UPF Clothing Explained: Fish Longer, Burn Less

Ask any angler who's spent a full day on the water, and they'll tell you the sun is as much a part of fishing as the rod in your hand. Whether you're wading a flat at sunrise or running offshore at noon, hours of direct UV exposure add up fast — and your skin remembers every one of them.

That's where UPF clothing comes in. At DSG Outerwear, sun protection isn't an afterthought — it's engineered into the fabric itself. Here's a closer look at what UPF actually means, how it works, and why it belongs in your tackle bag right next to your favorite lures.

Why Sun Protection Matters On the Water

Sun awareness in fishing has come a long way. Ask any full-time guide, and they'll confirm it: skin cancer from long days on the water is a very real risk. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70.

The good news is that protecting yourself doesn't have to slow you down. Wearing sun protection clothing while fishing can:

Help prevent skin cancer

Help prevent painful sunburn

Keep you cooler and more comfortable on hot days

Shield you from the sun's harmful UV rays without constant sunscreen reapplication

What Is UPF, and How Is It Different From SPF?

These two acronyms get mixed up often, but they measure very different things.

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) measures how much UV radiation can pass through a fabric and reach your skin. UV radiation includes both UVB rays (which cause burning) and UVA rays (which cause premature aging). The higher the UPF rating, the less radiation gets through. A UPF 50 fabric blocks about 98% of the sun's rays, letting only 2% penetrate — and anything rated UPF 50+ blocks even more. On the low end, UPF 15 is considered the minimum meaningful protection level.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) measures how well a sunscreen protects your skin from UVB rays specifically. SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, and SPF 50 blocks about 98%. For the best protection, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) that guards against both UVA and UVB rays.

The takeaway: sunscreen and UPF clothing aren't competitors — they're teammates. Sunscreen degrades over the course of a long day, but the UPF rating in your shirt doesn't rub off, sweat off, or wash out mid-cast.

How Does UPF Fabric Actually Work?

UPF protection comes down to advanced fabric construction and materials. A few key factors determine how well a fabric blocks UV rays:

Tighter weave. Densely woven fabric leaves far less space for UV rays to slip through than a loose or sheer weave. A simple test: hold the fabric up to light. If you can see through it easily, UV rays probably can too.

UV-blocking additives. Some UPF garments — including DSG's open water fishing styles — are treated with sun-blocking compounds during production for an added layer of defense beyond the weave itself.

Synthetic materials. Fabrics like polyester and nylon generally offer better built-in UV resistance than natural fibers like cotton, making them a smart foundation for technical fishing apparel.

Color and fit matter too. Darker or brighter colors absorb more UV rays than pale colors, shiny polyesters can actually reflect radiation, and a looser fit helps preserve a fabric's protective structure over time — tight clothing stretches, and as fibers pull apart, protection breaks down. Regular wear and tear has the same effect, so it's worth replacing sun shirts once they start looking stretched or worn thin.

DSG's Open Water Fish Collection: Built for the Water You Actually Fish

Every top in our Open Water Fish collection is rated UPF 50+, meaning less than 2% of the sun's UV rays make it through to your skin. That's engineered directly into the fabric through tight-weave construction and UV-blocking treatments — not bolted on as an afterthought. Here's a look at a few standouts:

Solid Fishing Shirt – Made from an 88% polyester/12% spandex blend, the Solid Fishing Shirt pairs UPF 50+ protection with moisture-wicking performance in an ultra-soft, comfortable and functional package. It's built with the highest rating on the ultraviolet protection factor scale to keep you safe on those long days on the water.

Sydney Shirt – Also crafted from an 88% polyester/12% spandex blend, the Sydney Shirt delivers UPF 50+ coverage to shield you from harmful UV rays, plus moisture-wicking fabric to keep you dry and comfortable from the first cast to the last.

Nora 2.0 Hooded Shirt – Built from an 88% polyester/12% spandex blend, the Nora 2.0 delivers UPF 50+ protection and moisture-wicking performance in a hooded silhouette — perfect for extra coverage on sunny days out on the water.

Victoria 2.0 Snap-Up Shirt – Made with a 90% polyester/10% spandex blend, the Victoria 2.0 offers UPF 50+ protection and moisture-wicking comfort in an easy snap-up style that layers effortlessly over your favorite tank or swimsuit.

