However...... (you knew this was coming.....)

 

Cotton (untreated) has a surprisingly low UPF rating, somewhere between 5-7.  Most synthetics (fishing shirts) tout a UPF rating of 50. It's synthetics for the win in this category.

 

Here's some information (copy/pasted) that I found interesting.....

 

 

"UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This means it blocks both UVA and UVB rays, whereas SPF or Sun Protection Factor only applies to UVB, which is responsible for most of the damage caused to our skin.

 

SPF is a multiplier for how long you can be exposed to UVB rays before getting sunburned. So if you normally would get burned in 10 minutes, a sunscreen rated SPF 15 prolongs that time to 150 minutes. SPF ratings are measured using human subjects.

 

UPF is a measurement that indicates how much of the sun's UV rays is absorbed by a fabric. This is verified using spectrophotometer equipment in a lab setting. If a fabric is rated UPF 15, it means it absorbs or blocks all but 1/15th of UV rays. If it is rated UPF 50, it absorbs or blocks all but 1/50th of UV rays. In simple percentages, UPF 15 protects your skin from about 93% of all UV rays. UPF 50 fabric protects you from 98% of all UV rays.

 

The average white cotton t-shirt has a UPF rating around 5. A blue t-shirt has a UPF of 20 or higher. Denim blue jeans have a UPF rating of 1,700.

 

Darker colors absorb more UV rays, shinier fabrics reflect more UV rays, and tighter weave fabrics block more UV rays. Loose weave cotton or linen clothing allows the most UV rays to pass through. Thicker and/or more reflective fabrics like wool, polyester, or denim allow the least UV rays to pass through.

 

It is important to note that UV rays increase in intensity as you go up in altitude. For every 1,000 meters in increased elevation, UV levels increase by roughly 10%. The intensity of UVB rays in Vail, Colorado at 8,500 feet on a sunny day are 60% higher than at sea level in New York City, and equivalent to the intensity of UVB rays in Orlando, Florida, which is 775 miles closer to the equator. An individual that may develop a sunburn in 25 minutes in New York, would develop the same sun burn in only 14 minutes in Vail or Orlando, and thus individuals living at higher elevations are at a considerably higher risk for developing skin cancer.

 

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the US. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop skin cancer than women. While the risk of developing skin cancer is 20 times higher for fair skinned individuals, those with darker skin tones are much more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and subsequently have a much higher mortality rate. Skin cancer is most likely to occur on the nose, lips, face, ears, neck, hands, or forearms. Men are much more likely to have melanoma form on their backs than women. Women tend to form melanoma more often on their arms or legs."

I like cotton for regular t shirts if it’s not too humid. If it’s humid and I am sweating, cotton just soaks it up like a sponge. Yuck. No thanks.

This is when I switch to a moisture wicking material.

When I hunt I always wear moisture wicking base layers and socks. Working up a sweat in cotton only to have it soak up is a recipe for hypothermia.

33 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the US. 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop skin cancer than women. While the risk of developing skin cancer is 20 times higher for fair skinned individuals, those with darker skin tones are much more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and subsequently have a much higher mortality rate. Skin cancer is most likely to occur on the nose, lips, face, ears, neck, hands, or forearms. Men are much more likely to have melanoma form on their backs than women. Women tend to form melanoma more often on their arms or legs."

 

Riddle me this:

 

I've had three skin cancers removed from my bald head in the last 5 years. No issues with face, arms or backs. 

 

Grew up right across street from public pool. Each and every summer we would get a wicked sunburn, wear a white t-shirt for a few days, then turned a nice golden brown for the remainder of the summer. No sunblock, no shirts. 

 

When we weren't at the pool, went to family cabin on the river...more sun, more swimming, ZERO sublock. 

 

Summer job in college years was inside a beef packing house. Brother and sister were lifeguards every summer. 

 

Non skin cancer for them. 3x for me. 

 

As I got older, and with less hair, I religiously applied sunblock to my head...all the time. Remember, that's where I have had skin cancer removed. 

 

I don't wear sunblock any more...cover totally with synthetic SPF 50 clothing, hats, face gaiters, etc. 

 

3 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

Really? Interesting. I would think the cotton would just get wet and stay wet vs wicking the moisture away and evaporating when it’s especially humid. I’ll take your word for it though! &nbsp
 

P.S. I’ll take your subtropical climate and raise you my tropical climate. 😁 just messing around.

Staying wet is good when it’s hot. Like I said , wetter is colder 100% of the time. If it’s really really hot I jump in the water 

 

@Crow Horse, my farmers tan disagrees with that  rating of a cotton T shirt 😂 . Pale as a ghost where my shirt goes 

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Staying wet is good when it’s hot. Like I said , wetter is colder 100% of the time. 

Not necessarily. In extreme conditions, high temperatures and very high humidity won't allow for evaporation (which cools) and you end up being very wet & hot by not having an effective cooling mechanism.

