Standing on a board puts you in full sun for hours, with the water reflecting a second dose back up at you.
Sunscreen washes off, gets missed on the shoulders and needs reapplying every two hours. A UPF 50+ shirt does not.
The choice is mostly between two things: long sleeve for maximum coverage, or short sleeve for a hot day when you accept sunscreen on your forearms. Everything else is fit and fabric.
We compared nine paddle boarding shirts for men and women, from an eleven dollar swim tee to a compression baselayer, and looked at the details that actually matter on a board: flatlock seams, quick drying fabric and a cut that does not ride up when you paddle.
The best paddle boarding shirts at a glance
| Shirt | Cut | For | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|
| baleaf UPF 50+ Long SleeveTop pick | Long sleeve, relaxed | Men | Polyester and spandex, flatlock seams, tag-free collar, raglan sleeves |
| Soothfeel Women's Rash GuardBest for women | Long sleeve, zip front | Women | Thumb holes, two zipped side pockets, quick dry fabric |
| AXESEA Short Sleeve RashguardBest short sleeve | Short sleeve, fitted | Men | 90 percent nylon and 10 percent Lycra, 195 percent four way stretch |
| Hurley Women's Long SleeveBest brand piece | Long sleeve, snug | Women | Surf brand cut, UPF 50+, sizes run small |
| LAFROI Short Sleeve CompressionBest fitted layer | Short sleeve, compression | Men | Burst series spandex, moisture wicking, layers under a wetsuit |
| KPSUN Men's Swim ShirtBest visibility | Short sleeve | Men | Reflective logos, flatlock stitching, high density UV fabric |
| WOWENY Women's Rash GuardMost comfortable | Long sleeve, raglan | Women | Tag-free collar, flatlock seams, lightweight stretch fabric |
| Lopie Women's Long Sleeve SetBest as a swim set | Long sleeve set | Women | Sublimated print, breathable quick dry fabric, matching bottom |
| Kanu Surf Women's Swim TeeCheapest | Short sleeve | Women | Banded V-neck, raglan seams, stretch fabric, machine washable |
The nine shirts in detail
- Cutlong sleeve, relaxed athletic fit
- RatingUPF 50+
- Fabricpolyester and spandex, quick dry, four way stretch
- Seamsflatlock, tag-free collar
- Sleevesraglan for full arm movement
Best for: Most paddlers, most of the time
This is the shirt to buy if you are only buying one. Long sleeves cover the forearms and the back of the shoulders, which is where paddlers burn, and it costs less than a bottle of decent sunscreen.
The raglan sleeve is the detail worth understanding. A conventional shoulder seam sits right where your arm rotates through a stroke, and after two hours that seam is what rubs.
Relaxed rather than compression fit is the right call for paddling, where you are mostly dry. Combine it with a pair of paddling trousers or shorts and the sun problem is essentially solved.
Strengths
- Full arm coverage for fifteen dollars
- Relaxed fit rather than compression, so it does not cling when wet
- Raglan sleeves keep the shoulder seam off the spot a paddle stroke works
- Flatlock seams and no tag, which is what stops chafing on long days
Weaknesses
- Relaxed fit means more drag if you fall in
- Plain styling
- Cutlong sleeve with front zip
- RatingUPF 50+
- Pocketstwo zipped side pockets
- Sleevesthumb holes to keep sleeves in place
- Fabriclightweight, quick dry, moisture wicking
Best for: Women who want hand coverage and somewhere to put a key
Thumb holes sound like a small thing until you realise the backs of your hands are the second most burnt part of a paddler after the nose.
The zipped pockets are the other reason to pick this one. A car key stays with you rather than going in a bag on the nose of the board.
They are not dry pockets, though. Anything electronic still belongs in a waterproof phone case, and the pocket is for the things that do not mind getting wet.
Strengths
- Thumb holes stop the sleeves riding up and cover the back of the hand
- Two zipped pockets, which almost no swim shirt has
- Front zip means you can vent it when it gets hot
- Quick drying and light enough to wear all day
Weaknesses
- Around thirty dollars, at the top end here
- Pockets are not waterproof, so a phone still needs a dry bag
- Cutshort sleeve, fitted
- RatingUPF 50+, blocks over 98 percent of UVA and UVB
- Fabric90 percent nylon, 10 percent Lycra, Pentashell breeze
- Stretch195 percent four way stretch
- Seamsflatlock to reduce chafing
Best for: Hot days, and anyone who dislikes the feel of polyester
On a genuinely hot day a long sleeve shirt is a lot, and this is the short sleeve to pick, because the fabric is a clear step up from the standard polyester rash guard.
