Sun sleeves for walking and everyday outdoor time

The short walk is the one we forget

At the beach most of us pack the hat, the umbrella and the sunscreen. For a quick walk round the block, we just head out the door. SunSmart says its research shows people are just as likely to get sun damage from a short walk as from a day at the beach, because they protect themselves better at the beach.

SunSmart puts it simply: if you can see skin, UV can reach it. Cancer Council advises sun protection whenever the UV Index is 3 or above, and UV can be high on cool, cloudy days. UV changes a lot across Australia, so check the free SunSmart app for your town.

What a sleeve does

An IceRays sleeve is a light, stretchy tube that covers the arm from above the elbow down to the wrist, the part a short-sleeved shirt leaves out. Think of UPF as SPF for clothes: a UPF 50+ fabric blocks 98%+ of the UV that lands on it.

A black sample of IceRays sleeve fabric was tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (PDF, opens in a new tab) and rated UPF 50+. The rating is for that sample, dry and unstretched. It is not a fresh test of each colour, or of a sleeve that is wet or pulled thin.

Under a short-sleeved shirt, a sleeve looks like a light long-sleeved layer. It is quicker than changing your top, and you can take it off again when you come inside. It covers arms, not faces, so a hat and sunscreen still look after the face, neck, ears and hands.

Keep a pair where you will need it

The best sleeve is the one you have with you. Pop a pair in your handbag, your walking pack, the glovebox, or by the back door with the dog lead. Good moments to slip them on:

• The morning walk or the dog walk.
• Hanging out the washing or ten minutes in the garden.
• Watching the grandkids' sport from the sideline.
• A table in the sun at the cafe.
• Waiting at the bus stop or at school pick-up.

Small habits make it stick. Hang a pair on the hook with your hat, so they go out the door together. Keep another in the car door pocket for the trip home. If you walk with a friend, agree on a quick sun check at the front gate: sleeves, hat, sunscreen. After a week or two it is as automatic as picking up your keys.

If you spend longer in the garden, our gardening page has more on tools, thorns and what sleeves can and cannot do.

In the car

If you drive, the arm by the window gets a lot of sun. In Australia the window arm is the right one. In the US and Canada it is the left. Cancer Council says side windows can let through a fair amount of UVA, depending on the glass and any tint.

A sleeve on the window-side arm is an easy fix for the drive home. Our driving page and our guide to sun through the car window explain more.

Comfort on a warm walk

Sleeves are light and stretchy. On a warm day some people dampen them under the tap, because the fabric can feel cool and fresh as the water dries. That is a comfort feeling, not a temperature promise. Wet fabric protects less, as Cancer Council points out, so let them dry, or swap to a dry pair, if you will be out for a while. Read more in do cooling sleeves work?

To put a sleeve on, bunch it down to the cuff, slip your hand through, ease it up your arm and smooth it out. Sit down to do it if that is easier. If your skin is thin or bruises easily, ease the sleeve on gently rather than dragging it. Our page on covering thin skin has more. One size fits all adults.

Everyday colours

The six colours are Beige, Light Grey, Charcoal, Black, White and Light Blue. Beige and Light Grey go with almost anything. Charcoal and Black look neat with darker clothes. White and Light Blue feel bright for summer.

For the same fabric, Cancer Council says darker shades usually absorb more UV than pale ones. Our 2015 test was on black only. See does sleeve colour matter? for the plain facts.

The rest of your walking kit

SunSmart's tips for walkers fit on one hand:

• Cover up with clothing, like sleeves or a long-sleeved top.
• Sunscreen on any skin that is left bare, SPF50+, put on 20 minutes before you go and again every two hours.
• A broad-brimmed or bucket hat to shade your face, neck and ears.
• Shady paths when you can, and walks planned for early morning or late afternoon, when UV is lower.
• Wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard. Paths and roads can reflect UV.

Buying for yourself or someone else

One pair is two sleeves. A second pair means one can be in the wash while the other is in your bag. Follow the care label on your sleeves.

In Australia the 4-pack is AUD 120: four pairs at $30 each, $31.80 less than four singles. US customers pay USD 100. Colours can be mixed, so one pack can cover you and your partner, or the glovebox and the handbag.

Buying for a parent? Our gift guide for older parents has ideas, and our guide to sun sleeves for seniors covers fit and comfort.

Watch: putting on a sleeve

Questions and answers