15 Best Rash Guards in 2023 | Tested by Surfers

The Body Glove Smoothies Sleek Rash Guard is simple and sleek, as you might have guessed by the name. The minimalist design is free from the loud floral patterns you often see on women’s surf gear. The simple design comes in eight different colors.

The material is quick drying and provides 50 UPF protection, saving you from awkwardly applying sunscreen on your back. The material is also lightweight and flexible so you won’t be sweating in between sets and your movement will be unrestricted. The stitching is smooth and unnoticeable, preventing chafing. The UPF protection, lightweight and flexible material, and absence of uncomfortable stitching make this rash guard a great option for long days in the water.

This rash guard has no board short connector, which is a bit of a bummer as it can ride up slightly while paddling, though it seems to be a minor issue. The Body Glove Smoothies Sleek rash guard falls in the middle of the typical price range and is worth the money.

O’Neill has used a four-way material that helps cool you down as moisture evaporates from its surface. The fabric seems quite thin but it still gives plenty of protection. Flatlock stitching means there’s less of the chafing you get with some other rashies and seamless paddle zones give a greater range of movement. Again, the downside is no board short connectors.

But this is still a great value rash guard that will keep you cool, especially if you’re surfing somewhere tropical (or subtropical for that matter, such as these surfing beaches in California).

The Roxy Whole Hearted long sleeve rash guard is a simple, comfortable rash guard with a snug fit. The rash guard comes in a variety of solid colors to choose from.

This rash guard provides you with 50 UPF protection for those long days on the water. The fit is meant to be snug, making it feel a bit warmer, so this may not be the best rash guard for hot climates. The material is flexible, allowing you to paddle comfortably. The stitching and seams are also unnoticeable, making them unlikely to lead to chafing.

The material seems durable, but the stitching may not be. I found a small hole in the stitching on the right forearm of my rash guard after only a single use. This kind of issue is not reported often with the Whole Hearted rash guard, and was easily remedied with a return.

This, like so many other women’s rash guards, lacks a boardshort connector, leading to the rash guard riding up slightly when paddling. And like most other rash guards runs small so consider sizing up.

This rash guard is in the middle to upper price range for rash guards and is a classic favorite for a comfortable, flexible fit.

This rash guard and swim shirt for men boasts sweat-wicking, four-way stretch material that stays super comfortable both in and out of the water. The hood means that this rash guard looks a lot like a shirt and since it dries so fast thanks to Nike’s Dri-Fit fabric, it’s perfectly acceptable to head for a late afternoon beer directly from the beach.

We like the relaxed fit and Hurley’s reputation for long-lasting sportswear.

If you’re a woman who wants to stand out from the crowd, you will definitely like the Volcom Simply Solid Body Suit. Designed like a long-sleeved swimsuit, this rash guard is stylish but also highly practical as there’s no chance of it rolling or riding up. We were worried the front zipper would dig in when lying on your front but that’s not a problem as it sits flat. The downside is that it’s only available in a couple of different colors.

The more reserved lady may think the suit rides a bit high at the rear but we say what’s wrong with showing a little cheek?

This Scubapro offering provides UV protection to snorkelers and added warmth to divers who wear it under a wetsuit. The polyester material hugs the skin comfortably and is highly durable and abrasion-resistant. Even after using it for a few years, this rashie kept its shape.

We like the high neckline for diving as it prevents your wetsuit from rubbing.

Scubapro has knocked it out of the park with their Everflex jacket and, in our opinion, this diving brand has beaten some serious competition from the dedicated surf brands. This rash guard is made from neoprene for warmth and features a zip-up styling. The material is, as the name suggests, incredibly stretchy and will not inhibit freedom of movement in the arms, which is important for surfers.

We like the fleecy, soft interior and the fact that this jacket dries so quickly. We just wish there were board short connectors at the bottom of the rash guard but that’s the only downside for us. That said, this is a thicker jacket so it won’t roll up as thin rash guards can.

Another solid offering from Quiksilver. The All Time Long Sleeve rash guard is a classic design which comes in loads of different colors. Quiksilver may be better known for their surfwear but this rashie is especially good for snorkelers. We like the fact that it’s lightweight and super comfortable.

The only downside is that the material is very stretchy and you end up losing the snug-fit over time.

