Are UV Protected Swim Clothes Worth the Extra Cost?

[jobyts]

http://www.alexandme.com/

sells uv protected swim clothes for a 4 times the price. All I could see is swim suits which are covering more body parts. Is the material different?

 

[mgb_phys]

Polyester/polyamide is better than cotton - don't know if you can add anything to make it even better

 

[S_Happens]

I've seen Quiksilver's UV tech stuff before. I can't find any serious info with a quick search. It simply refers to "UV tech super-stretchy nylon and spandex with SPF 50 rating..." so I'm not certain if it's proprietary or simply vague to make it seem like it's special technology.

I know my short sleeve spandexy (I'm not at the house otherwise I'd read the materials) rash guard that I bought 10 years ago left me with some serious farmers tan lines this summer when I wore it diving.

 

[FredGarvin]

The only thing I have seen is that polymers can have various UV stabilizers/absorbers mixed in. Possibly this is what they use in the polyester clothing.

 

[Pattonias]

I'm trying to think if I have ever gotten sunburn through any clothes that I have ever owned. Are these transparent or something?

 

[mgb_phys]

I'm trying to think if I have ever gotten sunburn through any clothes that I have ever owned. Are these transparent or something?

Thin white cotton has very little UV absoprtion, there is a concern that people could get sunburned because they stay out in the sun for longer because they feel cooler and are protected.

 

[chayced]

Dunno about other benefits, but it would probably help with IR cameras designed to see through swimwear. I know IR and UV are different but if it effectively blocks one it probably blocks the other too.

 

[hypatia]

I could never stay outside in super-stretchy nylon and spandex, the feel of it would make me insane.

 

[mgb_phys]

I could never stay outside in super-stretchy nylon and spandex,

Plus holding your stomach in for that long makes me dizzy

 

[f95toli]

Dunno about other benefits, but it would probably help with IR cameras designed to see through swimwear. I know IR and UV are different but if it effectively blocks one it probably blocks the other too.

No, it would not help for IR. IR and UV are indeed different, they are in fact as different as they can be since UV and IR are (just outside) the opposite ends of the visible spectrum.
Hence, that fact that something protects from UV has absolutely no releveance when it comes the properties at the IR end of the spectrum.

 

[hypatia]

Plus holding your stomach in for that long makes me dizzy

Then I suggest you quit holding my stomach in.