13 Best Long Sleeve Sun Protection Shirts for Women

On the market for new long sleeve sun protection shirts for women? We preceded, searched, and tested some of the top-rated shirts that should protect you from harmful sun rays. We spent some time wearing the shirts on different occasions and for different purposes, all of them under direct sun rays to check how they’ll perform. Then, we came up with this in-depth review of the 13 best products that satisfied our needs, and they’ll probably satisfy yours as well. Whether you’re going for a hike, fishing, running, or any other outdoor activity of your choice, these shirts shall do the job and keep your skin protected. They also have other features like breathability, moisture-wicking, and all-day comfort. So, let’s get started.

Outdoor Research Women’s Echo Hoodie

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So as to come up with this list, we did intensive research on widely known and other less-known shirts so we don’t miss the chance of having an impressive shirt just because it isn’t widely known. Outdoor Research Women’s Echo Hoodie was one of those less common shirts we decided to give a try. Surprisingly, it’s one of the shirts that passed all our tests and, even more, achieved a good score for every feature we tested. Breathability, lightweight, fit, and stretchability, all of these features were crossed with the highest marks. Further, the shirt has a hood, and the neck part is a kind of gaiter neck for maximum coverage. We found different colors and color combinations for this shirt. Perhaps, what lowered the rating a little bit is that the UPF rating wasn’t the highest. Yet, we didn’t feel it was so unprotective when we tried it under the sun.

Mountain Hardwear Women’s Crater Lake Shirt

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We couldn’t fault Mountain Hardwear Women’s Crater Lake Shirt in anything as it seemed like a perfect fit for us with the needed UPF 50+ rating for the best sun protection ever. You can wear this shirt for hiking, traveling, and any other occasion whenever you need a protective layer from the harmful sun rays. We would like you to take a look at the available colors and patterns because we found some unique options here. On the other side, the shirt is super stretchable. We loved how it goes from a tight fit on one body to an oversized shirt on another body. The hem drawstring is a nice addition for different styling options, as it can be tightened for a bomber-like shirt and loosened for a normal shirt. Perhaps you might want to watch this video from Mountain Hardwear as they describe everything about the shirt in detail.

Columbia Women’s Terminal Tackle PFG

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We can’t have a list of the best sun protection shirts without recommending one of Columbia’s products. Since we’re searching for women’s shirts, Columbia Women’s Terminal Tackle PFG is one of the highly recommended shirts in this category with its high quality and sun protection features. This shirt will block around 99% of the harmful UVA and UVB rays with the Omni-Shade feature. It was one of the most protective shirts we have tried.
When we tried the shirt, we felt it was a bit baggy. Even though we got our exact size, the shirt still fitted large, so we styled it with a pair of leggings to get this oversized baggy look. After testing its performance, we don’t have any comments on moisture wicking or quick drying. Both features were so obvious and as expected. Some people didn’t like the large logo on the arms, but this wasn’t a turn-off for us.

Coolibar Women’s Hightide Long Sleeve Swim Shirt

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Sometimes, it’s all about enjoying a sunbath after a dip in the pool. In this case, you need a sun protection shirt that is breathable but not necessarily moisture-wicking because you aren’t going to sweat in the shirt. Coolibar Women’s Hightide Long Sleeve Swim Shirt is the shirt you’re looking for if you just need protection from UVA and UVB radiations. It has a UPF 50+ rating which is more than enough. Since it’s a swim shirt, we also expected it to be quick-dry. So, we decided to do it and swim with the shirt to see how quickly it’ll dry out. Once we got out of the pool, it took the shirt a couple of minutes to dry out. We also didn’t feel overheated when staying under the sun with this long-sleeved shirt on. It’s a relaxed fit, and the material is so soft for your comfort.

O’NEILL Women’s Basic Rash Guard

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If the sun protection shirt you’re looking for is for fishing, paddling, swimming, or any other water activity, we found the perfect choice. O’NEILL Women’s Basic Rash Guard is nothing different from swimwear except that it’s a shirt, not a swimming suit. In addition, it has a UPF 50+ rating which is a plus point you will appreciate after you’re out of the water. We wondered why this shirt was named rash guard, but after trying it, we knew why. This shirt is the best garment you can ever wear if you have sensitive skin. Adding to the minimal seams, this shirt felt as if it was a second skin layer on our bodies. We loved how everything was made to protect our skin from rash and even more from harmful sun rays. Plus, it didn’t cost that much for something with such protective features.

