How to choose the right rashguard?

Probably no other item of sportswear can boast such a demand as a rashguard. Having experienced an instant transition from the category of "surfing clothes" to the category of "gym clothes" without which effective aerobic and strength training is impossible, the rashguard amazes with its comfort, functionality and ability to change the appearance of its owner.

The word "rashguard" is a derivative of "rash" and "guard". Literally translated from English, it is "rash" and "guard". That is, a rashguard is a type of long-sleeved T-shirt for protection against rashes. It is not known for certain who invented the rashguard and when. According to one version, it was Australian surfers. According to another, it was the temperamental fans of jiu-jitsu and water sports in Brazil, who often sparred right on the sand in their swimwear after swimming. But there is a third version about the American origin of the protective T-shirt.

According to it, the rashguard was initially invented as a uniform for American football players. The fact is that the level of protective equipment for a player is extremely high - almost like a hockey player: helmet, boots, frame, gloves, knee pads, protection for the neck, ribs, hips. Active movements around the field in all this led to frequent changes of T-shirts (up to 8 times per training session). Wet clothing caused discomfort, but most importantly, it caused the protection to slip. American manufacturer and supplier of sports equipment, Under Armor, set a goal to create a T-shirt that would not have to be changed every half hour. This is how the football rashguard appeared. Its unique functionality was quickly appreciated by representatives of other sports.

The main advantages of a rashguard:

• Designed for wet and dry use.
• Maintains temperature balance: keeps muscles warm and removes excess heat.
• It has ideal elasticity, instantly wicks away sweat and dries quickly.
• The compression effect of the T-shirt improves blood circulation, which in turn allows you to quickly restore strength.
• At sea, it effectively protects the skin from the effects of ultraviolet radiation, sand, sea waves, jellyfish burns, and friction from surfing.
• On the tatami and in the fitness room it ensures a high level of hygiene, protects against contact with the skin of opponents and the surface of the exercise machines, thereby protecting against microtraumas, irritation, bacteria and fungi.

Thanks to these properties, rashguard has become an integral part of sportswear for water sports enthusiasts, mixed martial artists, cyclists, athletes, bodybuilders. It is worn with pleasure by men, women and children - all those who cannot imagine their life without active leisure. If you are just discovering a compression T-shirt, be sure to read our previous publication "What are rashguards - types, materials, care". And from this article you will learn how to choose the right rashguard.

CHOOSE THE SLEEVE LENGTH

The rashguard fits tightly to the figure. Structurally, the compression T-shirt can be short, in the form of a top - this is a purely female option, as well as long - such models are present in both the men's and women's clothing categories. In both cases, manufacturers produce rashguards with long and short sleeves. You can also find models with a 3/4 sleeve length.

Long sleeve rashguards are used in the following cases:

• For surfing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding and any other types of wave riding.
• For strength sports: bodybuilding, weightlifting, powerlifting, strongman, etc.
• For contact and mixed martial arts: karate, judo, aikido, sambo, MMA.
• For outdoor training in cool weather, such as: running, crossfit, workout, cycling.
• As a first layer of clothing under a wetsuit to prevent skin irritation from neoprene.
• As beachwear to protect the body from ultraviolet rays.
• As a separate outerwear on the beach or by the pool.

Rashguards with short and 3/4 sleeves are used in the following cases:

• For contact sports, where there is less risk of getting snags from the Velcro on the gloves: boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai.
• For training in the gym: crossfit, fitness, aerobics, tennis, stretching, bodyflex, shaping.
• For outdoor sports in warm weather.
• As beachwear to protect the body from ultraviolet rays.
• As independent outerwear on the beach or by the pool.
• Very rarely for water sports.

CHOOSING THE MATERIAL OF A RASHGUARD

A rashguard is a type of compression T-shirt, but unlike the latter, it is denser. It is made mainly from artificial and synthetic fibers. As a rule, the fabric contains polyester and lycra, less often nylon and natural bamboo. Almost all manufacturers use the same components, only in different proportions.

The percentage may vary, but within the following values:

• polyester from 80% to 87%,
• lycra from 20% to 13%.

Instead of lycra, you can find elastane or spandex. All of these are fibers made of polyurethane threads. The word "spandex" comes from the English word "expand", which means "to stretch". Outside of North America, spandex is commonly referred to as elastane. Lycra elastane and spandex have very similar properties, the main one being high elasticity. The fibers can stretch by 500% and then return to their original state. Among other advantages of lycra, we note the following:

• very thin material;
• resistant to dirt;
• practically weighs nothing;
• durable and wear-resistant;
• has low wrinkling;
• does not fade or discolor in the sun;
• has good air permeability;
• does not break down in water, including sea water;
• has low, almost zero allergenicity.

