Sunshirts... What Are Your Reviews?

[hunter51]

I am extremely fair and I get sunburn VERY easily… which unfortunately does not turn tan During the summer, I ride every day and I’m looking at long-sleeve sunshirts as an alternative to lathering on the sunscreen constantly.

I’ve seen a lot about them but I wanted some real opinions on the best brands, and whether or not they are actually suitable for very hot summer weather (80-95 degrees celsius). I’ve heard some people say they’re great for hot weather and others say they’re good only for mild warm weather, so 60-75 degrees. I tried on Dover’s version and I found it to be super comfortable and very lightweight, though they do seem to run large. I’m usually an XS or S and the XS was huge.

So, what have your experiences been with long-sleeve sunshirts? Are they worth the $$? What are the best brands and are they suitable for true summer heat?

[BITSA]

I love my Romph one
http://www.doversaddlery.com/romfh-competitor-shirt-l%2Fs/p/X1-200489/

even though it can be a show shirt, its so comfortable I use it for schooling (with the collar down). Its very light. I also have an Addidas one I like–just regular sportswear; and golf stores carry nice sun shirts.

[KateKat]

I have the Ariat Sunstopper and then the Columbia Freeze Degree shirt. The Sunstopper isn’t made with any kind of engineered “cooling” fabric so I definitely wouldn’t recommend in super high temps. Fit is great though and very comfortable, good for sunny but cooler days.

I really love the Columbia shirt. It is made of cooling fabric, is very lightweight, silky material, good length and definitely does what it is advertised to do. I wore it yesterday in our 99 degree weather and as you sweat, you can definitely feel the cooling going to work. I bought mine on super sale from Sports Authority, I think they were around $35 each on clearance just a couple weeks ago.

I also like the golf version of the EIS shirts, the Bette & Court swing. Identical fabric and style to EIS, as well as the Riding Sport shirt except a little longer.

[Jo]

[QUOTE=hunter51;7580084]
they are actually suitable for very hot summer weather (80-95 degrees celsius). [/QUOTE]

Say what? I’d really say that is too hot to be riding, and if you did ride, you and your horse would be burned to a crisp!!!

[PeteyPie]

[QUOTE=Jo;7580165]
Say what? I’d really say that is too hot to be riding, and if you did ride, you and your horse would be burned to a crisp!!![/QUOTE]

In some states that is the only option for many months.

Oh. I just got it. You mean it should say Fahrenheit.

[Jo]

[QUOTE=PeteyPie;7580173]
I some states that is the only option for many months.

Oh. I just got it. You mean it should say Fahrenheit.[/QUOTE]

I’m from Texas. If I didn’t ride above 85*F I wouldn’t ride for about 9 months of the year!

[RugBug]

I bought an Ariat Sunstopper at a clinic after having one side of my body fried the first day. I then proceeded to wear that shirt the rest of the first day and two more days after that. It saved me.

Weather was unexpectedly hot (upper 90s) and I had packed all wrong. The shirt was perfect. Wicked moisture, kept the sun off me, is light weight, the breathable mesh under the arms was awesome and the high neck kept my upper shoulders protected AND was a great price. This is it on day four of the clinic. I adore this shirt and will taking it with me/wearing it whenever there is a chance of heat that I’m not used too.

[KateKat]

So Rugbug, have you noticed that you can get tan through the little white mesh pieces on the back? :lol:. I wear mine a lot and was drying my hair when I noticed I had two tan strips on my shoulders. I was like “WTF?? Oh yea…”

[Carolinadreamin]

I’ve tried so many of the sun shirts, with the various technical fabrics. I loved the sun as a kid and grew up practically living on the water every summer. I paid for it with melanoma diagnosed 4 years ago on my arm. So, in addition to cooling properties, sun blocking is vital in a shirt for me.

Hands down, the EIS shirts have been the best for me. The keep me cooler in the sweltering southern summers and they completely block the sun from my arms and neck (since they can zip up). I even wear them when I work out indoors, since they just keep me cooler!

I’ve slowly built up to owning 3 as they are expensive. The Tack Room in Camden, SC (wonderful online store as well) have the best selection and prices. If you get on their mailing list, you’ll receive a 25% off coupon every now and then. Whenever I get that coupon, I order another shirt.

[pacific_jumper]

I just bought the tailored sportsman sun shirt. I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet, because it’s too beautiful for my long and very messy days at the barn, and I know I’m going to get it filthy. I plan to keep it for clinics and shows. It’s very comfortable and very light weight. I am 5’8, and although I am usually a medium, I had to size up because of my long monkey arms. I would say it runs slightly small. I fit into the medium, but felt more comfortable in the large. I have also seen the kerrits shirts in store, but the quality was quite inferior compared to the TS. The kerrits shirt also looked heavier.

[IPEsq]

I got a Kastel one, which is not cheap but fits my long arms and long torso even in the very fitted size, though I ultimately sized up to fit my shoulders comfortably. It got cold again, so I haven’t gotten to test out how it is in the heat, but the material feels very breathable.

