The Best Sun-protective Clothing for Women of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

I tested these hiking pants, wearing them on strenuous hikes, casual farmer’s market strolls, and everything in between. I immediately loved how flattering they looked, thanks to a high waist, wide legs, and cinchable hem that hits at the ankles. The UPF 50-plus protection paired with a lightweight, breezy material means these are great for wearing on warmer days when you don’t want to apply sunscreen everywhere but still want to protect your skin.

These pants have two slip-in front pockets that zip completely and two side cargo-style pockets that you can close with a button. The only thing I didn’t like about these pants were the plastic toggles that hang from the side pockets, which clanked while walking and didn’t seem to serve a purpose. On the other hand, I did enjoy the unique waistband, which involves a button on the front that latches and two straps that are wrapped around the waist and attached to adjustable plastic hooks. I’ll be wearing these pants on many hikes in the future from spring through the fall.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Nylon and spandex | XS-XL

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten sunburned on the top of my legs. It’s an area I always seem to neglect when applying sunscreen. That’s why I like slipping on these Marmot shorts for walks and hikes when I know the sun will be beaming down on me. I tested them over several months, wearing them on an 8-mile hike in the Pacific Northwest and several walks with my dog. The fabric is ultralightweight and dries quickly, keeping me comfortable when it’s hot. UPF 40 fabric offers a decent amount of sun protection, and the 4-inch inseam provides a Goldilocks length that prevents thigh chafing while allowing for plenty of airflow.

I also like the internal drawcord at the waist and deep front pockets that can hold a phone (and more) without fear of anything falling out. The drawcord can dig into the waist if you pull it too tight, though. These shorts are built for hot, sunny hikes but are comfy and stylish enough for casual outings as well. And despite their light weight, they feel high-quality and durable, and they still look and feel brand-new after multiple wears and washes.

The Details: UPF 40 | Recycled polyester | XS-XL

This women’s hoodie is the ultimate versatile piece of sun protection clothing because it’s comfortable to wear on chilly spring hikes and warm summer outings. The long sleeves offer UPF 50-plus protection all the way down your arms and onto your hands when you use the thumbholes. It also has a hood that blocks light from hitting your scalp or ears—areas many people forget about, especially when the weather is brisk.

I own this hoodie and love wearing it while hiking when it’s a bit cooler, although the brand’s proprietary ActiveIce technology helps to regulate body temperature enough that I can wear it on summer days without overheating. A few other smart features I love include a split hem for increased range of motion and a hole in the hood to snake your ponytail through. It’s also comfortable to wear all day, and the silhouette is extremely flattering.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Polyester, spandex | XS-4XL

This long-sleeve shirt is easy to throw over a sports bra, tank top, or T-shirt for some added sun protection. We immediately noticed how comfortable it was when we tried it, with a fit that’s not tight, helping it feel breathable and a little breezy. The UPF 50-plus fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s harmful rays and is moisture-wicking to help keep you comfortable in warm temperatures—a trait that came in clutch during a hot day in Atlanta during a music festival.

This shirt is also stretchy for maximum comfort, with a slightly fitted shape that’s flattering without being constricting. We found ourselves wishing for thumbholes to get a bit more coverage on our wrists and hands but appreciated the high neckline and long length on the torso. It comes in four colors, including white and navy neutrals. Just be sure to apply sunscreen to your hands and neck while wearing it in order to protect all exposed skin.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Recycled polyamide, elastane | XS-XL

This quarter-zip shirt from Orvis is large enough to layer over a T-shirt or tank, so it’s great to have in your bag during outdoor excursions. It fits on the larger side, which can be useful for layering and range of motion, but you could also size down comfortably if you want a tighter fit. We personally didn’t feel like this was very flattering in our normal sizing.

However, the functionality of this shirt is excellent—we found it roomy, breathable, and perfect for everything from fishing to hiking. It also wicks away moisture quickly on muggy days or while you’re sweating. We can also attest to the UPF 50-plus sun protection, as it prevented our easily-burned skin from turning red even after being on a fishing boat all day. Overall, we think it’s worth the price.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Recycled polyester, rayon, spandex | XS-XL

Whether you’re hiking, sightseeing, or working on the yard, this UPF 40 overshirt is a smart item to throw on top of your outfit for extra sun protection. The oversized fit makes it easy to layer over tops and allows for airflow to prevent overheating in hot weather. We wore it during several walks and hikes in the Pacific Northwest and appreciated that it protected us from sun and wind.

The shirt has an expandable collar, two chest pockets, and rollable sleeves. The tunic length provides a bit of extra coverage without feeling too long, and the hanger loop on the back makes it easy to hang to dry from a tree or trekking pole while on the go. The fabric itself is quick-drying and moisture-wicking, so it’s ideal for hot and muggy weather. It feels lightweight yet durable, with a breathable, slightly textured fabric that is soft against the skin even after wearing it for hours. Toss it into your suitcase or hiking backpack for extra sun protection on any trip, although keep in mind that it wrinkles easily, so we recommend bringing a travel steamer just in case.

The Details: UPF 40 | Recycled polyester | XS-XL

Dresses are the outfit of choice for many people on hot days because they allow for plenty of airflow and aren’t as restrictive as pants. We love this one from Ker Sun, with its stylish yet comfy fit and soft bamboo viscose fabric that feels pleasant on the skin. The dress hits a few inches above the ankles for maximum sun protection without compromising airflow. We found the sizing to be accurate, noting it has a looser, slightly boxy shape that might not appeal to everyone, although it does come with a waist tie.