The Keri long sleeve rash guard is an affordable rash guard but unfortunately has a less than ideal fit. This rash guard is tight on the bust and quite baggy around the torso. Surprisingly, the sleeves fit exactly as expected. Because of the baggy fit around the torso and lack of a boardshort connector, this rash guard tends to ride up a bit when paddling.

If you find that the fit isn’t an issue for you, the rash guard comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

The Keri long sleeve rash guard also provides 50 UPF to protect you from the sun. The fabric is comfortable, but not very breathable. I wouldn’t recommend this rash guard for use in super hot climates.

This is a more affordable rash guard, so depending on how important fit is to you and what activities you need the Kanu Surf Keri for, it may be worth the small amount it costs.

Although initially designed for martial arts and crosstraining, we think this Sanabul rash guard is ideal for surfers and as an all-round swim shirt. It allows for great flexibility and the material has anti-odor and anti-bacterial properties. We like the underarm ventilated mesh which is there to let moisture escape. As a compression vest, it’s also meant to improve blood flow throughout the body to increase muscle performance.

We’re not sure it will tone your muscles, but the Sanabul rash guard will give you protection from the sun without restricting your movements.

The O’Neill Basic Skins short sleeve rash guard is a decent option for those looking for a form-fitting short sleeve rash guard.

This rash guard provides 50 UPF and is made of comfortable, stretchy material, allowing your movement to be unrestricted. The stitching is not noticeable, preventing any discomfort at the seams during long periods of wear. The material also is also durable, so this rash guard might be able to last you a few seasons.

The O’Neill Basic Skins rash guard runs small, especially in the bust, so definitely go up a size or even 2. With the wrong fit, the sleeves feel short and tight, which could lead to chafing. The tight fit and lack of boardshort connector allows the rash guard to ride up, but then won’t fall back into place naturally.

This rash guard will work for you if size up accordingly and you prefer a tight-fitting short sleeve guard. For those looking for a looser fit, this is not the rash guard for you.

The Mares Trilastic is a great rash guard, especially for female divers. The flatlock seams don’t dig into your skin when worn under a wetsuit and we were able to tuck the shirt far enough inside the suit so it didn’t ride up while diving.

Although it has a lower UPF than the other rash guards we’ve looked at, it still gives excellent UV protection. It’s quite a tight fit across the chest so if you’re well-endowed it’s advisable to go a size or two up.

This long-sleeve rashie from Quiksilver is made from stretch polyester blend material that gives loads of flexibility whatever activity you’re into. It’s also a moisture-wicking fabric so sweat is quickly transferred from the inside to the outside of the vest. The snug-fit design looks great but it does mean the rash guard can feel a bit too tight, so you might want to consider going up a size.

With Quiksilver being a market leader in surfwear, you know you’re getting a quality product.

The Oceanic Lavacore Lavaskin has a fleece inner that feels really nice on the skin. The added bonus is that it will keep you warmer than regular rash guards whether snorkeling or diving. Thumb hooks make it easy to get into a wetsuit, too.

We love the cut of the Oceanic and the stretch-fit that feels more like you’re wearing a t-shirt. It’s available in three attractive pastel shades.

This is a great uni-sex rash guard for kids. The silky-smooth material is nice and stretchy so your child will be comfy playing around on the beach, by the pool, or in the water. These rashies come with long or short sleeves.

The one downside we noted was that the long sleeves are a bit too long. However, this was easily fixed by rolling them up. There are plenty of bright colors to choose from making it easier to keep an eye on your little one!

This SwimZip rash guard is something your little boy will enjoy wearing. But we think your daughter will also like it, though you may have to buy a size down for girls. It’s very comfortable, there’s no neck tag, and a zipper flap prevents it from rubbing on your kid’s skin.

The best feature of the SwimZip is the full-front zipper. Super easy to get on and off when you have a wriggling child who just wants to run off and have fun!

O’Neill certainly knew what they were doing when they designed the Thermo X Insulative Top. The material is a 220g mix of nylon and spandex that’s soft, stretchy, low-bulk, quick-drying, water repellent, and odor resistant.

We love that it’s thin enough to fit under a wetsuit and the neckline is low cut so doesn’t interfere with the neck of your suit. For surfers, there are seamless paddle zones and boardshort connectors.

There is also a women’s version of the Thermo X, which you can find here. This reviewer has been using hers heavily for more than three years and the rash guard is still in excellent condition.

The O’Neill Thermo X is a top choice rash guard and swim shirt no matter what outdoor or water activities you’re doing. You will not be disappointed.