[CindyCRNA]

When I was at Rolex, the Animals Art (something like that!) tent has Kerrits long sleeved IceFil shirts with a great jumping horse print on the back. They had them marked down to $39 so I bought 2 (they run about $68 regularly). I had heard that people felt cooler in the long sleeved IceFil shirts than in a tank top. I wore it to a lesson and will have to agree. It’s not like you feel all cool and fresh slathered with SPF 100 in a tank top so yes, this was an improvement.

[RugBug]

[QUOTE=KateKat;7580227]
So Rugbug, have you noticed that you can get tan through the little white mesh pieces on the back? :lol:. I wear mine a lot and was drying my hair when I noticed I had two tan strips on my shoulders. I was like “WTF?? Oh yea…”[/QUOTE]

I’ll have to keep my eye open for that. I won’t get a lot of opportunities to wear it because usual weather at my barn hovers around 65 degrees. I wore the shirt on a day that I thought was going to be warm and ended up freezing.

[Sarabeth]

I have whole herd of these shirts since I am basically allergic to the sun.

My favorite is the Riding Sport shirt. Second favorite is Ariat.

Kerrits is runs a little large and long, stays tucked in nicely.

The Tailored Sportsman and the EIS do run small. The EIS is particularly tight through the bust. Both are quite short.

[Bristol_Bay]

I have something like this.

http://www.exofficio.com/products/details/womens-sol-cool-long-sleeve-shirt

It absolutely keeps me cooler. I can’t stand having something zipped up my neck, so I use sunscreen instead for my face and neck. I am so over having a farmer’s tan on my arms.

[flowerpot]

I love the EIS ones and have recently fallen in love with the TS version!!! I also burn crazily in the sun! That and the not so attractive Equivisor have made a huge difference for me!

[arlosmine]

I go to REI in the early winter and stock up on their brand of “sun shirts”. They are GREAT in hot weather: remember that cultures in hot climates often “make their own shade” with loose fitting fabric. It really works. It’s much more cool, amd ore comfortable than sleeveless shirts.

[steelerino]

I ride in short sleeve Columbia shirts and Rider’s Sleeves! You put the riders sleeves on and dunk them in water before you ride and they stay cool the whole time!

[Kato]

I am extremely fair and will sunburn in 15 minutes. I live where it’s very hot in the summer, but our humidity is low. So not sure if varying levels of humidity affect how each shirt works? Anyway, I too have an entire “herd” of these shirts.

My favorites, in order, although the first 3 are pretty close:
> Columbia Omni-Freeze ice - with a collar, part zip. Has meshy panels on the sides of the torso and one down the middle of your back. seems to fit pretty true to size. Probably my favorite except I couldn’t find it on sale in a good color. Bought on sale for about $40.
> Ex Officio - “sun sol” fabric. Love it!! Super silky, super light fabric, no mesh panels. Mine does not have a collar (so I can’t show in it) , not sure if you can get one with a collar or not. Runs a little large. Bought on sale for about $40.
> Marmot - don’t know if they have a special name for it, but it is the special sun fabric. LOVE the color and feel and fit. Has no collar, don’t know if they make one. Has mesh panels on the sides of the torso and most of the back. The mesh get pulls easily But otherwise the thing holds up super well. Even though it is white I don’t worry about having to wear another shirt underneath. Fabric is slightly heavier than the other 2 above. Runs true to size. Bought on sale for about $40.
> Bette & Court - beautiful quality, looks more “equestrian” than the other 3, and most suitable for showing. With a collar, part zip, and mesh on the bottom parts of the sleeves. Very light fabric with a texture to it. Runs large. Seems really similar to the EIS (which costs about the same), which I do not own but tried on, which runs small. More than twice as expensive as the other shirts, and not totally convinced it was really worth the money.
> REI brand sun shirt. Just not my favorite, not necessarily anything wrong with it, just don’t like it as much as the others. Pretty true to size. Bought on sale for (I think) less than $40.
> ROMPH sun shirt. Great because it is show quality. Has collar, mesh on bottom part of sleeves. Because it’s a horsey brand, it has a thing for a stock tie on the back of the collar. I don’t like that since I do jumpers, but other folks might count that as a definite plus. Heavy fabric, so it doesn’t seem quite as cool as the others, but I still like it. Even though I have white, the heavy fabric is easily thick enough I don’t have to worry about anything showing through. Runs a little on the large side. I think I paid around $55 or $60 on sale.

I passed on an opportunity to buy one of the Ariat shirts because I was told that the fabric has a coating which provides the UV protection, and as with any coating it will eventually wear off. I think all my shirts are the kind that the fabric itself blocks the sun – the only one I’m not real sure about is the ROMPH.

[ccr0009]

I love mine and the way it fits. However, while it is still comfortable in mild-warm weather, it is hotter than wearing a short sleeve top.
So if concern is what will I be coolest in: short-sleeves.
What can you avoid the sun with: ‘sun-shirts’

Low 70’s I can stand wearing mine, and I enjoy it, over that it gets a bit warm. I mean it’s similar to a fly sheet. A fly sheet doesn’t keep a horse cooler, but does protect against UV-rays/flies.

I have an Ariat one which I love. I do wish they were a bit cheaper just so I could have enough for every-day.