 

I vaguely remember seeing a show about a cave/cavern that was IIRC about 113° with 100% humidity and researchers had to limit their time in the cave to avoid being cooked. Actually one of them died by staying in the cave all night. 

20 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Riddle me this:

 

I've had three skin cancers removed from my bald head in the last 5 years. No issues with face, arms or backs. 

 

Grew up right across street from public pool. Each and every summer we would get a wicked sunburn, wear a white t-shirt for a few days, then turned a nice golden brown for the remainder of the summer. No sunblock, no shirts. 

 

When we weren't at the pool, went to family cabin on the river...more sun, more swimming, ZERO sublock. 

 

Summer job in college years was inside a beef packing house. Brother and sister were lifeguards every summer. 

 

Non skin cancer for them. 3x for me. 

 

As I got older, and with less hair, I religiously applied sunblock to my head...all the time. Remember, that's where I have had skin cancer removed. 

 

I don't wear sunblock any more...cover totally with synthetic SPF 50 clothing, hats, face gaiters, etc. 

 

 

I think the answer to that is it was the luck of the draw. You managed to pull the vulnerable to the sun card and your siblings got a pass on it. I thought I remember reading that the damaging effects of the sun are cumulative, but I haven't seen anything suggesting that in the current literature.

The good news is that there’s no more scorching heat here this week.

 

The bad news is that is has been replaced with torrential rains and thunderstorms.

We are getting it (100°ish) here this week and looks like next week also.  August has arrived in Texas.

FM

17 hours ago, gim said:

I like cotton for regular t shirts if it’s not too humid. If it’s humid and I am sweating, cotton just soaks it up like a sponge. Yuck. No thanks.

This is when I switch to a moisture wicking material.

When I hunt I always wear moisture wicking base layers and socks. Working up a sweat in cotton only to have it soak up is a recipe for hypothermia.

See, that’s exactly what I thought. I hate being wet and sticky when the humidity is through the roof.

On 8/2/2025 at 8:39 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Tried SPF sun hoodie on Sunday and could barely breathe 

 

I have a couple of "sun" shirts.

 

One was expensive that I love. 

 

One my wife bought me that was on the cheaper side. They don't even compare. Seems to be much thicker and doesn't breathe as good.

     For what it is worth, my northern and southern fishing friends.  I have found that when I have a tournament (usually nine hours on the water) or am just going fishing and I know it is going to be miserable hot and sunny in the afternoon.  Cover up completely! I wear long sleeve stretchy wicking shirt with a collared fishing shirt vented in the back over it, A big hat (Tilley hat in my case), long quick dry pants with a buff (neck gaiter pulled up over the face) and sun gloves. Only thing that gets sun screen/block (SPF 70 - 100) is my cheeks under my eyes and nose. Nothing else is exposed.

     By keeping covered up like that and out of the direct sun it is much cooler then bare exposed skin!  I dip my hat in the lake periodically and occasionally if it is really hot. I'll dip my buff in the melted water in ice chest.  It makes fishing in the south Texas mid-day and afternoon sun bearable.

     So ends this public service announcement for avoiding skin cancer and raccoon face.

Fishingmickey

I fish all day, all summer long, in Texas. It's hot here y'all. But there's almost always a thermal breeze on the lakes in north texas so that helps.

 

I experimented with just about every brand/style/type of clothing at this point, and the current winners are both by Huk, and both are newer releases.  There's more expensive stuff (Simms), less expensive stuff (magellan etc) and neither of them are close in terms of what it feels like to actually wear. Anetik and Huk A1A are absolutely great in places where you can expect solid wind - they are the most breathable but don't have cooling dots. 

 

Huk Icon shirt (older Icon X is #2) - has thumb loops too which is nice. It absolutely has a cooling effect you can feel when you put it on. Shirt color matters. Light blue or white. Light blue/white camo probably the best tradeoff between not being seen and not burning up.

 

Huk Creek Channel Pants (Simms Ultralight are #2) - most pants don't breathe well, if at all. These do, and they have vents too. If you aren't commando-style, make sure your underpants are wicking.

 

Boonie hat and gloves. Exposed skin is a no-no for staying cool, if it is in direct sun. Because of the big brim I can get away with no buff until the late afternoon sun. Hat goes in the water from time to time and when it comes back it dumps some water down the shirt too. 

 

Electrolytes will make a huge difference in how you feel. I prefer ones with little or no sugar - the current favorite are LMNT sparkling. They have a huge amount of salt and magnesium and potassium. 

 

Shoes and socks matter. Lightest cheapest socks I can find (wool socks are great! but not here) and the most breathable tennis-shoe I can get, which at the moment is by On Running. 

 

Cooling towels are cheap, and they really work. 

 

When you take a drink out of the cooler, set it between your legs. Yeah, it isn't comfy at first but you've got two big arteries there moving a lot of blood.