Rash Vests Built for Life on the Water
Our range covers the full spectrum from affordable, everyday rash vests through to premium vests. The Gill Zenzero Rash Vest is a close fitting vest available in multiple colourways for both men and women offering solid UPF sun protection. For those after something at the premium end, the new Zhik Eco Spandex UPF50+ Rash Vest delivers maximum sun protection in a sustainable, stretchy fabric.
The Gill Women's Pro Rash Vest sits at the value end, a short sleeve cut for sailors who want coverage without spending much. Between the ranges you're covered from a first rash vest for a club sailor through to a full season of racing.
Rash Vests for Men and Women: Short and Long Sleeve
Short sleeve rash vests suit warmer conditions and sailors who want maximum arm freedom for tacking and hiking. Long sleeve rash vests add forearm coverage for longer sessions in mixed weather or stronger UV, which is why most dinghy sailors end up in them. The Zhik Eco Spandex long sleeve is the one to look at if you're on the water most weekends.
Womens rash vests here run from the Gill Zenzero and Gill Women's Pro through to the Zhik Eco Spandex, across different fits and price points. Rash vests for men come in the same Gill Zenzero colourways and the full Zhik Eco Spandex range. If you are layering under a wetsuit, a close-fitting short sleeve is usually the better choice as it reduces bulk and stays in place when pulling the wetsuit on and off.
Shop similar collections: Sailing Cap | Sailing Gloves | Sailing dry Top | Sailing wetsuits | Sailing drysuit | Sailing Shorts | Thermal sailing layers | Sailing life jackets
Rash Vests and Rash Guards FAQs
What is a rash vest?
A rash vest protects your skin from UV radiation, windburn, and chafing caused by repeated contact with a wetsuit, board, or harness. Most UPF 50 rash vests block over 98% of UVA and UVB rays, making them the first layer worth putting on before any water session.
Are rash vests meant to be tight?
Rash vests should fit close to the body without restricting movement, because a loose rash vest bunches under a wetsuit and causes the exact chafing it is designed to prevent. Surf and sailing fits run slightly more compressive than a standard swim shirt, so size up only if you layer over thermals.
Do rash vests keep you warm?
Not on their own. The rash vests here are spandex, built to dry fast and block UV rather than to insulate, and in cold water they won't do much for you. Thermal rash vests do exist, using a fleece lining to hold a thin layer of warmth against the skin, but if you're sailing through the winter you want a proper base layer instead. Our thermal sailing layers cover that.
Do rash vests protect from sun?
Yes, and more reliably than waterproof sunscreen does over a long day. The rash vests here are rated UPF50+, which blocks the large majority of UVA and UVB. On the water you're taking sun from above and reflected off the surface, and the sun cream on your forearms will be gone by the second race.
Do you wear a rash vest under a wetsuit?
Plenty of sailors do. It makes the wetsuit far easier to pull on and takes the edge off neoprene rubbing at the neck and under the arms. Keep it thin, and a close-fitting short sleeve is usually easier to layer than a long sleeve, which can bunch at the elbow.
Should I wear a swimsuit under my sailing base layers?
You can wear a bikini top, one-piece swimsuit, or sports bra under a rash vest for support and coverage, or wear it directly against your skin with nothing underneath.
