When you think about protecting yourself from the sun while hiking, you probably think of sunscreen. But did you know that your clothes can help too? You might have seen "UPF 50+" on some hiking pants or shirts and wondered what it means. Let’s explain what UPF clothing is and why it’s really great for outdoor fun.
Sunscreen is helpful, but you have to put it on again every two hours. It can come off when you sweat, and it might not cover all your skin. Sun-protective clothes are different. They give you all-day protection that stays on, even when you're hiking!
UPF vs. SPF: What's the Difference?
You might know about SPF from sunscreen, but UPF is the special rating for clothes and fabrics that protect you from the sun. Here's the simple breakdown:
SPF shows how long you can be in the sun without getting hurt. If you have SPF 30, it means you can be outside 30 times longer than if you had no sunscreen on.
UPF tells you how much UV light goes through your clothes. If your shirt has a UPF of 50, it means only a tiny bit (1 out of 50) of the UV rays can get to your skin. This means the fabric stops 98% of the bad rays!
The UPF rating system is straightforward:
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UPF 15-24: Good protection (blocks 93-95% of UV rays)
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UPF 25-39: Very good protection (blocks 96-97% of UV rays)
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UPF 40-50+: Excellent protection (blocks 98% or more of UV rays)
When buying hiking pants, choose ones with UPF 30 or more. This will help protect you from the sun during your long outdoor trips.
How Fabric Provides Sun Protection
Not all fabrics are the same when it comes to keeping harmful sun rays away. Here are some simple things to think about for your hiking clothes:
Weave and Construction : Fabrics that are woven tightly stop more UV rays from getting through. Imagine a window screen – the tighter it is, the less air (or sun) passes through. Good hiking pants usually have a tight weave made just for sun protection.
Color Matters : Dark colors are better at blocking UV rays than light ones. A dark blue or black shirt will do a better job than a white one. But some light-colored outdoor clothes are made with special materials that still protect you very well.
Fabric Weight : Heavier fabrics often block more sun rays, but new hiking pants are designed to be both protective and breathable. You don’t need thick, heavy material to keep safe from the sun.
Special Treatments : Many hiking clothes have special chemicals added to them to make them better at blocking UV rays. These treatments can happen when the clothes are made or added later. Some fabrics even have UV-blocking materials mixed right into the fibers.
Stretch and Fit : When fabric stretches, it can let more UV rays through. Pants that fit well and don’t stretch tight against your skin will usually keep you better protected.
Why You Need It Even on Cloudy Days
You might be surprised to learn this: up to 80% of UV rays can get through clouds! So, if you think you're safe on a cloudy hike, think again—you're still getting a lot of UV rays.
Sometimes, clouds can make things worse. They can bounce UV rays around, hitting you from all sides, not just above. Also, if you’re hiking up high, the UV rays are stronger. For every 1,000 feet you go up, the strength of the UV rays can increase by about 4%.
Things like snow, water, and light-colored rocks can bounce UV rays back towards you too. That’s why many smart hikers always wear special hiking pants that protect against UV rays, even when the weather seems nice.
So remember: if you're outside during the day, you’re probably getting UV rays on you. Wearing UPF clothing can keep you safe no matter what the weather is like!
Understanding UPF 50+ Standards and Testing
I've done a lot of research on sun protection, and I can assure you that UPF ratings are more than just fancy numbers—they come from real scientific tests!
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have set up special ways to test UPF. They use special tools to see how much UV light can get through different fabrics.
To get a UPF 50+ rating, a fabric must block at least 98% of UVA and UVB rays. The "+" means it does even better than UPF 50 in tests. Many good hiking pants score UPF 100 or more, which means they block 99% or more of UV rays.
The tests also look at how the fabric works when it’s wet, stretched, or worn, which is really important for hiking pants that need to protect you in all kinds of weather on the trail.
When shopping, look for clothes that meet the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4399. This is one of the best tests for UPF in the world!
Make Sun Protection Part of Your Hiking Strategy
Sun-protective clothing is not only for keeping you from getting sunburned – it's also for keeping you healthy and making your time outside more enjoyable. UPF hiking pants help you pay attention to the trail instead of worrying about putting sunscreen on your legs all the time.
Are you excited to improve your hiking gear? Get all-day sun protection you can trust. Check out our UPF 50+ hiking pants and see how good sun-protective clothing can make your next adventure!
