Rash Vest

A rash vest is great for comfort underneath a wetsuit. Thick wetsuits can become uncomfortable if worn for a long time. The movement in a wetsuit combined with the harsh material on the skin can cause skin irritation and rubbing.

Rash vests can also help you keep warmer underneath the wetsuit with an added layer of insulation.

A rash vest or rash guard can just be worn by its self and some materials can stop the body getting sunburnt and stops the harsh wind.

It can be uncomfortable putting a cold damp wetsuit on over your bare skin. A rash vest will normally dry quicker than a moist wetsuit, so when it is time to re-suit, a rash guard is great.

The rash vests are often made of Lycra material or similar composition in order to shield you from the ingredients used to make wetsuits. The lightweight Lycra will definitely keep you warmer under your wetsuit as well as making the wearing of a wetsuit much more comfortable.

The rash vests can come in either short sleeve or long sleeve designs. Some even have a special fleecy thermal lining in them as well, but this is mostly for cold-water zones.

Rash guards can also help protect your upper torso from chaffing on the surfboard and body boarding when paddling out. Those who surf, very frequently wear a rash vest as it can prevent the wax on surfboards from contacting the skin, as some people get a bad rash from the wax.

If you only have a thin wetsuit, but the water temperature is cooler than normal, then you'll find that the extra warmth given by a rash vest allows you to stay underwater much longer. Rash vests will offer you the very best thermal protection available and that is why even scuba divers and snorkelers that dive in relatively warm water use rash vests as much as they do.

The vest should be worn snugly against the skin, but not so tight as to hamper your movements necessary to swim. Rash vests can stretch a bit and different brands have different quality materials in them, which is why a known brand vest is recommended.

There are hundreds of colours, print patterns and deigns of rash guards, some are heavily labelled with brand names and some are a fashion statement by themselves. Some look like they have come out of a space aged movie. More and more people are wearing similar vests to stop getting sunburnt; others just wear them to cover up, or too look good.

A good quality rash vest is a great investment for more water sport fun. They offer maximum comfort while enhancing the performance you need to move adequately in your wetsuit.