Nylon and Lycra in a 90 to 10 blend is the same recipe used in decent swimwear. It stays soft when wet and dries fast rather than clinging.
Accept the trade honestly: short sleeves mean your forearms are exposed, and they will need sunscreen every couple of hours.
Strengths
- Nylon and Lycra feels far better against skin than cheap polyester
- 195 percent four way stretch, so it moves with you completely
- Dries very quickly and does not hold a wet-cloth weight
- Flatlock seams throughout
Weaknesses
- Short sleeves mean sunscreen on the forearms
- Fitted cut is not for everyone
- Cutlong sleeve, snug fit
- RatingUPF 50+
- BrandHurley, a surf label
- Sizingruns small, consider sizing up
- Useswim, surf and paddle
Best for: Women who want a surf brand cut rather than a generic rash guard
Hurley have been making surf gear for decades, and this is a straightforward long sleeve rash guard that happens to look good off the water too.
Take the sizing note seriously. The manufacturer says it fits snug, and for paddling rather than surfing most people want the looser size.
There is no thumb hole and no pocket. If those matter, take the Soothfeel. If the cut matters, take this.
Strengths
- Surf cut that looks like beachwear rather than sports kit
- Proper UPF 50+ protection in a long sleeve
- Seventeen dollars, cheap for a name brand
- Holds its shape and colour better than most budget shirts
Weaknesses
- Sizes run snug, so order a size up for a relaxed fit
- Fewer technical details than the baleaf or the Soothfeel
- Cutshort sleeve, compression
- RatingUPF 50+
- FabricBurst series spandex, moisture wicking and breathable
- Functionmuscle compression, prevents overstretch
- Usewater sports and general training
Best for: A base layer under a wetsuit, or paddlers who like a compression fit
A compression top has one very practical use in paddling: it makes pulling a wetsuit on and off much easier, because the neoprene slides over the fabric instead of grabbing your skin.
The rest of the time it works as a normal short sleeve rash guard, with proper UPF 50+ protection and quick drying fabric.
If you are pairing it with neoprene, our wetsuit comparison covers what goes over the top.
Strengths
- True compression fit that layers under a wetsuit without bunching
- Wicks moisture well and stays breathable rather than clammy
- Doubles as a gym and running shirt
- Twenty dollars
Weaknesses
- Compression is not comfortable for everyone in hot weather
- Short sleeves, so the forearms are unprotected
- Cutshort sleeve
- RatingUPF 50+, high density UV blocking fabric, 98 percent of UVA and UVB
- Seamsflatlock, tag-free
- Fabricquick dry, moisture wicking
- Extrasreflective logo details
Best for: Paddlers who are out near dusk or in low light
Reflective detailing on a swim shirt is rare, and if you paddle early or late it is worth having. Anything that helps a boat see you at dusk is a benefit.
Do not overstate it. These are logo sized reflective prints, not a safety vest, and they help nobody see you from a distance in daylight.
If low light paddling is a regular thing for you, treat this as a bonus on a good shirt and add proper visibility gear as well.
Strengths
- Reflective logos, a genuinely useful feature almost no rash guard has
- High density fabric with a real 98 percent block figure
- Flatlock and tag-free construction at fifteen dollars
- Dries quickly and resists chafing
Weaknesses
- Reflective detail is small, this is not high visibility clothing
- Short sleeve only
- Cutlong sleeve, raglan sleeves
- RatingUPF 50
- Seamsflatlock with a tag-free collar
- Fabricsoft, lightweight, quick dry and breathable
- Stretchhigh stretch with good recovery
Best for: All day wear where comfort beats every other consideration
Some shirts you notice all day and some you forget you are wearing. This is the second sort, and on a five hour paddle that matters more than any feature list.
Raglan sleeves, flatlock seams and no collar tag is the combination that removes every common rub point. It is not glamorous engineering, it just works.
The price is high for what it lacks. Buy it for comfort, not for features.