If a high percentage of lycra (spandex, elastane) affects better elasticity, then a high percentage of polyester - on greater density. Tactilely and in a number of characteristics, polyester resembles cotton. At the same time, it is one of the most durable and wear-resistant polymers - these are important properties for a rashguard, considering the loads that clothing experiences during training (especially where there is friction). In addition, polyester:

• light weight;
• does not absorb odors;
• has a beautiful appearance;
• very pleasant to the touch material;
• retains shape perfectly after deformation is removed;
• it wrinkles, but not as much as natural materials;
• has good water-repellent properties;
• is easy to care for and can be washed easily, dries quickly;
• is not sensitive to sunlight and microorganisms.

Recently, you can find rashguards made of fabric that, in addition to lycra and polyester, also includes bamboo fiber. "Bamboo" improves the vapor permeability of the product (the fabric breathes better), but reduces its strength. Such a rashguard cannot be considered worse in quality. It's just better to use such clothes not for contact sports, but for aerobic and strength training, for example: running, cycling, powerlifting.

CHOOSE THE SIZE OF THE RASHGUARD

The next step in choosing will be choosing your size. The European size scale of products is the same as for regular T-shirts:

• in the men's line - from S to 3XL,
• in the women's line - from ХS to 2XL.

Many manufacturers have developed their own size charts that take into account different parameters. Some take into account only weight and height, others: weight, height, sleeve length, chest size and product length. Some manufacturers also indicate biceps circumference.

• Waist circumference is measured 3-4 cm above the hips.
• Product length is measured from the shoulder to the bottom edge of the T-shirt.
• The full length of the sleeve is measured from the beginning of the neck along the lowered arm to the wrist.
• Chest circumference - along the most convex part of the chest, under the arms and along the shoulder blades.
• The size of the compression sleeves is determined by the circumference of the biceps, along the widest part of the biceps brachii.

Very often, items of the same size, but from different brands, do not match each other - they can be too small or too big. Therefore, every time you buy a new rashguard, do not rely on the size that is usual for you, but be sure to try on the product.

When buying offline, it is not difficult to do, which cannot be said when buying a rashguard in an online store. But there is a way out here too. Many manufacturers offer a service - "payment after trying on". That is, you order 2-3 items - try them on at the delivery department, leave the one that matches your size, and send the rest to the supplier. Yes, in this case, there are some inconveniences: express delivery offices do not always have fitting rooms, plus you bear additional costs for sending items that do not fit. But this is not a big price to pay to be guaranteed to receive the right item.

How should a rashguard fit?
A rashguard should fit snugly around your body, exerting light pressure on your muscles (it is a compression garment after all). At the same time, it should not restrict your movements or "burst at the seams". Also keep in mind that a too-loose fit completely deprives the rashguard of all its advantages - it turns into an ordinary training T-shirt.

How to evaluate the effectiveness of a rashguard?
To evaluate the effectiveness of a compression T-shirt, choose a set of exercises that affect the upper body. This can be a workout on exercise machines for a specific muscle group (biceps, chest, back, triceps, shoulders) or a circuit training of repetitive exercises for the upper body. Do the same work with a difference of a week: the first time - in a rashguard, the second time - without it, but in a regular T-shirt. In a properly selected rashguard, you will feel the effect both during the workout and the next day in the condition of the muscles of the body.

CHOOSING A DESIGN

By design, rashguards are conventionally divided into three groups:

1. Rashguards for jiu-jitsu, no-gi and grappling. The colors and print are approved by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). The design of the equipment reflects the skill level of the athlete, and the sleeves match the color of the jiu-jitsu belt. The most famous companies producing such equipment are Hayabusa, Tatami Fightwear and Scramble.
2. Designer rashguards with thematic designs in the style of wrestlers, bodybuilders, samurai, abstraction, mythical heroes and animals.
3. Classic single-color rashguards with the brand logo.

To apply images to the rashguard, we use sublimation printing technology. It is carried out by transferring paint from a solid state to a gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state. The transfer occurs at a temperature of 180-200°C. Certified, environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic paints are used for printing.

