Splash About
Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest, UPF 50+
7.8/10 overall£18.00
A fully lined, UPF 50+ long-sleeve swim top that covers shoulders and arms without the reapplication hassle of cream.
Check priceThe verdict
Splash About's Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest is a fully lined, UPF 50+ zip-front swim top in polyester/elastane, priced at £18 and sized from 1-2 years upward. It's best used alongside cream and a hat rather than as a replacement, since it protects only the torso and arms it actually covers. The clearest reason to buy it: unlike cream, it never wears off, sweats off or gets missed in a rushed reapplication.
Where the other suncare products in this list are things you apply, this is something you put on and forget about — a zip-front rash vest in 92% polyester/8% elastane, rated UPF 50+, that covers the torso and arms so there's less bare skin needing cream in the first place. It's lined rather than a single layer of swim fabric, which stops the seams and zip pull chafing against wet skin during an hour of splashing about at the pool or on the beach.
Against a sun cream like Childs Farm or Green People in this list, the trade-off is straightforward: a rash vest never wears off, sweats off, or gets missed in a rushed reapplication, but it only protects the skin it actually covers — you still need cream on the face, hands, and legs. It's best used together with a hat and cream rather than as a replacement for either, which is how most parents end up using it in practice.
Sizing starts at 1-2 years rather than newborn, so it suits toddlers and preschoolers more than very young babies who are usually kept in the shade or under a pram parasol instead. The front zip makes it faster to get on a wriggling toddler than a pull-over UV suit, though the zip pull itself is worth checking sits away from the chin on the smallest sizes.
Compared with a full UV wetsuit-style sunsuit, this is lighter and quicker-drying since it's not neoprene, which suits warm-weather beach and pool use rather than cold-water swimming. It's a sensible, low-cost addition to a suncare routine rather than a standalone solution — five separate colours are available, mainly a styling choice rather than a functional one.
Is the Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest, UPF 50+ worth it?
- UPF 50+ protection that never wears off or needs reapplying
- Fully lined to reduce chafing from seams and the zip pull
- Quick front-zip fit for a wriggling toddler
- Lightweight and quick-drying for warm-weather use
What are the downsides of the Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest, UPF 50+?
- Sizing starts at 1-2 years, not suitable for young babies
- Only covers torso and arms — still need cream on face, hands and legs
Specs
- sizes
- 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7 years
- lining
- Fully lined
- closure
- Front zip
- colours
- 5 (Neon Blue, Orange, Neon Lime, Neon Pink, Lilac)
- material
- 92% polyester, 8% elastane
- upf_rating
- UPF 50+
How we scored it
Protection Level
How much genuine UV protection the product delivers day-to-day — SPF/UPF rating, coverage area, and whether it holds up to real conditions like water, sweat and reapplication.
UPF 50+ coverage is consistent and never wears off like a cream, but it only shields the torso and arms — face, hands and legs still need separate protection, which caps it below a full-body sun cream on raw coverage.
Comfort & Practicality
How easy the product is to actually use with a wriggling baby or toddler — application, fit, breathability, and whether it survives a real outing without a meltdown.
Value for Money
Protection and durability delivered relative to the price paid, including how many uses or applications you get before replacing.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How it compares
|  | JoJo Maman BébéFlap Sun Hat UPF 50 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £18.00 | £12.00 | £14.00 | £12.99 |
| Overall score | 7.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.7/10 | 7.5/10 |
| closure | Front zip | — | Tie under chin | — |
| material | 92% polyester, 8% elastane | — | 100% recycled polyester outer, 100% cotton lining | — |
| upf_rating | UPF 50+ | — | UPF 50 | — |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Splash About rash vest replace sun cream?+
No — it only protects the torso and arms it covers, so you still need cream on the face, hands and legs. It's best used together with a hat and cream rather than as a standalone solution.
What ages does the Splash About rash vest fit?+
Sizing starts at 1-2 years rather than newborn, so it suits toddlers and preschoolers more than very young babies, who are usually kept in the shade or under a pram parasol instead.
Is the Splash About rash vest comfortable for a wriggling toddler?+
It's fully lined to reduce chafing from the seams and zip pull, and the front zip makes it faster to get on than a pull-over UV suit, though it's worth checking the zip pull sits away from the chin on the smallest sizes.
How does it compare to a full UV wetsuit-style sunsuit?+
It's lighter and quicker-drying since it isn't neoprene, which suits warm-weather beach and pool use rather than cold-water swimming.