Coolibar Women’s Devi Long Sleeve Fitness T-Shirt

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Another option from Coolibar but this time a shirt for all kinds of outdoor activities. Coolibar Women’s Devi Long Sleeve Fitness T-Shirt is a polyester-spandex shirt offering UPF 50+ for walking, running, and exercising under the sun. However, if it’s too hot, we don’t recommend wearing this shirt, as we tried it and found it uncomfortable. Coming in a flared bottom design, this shirt hugs the body nicely, flattering the curves while not hiding them at all. The raglan sleeves are also nice additions to the shirt for a relaxed-fit style and comfortable wear. All of the features we were up to, such as moisture-wicking, breathability, and softness, were found in this shirt. Plus, we liked the designs and patterns more than the solid colors. They gave us a chance to look different.

BALEAF Women’s Quick Dry Shirt

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Most breathable. Whether you need a long sleeve sun protection shirt for running, outdoor exercise, fishing, or just walking in the open air, BALEAF Women’s Quick Dry Shirt is a top pick for all women. It’s widely known as a running and sports shirt thanks to its comfy, breathable material. Further, the added features, such as the thumbholes and the zippered pockets, call for use for sports. These features will be extremely useful for active women.

Apart from that, this shirt is very breathable; we didn’t experience this breathability in any other shirt. Knowing that the back side of the shirt is all made of mesh polyester fabric, this breathability is now understood. We want to share this video from Is It Worth It? with you to learn more about the other features of the shirt.

“In addition to the high-quality and very comfortble material of the shirt, it was so flattering that we loved wearing it for normal outings. The cut is so feminine, it’s our favorite now.”

WOW Travel

MAGCOMSEN Women’s Shirt

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Best color variety. One of the features we insisted on for most of the shirts we have reviewed is the relaxed fit that doesn’t feel too loose but, at the same time, doesn’t restrict our movements. MAGCOMSEN Women’s Shirt was one of those loose-fit shirts we had and was one of the best decisions we ever made. This shirt is so comfortable that you won’t feel it on your body. The material is also lightweight and breathable, so it’s safe to say it’s one of the best long sleeve women’s running shirts.

Moving to the best part, this shirt comes in a wide variety of color options. We couldn’t easily pick only one color to try because they all looked amazing and so summerish. Did we mention that the material has a cooling effect? This is a feature that allows the shirt to wick away moisture and also cool down your body, so it’s the best option for summer.

TSLA Women’s Rash Guard Shirt

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Most quick-drying. Although TSLA Women’s Rash Guard Shirt is mainly designed for swimming and water activities, we didn’t find any problems wearing this shirt for other outdoor activities. It kept us protected from the sun rays; in addition, it was a very quick-dry shirt. So, we preferred using it when we know we’re going to sweat a lot or when it was time for some water fun.

We also noticed the fabrics were stretchable. This gives more room for moving and doing exercise with this amazing sun protection shirt. They didn’t also forget to make it a flat-lock seamed shirt for no skin friction or itchiness. Overall, it’s an all-day comfort shirt for various activities. We could wear it all day with no problems, and surprisingly, it’s very affordable.

TBMPOY Womens Hoodie Shirt

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TBMPOY is a relatively new brand name for hiking and outdoor sports gear. However, it could engrave its name among high-quality and affordable outdoor gear brands. TBMPOY Womens Hoodie Shirt is one of the products we came across while searching for the best sun protection shirts. Before ordering the shirt, we wanted to make sure it has all the necessary features of a women’s sun protection shirt, so we brought our checklist and started counting.

Through the TBMPOY official website, we knew that the shirt is UPF 50+, quick dry, moisture-wicking, and lightweight. Further, it has a hood and thumbholes for additional coverage. Having checked all the boxes, it became a piece worth trying, so, we gave it a try, and it didn’t fail us regarding any of the above features. Adding to all of this, the shirt is sold at a competitive price and comes in a wide range of colors.