This dress has a magnetic neck collar and extended hand cuffs that can offer even more coverage from the sun when needed. The entire dress is built with UPF 50-plus protection to keep the majority of your body covered from UVA and UVB rays without needing to apply liquid sunscreen. Our only gripe with this dress is that it came quite wrinkled in the packaging and wrinkled easily between wears.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Viscose, polyester | XS-2XL

We wore this dress on a sunny Arizona vacation and found it perfect for racket sports and golfing. Although the temperature was in the 90s every day, it kept us comfortable and cool, thanks to the lightweight nylon and spandex construction. We loved that the fabric is stretchy and didn’t cling to our body when we got sweaty. We were able to do leisurely to rigorous activities in the dress and had full range of movement throughout the day.

You can remove or add the bra padding depending on the fit and support you want, and the dress comes with a pair of yellow spandex shorts to wear underneath. The dress’ fit was slightly off, as we noticed the chest area was a tad too big but the waistband was a little tight. However, neither of these concerns felt like deal breakers. Overall, the dress was incredibly comfortable to wear, and we liked the preppy, sporty look that could easily transition from the tennis courts to dinner. The UPF 50-plus fabric also provided excellent sun protection, although users should keep in mind the V-neck fit exposes quite a bit of the chest, so make sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Recycled nylon, spandex | 2XS-XL

We love throwing on a jumpsuit to feel put-together with minimal effort, so a cute jumpsuit with UPF 50 sun protection is the perfect spring or summer outfit. We tested this out during several days in Seattle, WA and appreciated the UPF protection against the rare yet powerful sunshine we encountered.

Made from stretchy, durable fabric, it’s comfortable, breathable, and great for all-day wear. You can cinch it at the waist to add some shape, and pop the collar up to protect your neck from the sun’s rays. The waist cinch was crucial for us to correctly fit a smaller frame, as we found the jumpsuit a bit too long and baggy in our torso, although all other sizing aspects were fine. We love the plethora of pockets, too—you’ll find two chest pockets, two front pockets, two back pockets, and one zippered pocket to store keys or cash. We also like that it is available in regular and petite sizes for those with shorter frames.

The Details: UPF 50 | Recycled nylon, spandex | XS-XL (regular and petite)

This cover-up provides excellent sun protection and some warmth to boot, making it ideal for activities where you might get wet but want to stay covered, like boating, fishing, or kayaking. The design includes full sleeves, a hood, and a high zipper, which gives impressive coverage from the head to the midthigh. The fabric is soft and comfortable on the skin, and we found that the cover-up fits true to size with adjustable cinches on the sides for a customized fit. The cinches also helped it stay in place even when it was windy out.

We did notice that the full coverage of the dress can make it too warm for hot climates or strenuous activities. That being said, it’s perfect as a casual postswim cover-up for cooler outings, and it’s affordable enough to buy multiple colors.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Polyester | XS-2XL

For a sun shirt, the Watskin Sasha Long Sleeve Tee is incredibly versatile—we thought it was flattering and cute in and out of the water. It has a fitted shape in the arms and chest but plenty of stretch to move about freely. It felt a little roomy in the stomach, which makes it less restrictive. If you want to loosen the fit even more, you can use the side zipper to adjust the tightness of the waist as needed. Our only complaint is that we could feel the zipper on our skin, which was uncomfortable, and we wish it had a cover.

Even with the zipper issue, this top was great for everything from working out and running errands to throwing over a bikini at the pool. The material feels snug but is still really flexible and lets a lot of air through, which is great for hot weather. It offers full UPF 50-plus sun protection for your shoulders, arms, chest, back, and torso. The price tag may be high for some, but we feel the quality, versatility, and style makes it worth the cost.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Polyester, lycra | XS-XL

Our favorite T-shirt with sun protection comes from Outdoor Research, like our top hoodie pick. We’ve worn this shirt dozens of times, including while working out, running outside, under a jean jacket for lunch with friends, around the house, and as a swimsuit cover-up. The fit is oversized and runs long, so it’s sporty on its own but still looks great when paired with leggings, shorts, or jeans.

The shirt feels almost weightless and doesn’t shift around during movement, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. It can be hard to find white clothing with UPF protection, so we’re impressed with the UPF 30 rating of this one. The price also feels more than fair considering how versatile this T-shirt is, so we think it would be a great addition to any travel wardrobe. We thought the white shirt was a little sheer, but it also comes in darker color options.

The Details: UPF 30 | Polyester, spandex | XS-2XL

Yes, skorts are back, and they’re better than ever. We wore this one from outdoor brand Cotopaxi on long walks and picnics in Seattle and were impressed with its comfort and versatility. It runs true to size (although we recommend going up if you’re between sizes) and has an elastic waistband with an attached belt so you can adjust the waist size as needed.

Unlike some skorts, the skirt panel on this skort is only on the front—meaning it looks and functions like a pair of shorts on the back. We didn’t feel like this hindered our movement in any way. In fact, we spent hours in this skort leaning down and standing up repeatedly and never felt any portion of the skort fall down or ride up. This also leads us to believe this piece would be great for activities like hiking or paddle boarding, as you wouldn’t need to frequently adjust it while moving around. While the 3-inch inseam doesn’t offer much skin coverage, what is covered is protected by UPF 50-plus fabric. We think it’s a great everyday item if your style leans more casual, but it would also make a good swim cover-up or swap for hiking shorts if you want a bit more coverage.

The Details: UPF 50-plus | Recycled nylon, spandex | XS-XL