Performance Shirts Will Save Your Skin (And Keep You Cool) -
Getting sunburned will quickly ruin a fishing trip or family vacation. Sunburns range from annoying and uncomfortable to downright painful. Serious cases can result in a costly trip to the doctor’s office or the emergency room. Fortunately, sunburns can be easily prevented by wearing sunscreen, a hat and appropriate clothing. Performance shirts with built-in UV protection are one of the best ways to guard against sunburns. They also keep you comfortable across a wide range of conditions. But just what is a performance shirt? How do performance shirts work?
Preventing Sunburns and Skin Cancer
Sunburns are caused by overexposure to the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays. According to the Surgeon General, more than one out of three Americans experience sunburns each year. Although sunburns typically heal in a few days, they are a leading cause of skin cancer.
Five million people are treated every year for skin cancer, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer. More than 63,000 new cases of melanoma — the deadliest type of skin cancer — are diagnosed each year. While anyone can get skin cancer, people with lighter skin are most at risk.
Repeated exposure to the sun’s rays causes damage to skin, which accumulates over time. Fortunately, sun burns, skin damage and skin cancer are preventable. The Surgeon General recommends wearing protective clothing, such as UV-blocking shirts, a hat and sunglasses when spending time outdoors.
What is a Performance Shirt?
Performance shirts are designed specifically for outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, playing golf and more. Sun protection shirts feature ultraviolet-blocking technology built right into the fabric. Moisture-wicking shirts are engineered to dry quickly and keep you comfortable, making them ideal for fishing in hot weather. Performance shirts come in a variety of styles ranging from fishing shirts to short-sleeve polos to long-sleeve tees. They often feature four-way stretch, which maximizes your mobility and comfort.
What Is Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF)?
The term Ultraviolet Protection Factor, or UPF for short, specifies the amount of UV radiation that passes through fabric and reaches your skin. This includes both UVB and UVA radiation. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, fabric with a UPF rating of 30 to 49 provides “very good protection.” A UPF rating of 50+ indicates “excellent” protection.
Best Fabric for Sun Protection
When it comes to sun protection, all shirts are not created equal. Many traditional fabrics, including basic cotton and cotton blends, allow UV rays to easily pass through. For example, white cotton t-shirts have a UPF rating of 5 to 8. That means nearly 20 percent of UV radiation from the sun will pass through a regular white cotton t-shirt. If you’re spending hours in direct sunlight, especially on the water, a plain cotton t-shirt probably won’t prevent you from getting sunburned.
Performance shirts, often constructed from polyester or synthetic blends, typically offer a UPF rating of 30 or more. A UPF 30 rating indicates the garment will block approximately 97 percent of harmful ultraviolet rays. Performance shirts that feature a UPF 50 rating, such as Calcutta’s Long Sleeve Performance Fishing Shirt, will block 98 percent of UV rays.
Performance Shirts Keep You Dry and Comfortable
Traditional shirts can act as a barrier, trapping body heat and moisture inside. They limit airflow and prevent sweat from naturally evaporating. This increases your body’s temperature, making you uncomfortable when reeling in that trophy catch in the midday sun.
Performance shirts wick moisture and allow your body’s perspiration to evaporate naturally. Performance fabrics dry quickly and won’t retain moisture. This is critical to keeping you comfortable. Some performance shirts include strategically placed mesh panels to increase breathability. Long-sleeve performance shirts are comfortable to wear throughout the year — especially in the summertime heat. Best of all, long-sleeve versions maximize your sun protection.
Do Performance Shirts Work?
Whether you’re headed offshore, spending an afternoon on the lake or hitting the links, today’s high-quality performance shirts will keep you comfortable while protecting you from the harsh rays of the sun. Thanks to UV-blocking technology that lasts wash after wash, today’s performance shirts will provide years of service.
Calcutta Performance Shirts
We combined our decades of fishing experience and outdoor apparel knowledge to engineer some of the best performance shirts available.
Check out our new line of performance shirts that includes popular Mossy Oak® Cloudbank and Mossy Oak® King Fisher camo patterns. Constructed from moisture-wicking 100% polyester, these Calcutta performance shirts provide UPF 30+ sun protection. The built-in vented mesh panels will keep you cool on the hottest days.