BALEAF Women’s Long Sleeve Outdoor Shirt

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First, don’t confuse this with the other shirt from the same brand, as they’re two different things. BALEAF Women’s Long Sleeve Outdoor Shirt is the other option we have tried from BALEAF; they’re both the same in satisfying all our needs, yet, they have different features, and you have to choose according to your needs. Hence, let’s touch on some of this shirt’s features.

The shirt comes in a loose-fit design with raglan sleeves. We didn’t usually insist on getting shirts with this kind of sleeves, but after we tried them, we found they’re more comfortable for runners and activewear in general. These shirts for running might interest you if you love running like us. Further, we felt the material was soft and very light. We also like the overall quality when considering the flatlock seams and the stitching, and the finishing in general. A big plus was the offered colors; there are more colors to browse for this shirt than the other option from BALEAF.

Animal Den Athletic Shirt

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Best value for money. Animal Den Athletic Shirt is a simple women’s shirt contoured in a flattering way that hugs the body offering UPF 50+ sun protection. We got this shirt in a bright color and wore it for a running day. It performed the best wicking away moisture and offering the best breathability. Further, it was soft on the skin; we didn’t need to wear anything above or under the shirt except for a sports bra. This shirt will look perfect on any woman but note that it’s a snug-fit shirt, so it might not be so flattering for women with larger busts and bellies, even though it’s available in large sizes. What’s more, the shirt is sold at half the price of similar shirts that perform in the same way. We didn’t believe ourselves having a multi-purpose shirt with this great quality at something less than $20! It’s totally recommended.

Isnowood Women’s UV Sun Protection Shirt

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It was difficult to choose the best shirt, but Isnowood Women’s UV Sun Protection Shirt had it all done in the right way. So, if we have to recommend just one shirt, this would be the one. First of all, the shirt comes in many color options, so we had to choose among those colors. We found a nice option, a pack of two shirts of different colors, so this was the first benefit. Whether you choose one or two shirts together, you won’t pay that much in the two cases. Thus, this was the second feature we loved about the shirt. The shirt was moisture-wicking, breathable, and lightweight. Of course, it was UPF 50+ offering the best protection from UVA and UVB. We didn’t feel any problems like itchiness or so with this shirt. Thus, it’s also skin-friendly. The shirt left nothing to judge, so it became our favorite.

Our Verdict!

Summing up our list of the best shirts for sun protection in this shorter list. From our point of view, these are the best of the best, the shirts that surpass the others in certain features. So, check those first.

• Best value for money: Animal Den Athletic Shirt
• Most quick-dry: TSLA Women’s Rash Guard Shirt
• Best color variety: MAGCOMSEN Women’s Shirt
• Most breathable: BALEAF Women’s Quick Dry Shirt

How To Choose The Best Long Sleeve Sun Protection Shirts for Women?

To choose the best protective shirts, there are some criteria you need to know first. These criteria are what we used in our tests to come up with this list of the 13 top products. We’re sharing them with you to know how to choose later on.

UPF rating

The first thing we checked to know if the shirt is really worth buying is the UPF rating. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. It’s a rating given to sun protection shirts to determine how much protection is offered. Needless to say, the more, the better. So, a UPF rating of 50+ is the best thing, yet, you can go for a shirt with UPF 30 rating in normal weather conditions.

Breathability

We also checked the shirts we reviewed for breathability. Sun protection shirts should cover your body, protect your skin, and allow your skin to breathe. Usually, they’re made of breathable materials such as polyester, but for added breathability, these shirts have vents in some parts for more airflow.

Other features

We also looked for other features in the shirts that would be very useful. These features include pockets, especially zippered ones. The shirts with pockets were our favorite while running or hiking. Also, hooded shirts were the best on the sunniest days as they offered more protection. One other feature we appreciated in some shirts was the thumbholes. These thumbholes prevented the sleeves from going up, so the arms were kept covered and protected all the time.

What are sun protection shirts used for?

We usually use sun protection shirts for any activity that requires staying under direct sunlight for a while. Even if it’s about walking your dog in the morning, wearing a sun protection shirt is better.

Should I use sunscreens while wearing a sun protection shirt?

In this case, you might use sunscreens on your face and hands only. Apply the sunscreen every two or three hours as indicated. You might need to check those best sunscreens review for more information.

Are light colors better for sun protection?

For regular shirts, yes. However, sun protection shirts are made in a way that dark colors have a higher UPF rating, so thathey won’t attract sun rays.