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.
The 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 this review was done
We haven't used the Premium Long Sleeve Rash Vest, UPF 50+ ourselves yet. This review is built from Splash About's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
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.
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Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.