Mens Rash Vest

What was once an essential piece of protective clothing underneath the wetsuit, this “lightweight athletic shirt” (as manufacturers like to describe it) is now so trendy and hip that some surfers actually wear their mens rash vests in more places than just the beach.

There was a time when mens rash vests were so functional that they came in black or grey. These days, these rash guards come in so many designs and color that one can (and does) wear them anywhere.

Gone are the days when a guy would simply check to see if the nylon rash protectors or wetsuits could be squeezed into without splitting at the seams before buying it. These days, surfers take into account the color of their surfboards and the design before even thinking of buying one, because wearing a rash vest that clashed with the boards colors could seem to onlookers like you couldn’t afford to buy your own surfboard.

Buying mens rash vests now means taking into account the color of the long john wetsuit you own so they wouldn’t look incongruous when they were worn together.

Long-sleeved, short-sleeved, three-quarter sleeves, round neck, v-neck, semi-turtleneck; whatever design you could think of in mens rash vests, manufacturers have it in stock somewhere. They even have neoprene rash vests, which is the same material as wetsuits are made of.

Men’s rash guard design is so varied that it has become a complete clothing line all by itself. Prices range from about $30 for a regular nylon rash guard, to $50 for one with UV protection, and upwards for a neoprene rash guard with UV protection properties.

What was once an exclusively a surfers accessory is now so popular, that it is used for scuba diving, kayaking and other water sports to name a few.

The shirt’s wicking abilities, light construction and slick material has made it, in the eyes of the manufacturer, a very marketable piece of athletic merchandize. So much so, that some professional golfers have been seen wearing mens rash vests during practice. In fact, Nike likes the material so much; it is now manufacturing some of its athletic shirts mixed with various grades of polyester in them. Whatever they do, Nike will have to step it up if it plans to enter the market niche for mens rash vests carved by the likes of Billabong wetsuits, O’Neill, Mare, Ironman wetsuits, Tiki and Aquaman, to name a few.

Now, if you are thinking of buying a great looking shirt that flaunts the results of your gym work without seeming to do so, why not spend a few extra bucks for a durable, lightweight and great-looking mens rash vest.