Lydia 2.0 Dock Short – Crafted from 100% polyester, the Lydia 2.0 Dock Short provides UPF 40+ protection along with moisture-wicking fabric, making it a go-to bottom for warm days spent dockside, boat-side, or just soaking up the sun.

Whether you're chasing redfish in the shallows or trolling offshore, the collection is built to keep you covered without weighing you down: breathable performance fabric, lightweight feel, and coverage where you actually need it — shoulders, arms, and neck — so you can fish all day without dreading the sunburn on the ride home.

Sun Protection That Doesn't Stop at the Dock

Sun exposure doesn't end when you step off the boat, and neither should your protection. DSG's Lifestyle collection brings that same UPF technology into everyday pieces designed for life on and around the water:

Callie Lightweight Zip-Up – Lifestyle/Fishing For those who want sun protection that transitions easily from the boat to everyday life, the Callie Lightweight Zip-Up combines a soft cotton blend French Terry fabric (60% cotton/40% polyester) with UPF 50+ treated protection. Moisture-wicking properties keep you dry, while the relaxed, cozy feel makes it just as at home on land as it is on the water.

Active Legging – Lifestyle Crafted from 80% Polyester/20% Spandex, the DSG Active Legging provides UPF 50+ protection along with moisture-wicking fabric, making it a staple bottom for cruising trails, cruising lakes, or just running your daily errands.

Kindra Windbreaker – Lifestyle Built for days when wind and sun both show up uninvited, the Kindra Windbreaker pairs a sleek exterior ripstop polyester shell with a breathable mesh lining and UPF 50+ protection. A C0 DWR treatment on the face of the fabric helps it shrug off light moisture, making it a solid throw-on layer for breezy mornings on the water or anywhere else the elements get unpredictable.

Emma Tank – Lifestyle Proof that sun protection doesn't have to feel technical, the Emma Tank is crafted from a soft, lightweight 95% bamboo viscose/5% spandex knit that still delivers UPF 50+ protection. It's an easy layer for errands, travel, or unwinding after a day on the water — comfortable enough for everyday wear, with the same UV defense as the rest of the collection.

Vintage Tee – A wardrobe staple with built-in sun defense, the Vintage Tee is made from a soft 62% polyester/33% rayon/5% spandex knit jersey that delivers UPF 50+ protection in an easy, everyday fit. It's a go-to tee for running errands or hanging out after a morning on the water, offering the same UV coverage as the rest of the collection in a fabric that feels effortless.

What to Look For When Choosing Sun Protection Clothing

With so many options out there, here's what actually matters when you're shopping for sun protection gear:

Rating: Look for a UPF of at least 30, though UPF 50+ offers the best protection available.

Coverage: Long sleeves and long pants beat short sleeves every time. Covered skin is protected skin.

Fit: A relaxed, breathable fit holds up better over time than something tight and stretched.

Construction: Densely woven synthetic fabrics consistently outperform thin or sheer materials.

The extras: Don't stop at a shirt. Hats, gloves, and face masks close the gaps that a shirt alone can't cover.

5 Bonus Tips for Protecting Yourself From the Sun While Fishing

Layer sunscreen with clothing, not instead of it. Sunscreen breaks down over time, so pairing it with UPF gear gives you more consistent, all-day protection.

Aim for UPF 30 minimum — UPF 50+ for maximum protection. The higher the rating, the less UV gets through.

Wear a hat. A baseball cap helps, but a wide-brimmed sun hat protects your ears and neck too.

Protect your hands. They're often the most exposed — and most forgotten — part of your body on the water. Sun gloves cover the tops of your hands where damage tends to happen first.

Protect your eyes. UV exposure can lead to sunburn and even cataracts over time. A quality pair of polarized sunglasses protects your eyes and the delicate skin around them — with the bonus of helping you spot fish beneath the surface.

The Bottom Line

Sun protection isn't just about comfort — it's about making sure you're still able to enjoy the water for decades to come. With UPF 40 & 50+ built into our Spring '26 Open Water Fish collection, DSG Outerwear makes it easy to gear up once and fish hard all day, every day.