Sublimation printing allows you to transfer images of any complexity to fabric in high quality at high speed and achieve excellent wear resistance. The colors are bright and saturated. The print does not fade or become dull, even after several hundred washes. The image quality is photographic.

OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A RASHGUARD

You can find rashguards and regular compression T-shirts on sale. They are very similar in appearance. However, the former are much denser and stronger, plus they have a higher level of compression, while the latter are much softer and thinner. As a rule, manufacturers initially write on the product where the rashguard is and where the regular "compression" is.

When choosing a rashguard, be sure to pay attention to the shoulder area. In professional models, it and part of the sleeves from the back are made as one seamless piece (in the photo on the left). This element is connected to the rest of the rashguard using one flat seam. This pattern and method of joining provides previously inaccessible freedom of movement in the shoulder area, since there are no conventional seams (rashguard in the photo on the right).

At first glance, it may seem that all rashguards are very similar to each other (if you don't take into account the design), and there is no clear connection in the area of ​​application of this clothing. But this is not so. Unlike the "land" product, the rashguard for water sports is made denser. This compression T-shirt better protects the athlete's body from hypothermia, friction and sunlight. However, its seams are not able to withstand combat loads, which means that using such a roshguard on mats is impractical.

If you are buying a rashguard for the gym, wrestling or other types of mixed martial arts, we strongly recommend choosing a model only from well-known fighting brands - Scramble, Hayabusa, Tatami Fightwear. Their equipment is designed for strong friction, wrestling and heavy loads.

Next, we have compiled a short list for you - what else to pay attention to when choosing a rashguard.

• When buying a rashguard with long sleeves, you need to remember that they should reach the beginning of the wrist.
• Unfortunately, tall and thin people who choose a T-shirt by sleeve length will definitely lose in compression. Therefore, we recommend choosing a product with a short or 3/4 sleeve in a smaller size.
• Pay attention to the rashguard pattern, meaning the type of embossing. If it is not sublimation, but thermal transfer (it can be felt tactilely), then after a dozen washes the pattern may begin to crack, peel and flake.
• A very convenient option would be the presence of a silicone strip on the belt - it fixes the rashguard well.
• Antibacterial impregnation of the fabric is another key point when choosing rashguards. It prevents the development of fungi and bacteria on the fabric and has a long period of activity. The preparations used prevent microbes from absorbing nutrients from sweat and stop the growth of bacteria. Manufacturers usually immediately indicate its presence.
• It is worth mentioning one more technology that also effectively solves the problem of sweat odor - these are silver ions in fabric fibers. Under the influence of heat, they suppress the ability of microorganisms to reproduce.

Flat seams deserve special attention. This technology makes the rashguard more comfortable and pleasant to use. During intensive training, the body sweats actively, and a regular seam protruding from the product rubs and causes irritation. With a flat seam, the edges of the fabric are joined without folds, which means nothing protrudes and there are not even thickenings at the joints. You can make free, comfortable movements for as long as you like without any unpleasant consequences for your skin. At the same time, the flat seam reliably connects the elements of clothing, and the threads do not break under strong stretching. The structure of the flat seam is as elastic as the rashguard fabric itself. Be sure to check - pull the product on the seam and see how it behaves.

Conclusion

We strongly recommend buying a rashguard to everyone who actively trains. Don't skimp on your health, buy a compression T-shirt and forget about skin irritation, microtrauma, muscle pain. A rashguard will improve blood circulation. Maintain a comfortable body temperature balance. Speed up muscle recovery after training.

We should not forget about the aesthetic appearance of the athlete, especially those with a sculpted torso. An athlete in tight-fitting equipment looks very impressive - the attention of the opposite sex is guaranteed.

You can give preference to famous American, European and Asian manufacturers: Reebok, Under Armour, Venum, Fixgear, Hayabusa. Their lines include men's and women's rashguards with short and long sleeves of the highest quality. Or buy equally high-quality products of the popular Ukrainian brand FREEVER. The popular domestic manufacturer of clothing for sports and active recreation offers:

• Functional rashguards at low prices.
• Their thin polyester and spandex fabrics have excellent 4-way stretch, are very durable and wear-resistant.
• The T-shirts have antibacterial protection and good compression, ensuring a tight fit.
• The products are suitable for swimming, martial arts, cycling, walking, fitness, tourism.

We hope that our recommendations will help you make the right choice of rashgarad. And if you have any questions or doubts, you can always contact our experts or consult by phone.