Selecting clothing designed with UV protection will help protect you against sunburn and long-term skin damage on your next hike, so invest in one of our recommended models from this selection and reduce exposure to harmful UV rays on the trail.

Fabrics provide protection from UV rays by either absorbing them directly, reflecting them away or using chemical treatments such as OBA (ozone-reducing organic compounds). Fabrics with tighter weave and heavier weight will offer greater UV defense.

Color

Many studies conducted worldwide have demonstrated the power of clothing featuring dark hues to absorb UV rays and keep them away from your skin. Darker shades absorb light rays while lighter hues reflect them; typically an SPF rating of UPF 30 or greater will provide adequate UV protection.

Tightly woven fabrics tend to provide more protection than loose ones, with nylon and polyester typically having higher UV Protection Factor ratings than cotton and rayon fabrics. You may even consider searching for garments treated with chemical treatments in order to increase its UPF rating.

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and measures the percentage of UVA and UVB rays allowed through fabric. When purchasing UV protective clothing, look for labels which indicate its fabric has been tested against certain UPF standards.

Fabric

Numerous fabrics offer protection from ultraviolet radiation, with protection depending on both content and weave of fabric. Unbleached cotton contains natural lignins that act as UV absorbers while shiny polyesters reflect it back onto you. Tighter weave fabrics like fleece and French terry provide greater UV defense;

Check for an Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating (UPF). This number indicates how much UV radiation passes through fabric during laboratory testing; fabric with UPF 30 protection or higher allows less than 2% of sunburn-causing UVB rays through, making the fabric suitable against sunburn.

Fit

When selecting clothing to protect you from UV rays, opt for loose-fitting styles. These will allow air circulation around your body, keeping you cool while at the same time protecting from sun rays. Fabrics like cotton, linen or bamboo offer natural UV protection while more advanced UPF fabrics may offer even greater breathability and protection.

Dark-dyed clothing such as black or navy blue can provide greater UV protection than lighter shades of blue or green due to the dye absorbing some radiation. Tightly woven fabrics like those found on polo shirts generally boast higher UPF ratings than looser weaves such as linen.

People who enjoy outdoor activities or suffer from skin conditions aggravated by sunlight often invest in UV protective clothing to create a physical barrier against harmful rays from the sun. Wearing UV-protective clothing over other clothing will lessen chances of snags or tears and sunglasses with 99-100% UV protection are another great way to shield skin.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses provide eye protection from UV radiation produced by sunlight, with most sunglasses sold in Canada being UV-protective and featuring an information label that states how much of it they filter out; light tinted sunglasses typically only filter up to 19% of its UV rays, providing only limited protection against sunlight exposure.

For maximum UV protection, select sunglasses with wraparound frames and large lenses that cover more of the area surrounding your eyes. Look for sunglasses labelled “UV 400,” which offer full UVA/UVB ray protection.

Sunglasses without sufficient UV protection can damage both eyes and skin, potentially contributing to cataracts, retinal tissue damage, and abnormal growths on the surface of your eye. A photometer can quickly test whether your sunglasses provide enough UV protection. You can perform your own test at home using a UV flashlight; if a piece of paper money glows under its light beam then these sunglasses do not offer sufficient UV protection.