Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Non-Thorn Related => Topic started by: in4 on March 25, 2026, 04:37:09 PM
-
Has anyone found high UPF clothing for cycling? As sun cream/lotion tends to get sweated off during the warmer weather I thought some lightweight clothing might be a good alternative.
So far I've found a few 'sun hoodies' ( from Uniqlo and North Face ) that might work. They're loose-fitting so not that aerodynamic. They also have attached hoods that I guess you would use underneath a helmet. There's a few other details that might be useful such as a high collar, a half or full zip, draw strings for the hood, zipped pockets and under-arm ventilation holes etc.
I've seen some golf, surfing and running wear that might do the job but I'd be interested to know if anyone has found garments, particularly tops that might work.
TIA
-
I know a guy that has had several skin cancer spots removed, he wears a lot of sunscreen with a high mineral content. His skin is much whiter after he applies it. For the last year or two he has also worn one of these to have less sun on his face and neck.
https://dabrim.com/products/cycling-classic
His jerseys are all short sleeve, he often wears some things that look like arm warmers but they are quite thin, I suspect have no significant insulation but has high UV shielding properties, they are white in color.
I think you just need to look for clothing that has a high UV rating. Most jerseys are a mesh that would allow a lot of sun to pass through.
I know a guy that in really hot dry (but only in dry) sunny conditions wears a white 100 percent cotton dress shirt, but a cotton shirt like that would not work well in humid conditions. Attached photos. The day I saw him and took those photos, I was really jealous that I did not have a shirt like that, it was a very hot dry sun.
If you have a thin spot on top (not much hair), remember to put some sun screen on top too, unless the air vents on your helmet are small and few. I have big vents on my helmet, I often add sun screen on the thin spot. A skull cap under the helmet would be better.
-
Ive got a couple of pairs of these arm sleeves ands have used them in hot, humid conditions. They seem to work well re upf protection plus they have a kind of wicking property too.
https://www.solbari.co.uk/products/arm-sleeves-sensitive-mens?variant=4530441289769
I think you can get similar ones intended for golfers.
Thanks Mickeg
-
In Sri Lanka earlier this month I cut the crown out of a cotton hat and sewed it inside my usual cycling cotton hat so that the top of my head was well protected (photo is of original hat). The outer hat had a brim and I always wore sun glasses.
I used either a summer long sleeved cycling top from Endura or an Indian cotton white shirt. The Endura shirt was better - it was cooler and washed / dried faster.
Gloves - had to search but in the end I used some ‘racing’ gloves from Madison which had vents in the sides of the fingers and gave uv protection on the tops of my hands.
I used a neck tube around my neck that I could raise up, or a face mask that went over my nose.
Endura Humvee long legged shorts so only my legs below the knee were exposed.
No sun cream.
Only sun issues were on my exposed legs when the sun was lower.