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays. UPF 50+ is the highest protection clothing can provide which lessens the incidence of sunburn and other heat-related skin conditions. The Kerrits Ice Fil line of equestrian long-sleeve shirts for women keeps riders cool and protected in the heat, with equestrian flair and style.

References

https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sun-protective-clothing/

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-sun-protection-clothing-actually-work/

About the Author

Hello, I am Bryanna Tanase. I am a 22 year old Grade 1 Paradressage Rider from Tarpon Springs FL living with Cerebral Palsy. I am a lifelong horse lover who finally realized my dream of riding four years ago when I began taking lessons at Quantum Leap Farm in Odessa, FL. My big dream is qualify for the US Paradressage team and represent my country at the Paralympics! I love Kerrits because of their commitment to inclusion and support for riders of all backgrounds.