Strengths
- The softest next-to-skin feel of the women's shirts here
- Raglan sleeves and flatlock seams, so nothing rubs on long paddles
- Lightweight enough not to feel like a second layer in heat
- Recovers its shape rather than stretching out
Weaknesses
- Thirty one dollars for a shirt with no pockets or thumb holes
- UPF 50 rather than 50+
- Cutlong sleeve top with matching bottom
- RatingUV protection long sleeve
- Fabricbreathable, quick dry, stretch
- Printsublimated pattern
- Usesurf, swim and sunbathing
Best for: Women who want a coordinated swim set rather than a sports top
This is the beachwear option. A matching set, a strong print, and long sleeves that do the actual sun protection work.
Sublimated printing is worth knowing about, since the pattern is dyed into the fabric rather than sitting on top. It does not crack after a season of salt and sun.
The cut of the bottom half is aimed at the beach rather than at a board deck, so consider board shorts for the paddling half of the day.
Strengths
- Comes as a set, so top and bottom match and fit together
- Sublimated print does not crack or peel like a screen print
- Stretchy and quick drying
- Full arm coverage
Weaknesses
- Thirty dollars, and the styling is specific
- Low cut bottom is designed for the beach rather than for a board
- Cutshort sleeve, banded V-neckline
- RatingUPF 50+
- Seamsraglan seaming
- Fabricstretch with strong recovery
- Caremachine washable
Best for: A first sun shirt, or a spare for guests
Eleven dollars is the price of two coffees, and it buys real UPF 50+ protection, which is the point of the whole category.
It is a swim tee rather than a technical rash guard, so it holds water a little longer and feels heavier when wet.
As a first shirt or a spare in the bag for whoever forgot theirs, it is hard to argue with.
Strengths
- Eleven dollars for a genuine UPF 50+ shirt
- V-neck and side stripe make it look less like sports kit
- Raglan seams, so it moves properly
- Machine washable and hard wearing
Weaknesses
- Short sleeve, so arms need sunscreen
- Basic fabric that stays damp longer than the technical shirts
How to choose a paddle boarding shirt
Look for UPF 50+, not just "sun protection": A rated UPF 50+ fabric blocks over 98 percent of UVA and UVB. An ordinary cotton t-shirt is roughly UPF 5, and less than that once it is wet, which is why sun protective clothing is rated separately at all.
Long sleeve unless it is very hot: The forearms and the backs of the shoulders take the most sun on a board, and they are the parts sunscreen is worst at staying on. A long sleeve shirt removes the problem for the whole day.
Flatlock seams and no collar tag: Everything on this list has them, and it is the difference between a shirt you wear for five hours and one you take off after two. A raglan sleeve helps for the same reason, since it moves the shoulder seam away from where your arm rotates.
Fit: Relaxed for paddling in the dry, compression only if you are layering under neoprene or you like the feel. A loose shirt is cooler, a fitted one is better when you are in and out of the water.
Fabric: Nylon and Lycra blends feel better and dry faster than plain polyester, and cost a few dollars more. Either is fine, but avoid anything cotton, which stays wet and stops protecting you the moment it does.
Frequently asked questions
Does a rash guard replace sunscreen?
Under the fabric, yes. A UPF 50+ shirt blocks over 98 percent of UV and does not wash off or need reapplying. You still need sunscreen on everything the shirt does not cover: face, neck, ears, hands and, with a short sleeve shirt, the forearms.Long sleeve or short sleeve?
Long sleeve for most paddling, because forearms and shoulders take the most sun and are the hardest to keep covered with sunscreen. Short sleeve is for genuinely hot days when you would rather have the airflow and accept reapplying cream on your arms.Will a normal t-shirt do?
Poorly. A dry cotton t-shirt is roughly UPF 5, and a wet one protects even less because the fibres let more light through. It also stays soggy and cold. A rated shirt costs about the same and does the job properly.How do I stop it riding up when I paddle?
Choose a longer cut, or a shirt with thumb holes that anchors the sleeves. A slightly fitted shirt rides up less than a loose one. If you paddle mostly kneeling or in surf, a rash guard with a longer body is worth the extra length.Bottom line
For most people the baleaf long sleeve is the right buy at fifteen dollars: full arm coverage, flatlock seams and a cut that does not cling. Women who want thumb holes and a pocket should take the Soothfeel instead, and it is the only shirt here with somewhere to put a car key.
On very hot days a short sleeve makes more sense, and the AXESEA is the best of them because the nylon and Lycra fabric feels and dries far better than budget polyester. Whatever you pick, wear it before you think you need it, since the burn you get standing on a board arrives from above and from the water at the same time.
