rash guards have elastic around the waist and sleeves to hold it in place while a surf shirt is sewn like a regular t-shirt.
Rash guards were once worn by real surfers many years ago before being abandoned for uselessness; surf shirts are worn by people who dont surf but want to appear as if they do. If your suit is giving you a burn, either 1) shave or 2) apply some petroleum jelly.
I wear surf shirts & I have been surfing for almost 20 years. Do you have a problem with that? To answer NewYorkSurfing's question, rash guards & surf shirts are pretty similar. Rash guards are more elastic, while surf shirts fit like a normal t-shirt. I prefer the surf shirts, as I find them to be more comfortable to surf in. It's really a win-win situation because both prevent rashes and they block UV rays - at least most do. Skin cancer is pretty serious, so any extra protection is well worth it in the long run.
useless how? I wore them under wetsuits to prevent neck and armpit rash and lo and behold it worked. Now I still wear them occasionally when I don't feel like doing the solitary sunblock back application contortions. I don't see what the relative advantage to the surf shirt is other then its "cool".
i wear both surf shirts AND rashguards...for blocking the sun in the summer AND sometimes under my wetsuit if I have alot of frequent sessions. I'm not cool though.
I think what Manisses is referring to is a surf company t-shirt such as quiksilver or billabong that is sold to people all over the world, including (*gasp) the non-surfing public. Rash guards pretty much sucked and surf shirts are the sh*t for surfing in warm water. Surf shirts are lightweight nylon and spandex, waterproof, SPF 50, and cut like a normal t-shirt which is more comfortable than any old rash guard. They sell anywhere from $20-50 bucks. Less sun on your back equals less a chance of skin cancer. Pretty much a win-win. And for us real men, they also prevent the old nipple rash/wax in the chest hair annoyance. Most have loops that attach to your board shorts so you dont ride up your back. And because no one want to see your ass crack/bony ribs/tramp stamp/beer belly/boyish abs/beef tits anyways. Wear one, please. Except you, ladies.
I guess I'm not cool anymore either. I wear them now pretty much all summer. I'm past the "I just need a couple good sunburns then I'm good" stage. I don't really want any sunburns and I especially don't like when sunblock gets on the wax and slicks up my board. Either way, lube up pretty good even if you're not planning on staying out long. I've been burnt many times when a dawn session got extended. I prefer a rashguard over a surfshirt because they're tighter and don't move around as much.
