UV arm sleeves: the complete guide

If you play golf, bowl, garden, walk or spend a lot of time behind the wheel, your forearms cop more sun than almost any other part of you. UV arm sleeves are a simple answer. They are two light, stretchy sleeves you slip on over your arms, and peel off again when you head inside.

This guide covers what sleeves do, what the numbers on the label mean, how they fit and feel, and how to choose a pack. Plain answers, no jargon and no big promises.

What UV arm sleeves are

A pair of arm sleeves is two separate sleeves, one for each arm. Each one runs from the wrist to the upper arm. You wear them with a short-sleeve shirt or polo, so you get long-sleeve cover without changing your whole outfit.

That is handy when your day moves in and out of the sun. Pull them on for the back nine or the front garden. Roll them off for lunch in the clubhouse. A pair folds small enough to live in a golf bag, a handbag or the glovebox.

Sleeves cover your arms and nothing else. Your face, neck, ears and the backs of your hands still need a hat, sunscreen or other cover. We say that up front because it is the question we hear most.

What UPF 50+ means, in one line

UPF tells you how much of the sun's UV gets through a fabric. UPF 50+ means no more than one fiftieth gets through, so the fabric blocks 98% or more of UV.

The current Australian standard sorts sun protective fabric into three groups: Minimum (UPF 15), Good (UPF 30) and Excellent (UPF 50 and 50+). Cancer Council recommends UPF 50 or 50+. For more detail, read what UPF 50+ means and UPF 30, 40 and 50+ compared.

UPF is not the same as the SPF on a sunscreen bottle. One is about fabric, the other is about sunscreen on skin. Our guide to UPF vs SPF explains the difference.

What the IceRays test shows

IceRays sleeves were tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample). ARPANSA is the Australian Government's radiation protection agency, and it offers a fabric testing service. Its report, reference 10484-1B, rated a Black Aqua-x/Spandex sleeve sample UPF 50+, in the Excellent category.

We want to be straight about what that means. The test covered that black sample, in 2015. The report rates the material, not the design of the sleeve. It does not cover every colour we sell today, and it is not an endorsement of IceRays by ARPANSA. You can read the details, and open the full report, on our test report page (PDF, opens in a new tab).

Who wears them

Most people who buy sleeves spend long, regular hours outside and are tired of reapplying sunscreen to their arms. Common reasons include:

• Golf. Four or five hours on the course with your arms out the whole time. See golf sun sleeves.
• Lawn bowls. Long afternoons on an open green. See lawn bowls sleeves.
• Gardening. The quick job that turns into two hours. See gardening sleeves.
• Driving. In Australia your right arm sits by the window. In the US it is your left. See driving sleeves and sun through a car window.
• Walking, fishing, tennis, cycling and more. Browse the activity guides.

Sleeves, sunscreen and the rest of your kit

Cancer Council's SunSmart advice is to use five steps together whenever the UV index is 3 or above. Slip on clothing, slop on SPF 50+ sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses. Arm sleeves are part of the first step. They do not replace the other four.

Where sleeves help is the arms themselves. Fabric does not need reapplying every two hours, and it does not sweat off or rub off on your towel. Many people wear sleeves on their arms and keep sunscreen for the face, neck and hands. Read arm sleeves vs sunscreen for a fair side-by-side.

Hands are easy to forget, especially on a steering wheel or a golf grip. IceRays also sells UV hand covers, and the Ultimate golf hat shades the head and neck. Check the UV index before you go, so you know what the day is likely to bring.

How they feel on a warm day

The fabric is thin and light. On a warm day, many wearers find a sleeve more comfortable than bare, sun-baked skin. As sweat or a splash of water dries off the fabric in a breeze, it can feel cool, a bit like stepping out of a pool. That is a comfort feeling, and it changes with the weather and the person.

We do not claim sleeves lower your skin temperature or keep you safe in the heat. On hot days, drink water, take breaks and find shade. Our guide do cooling sleeves work? looks at this honestly, and the wet test explains our older demonstration video.

Tracy, a golfer who recorded a video for IceRays, put it simply: "They're light, they're comfortable."

Fit: one size fits all adults

One size fits all adults, so there is no size to pick. The fabric stretches to sit smoothly from wrist to upper arm.

To put them on, bunch the sleeve up, slide your hand through, then smooth it up your arm. Reach forward and check that the top of the sleeve sits under your shirt sleeve, so no strip of bare skin shows. There are more tips, including help for stiff fingers, in will one size fit me?

Choosing a colour

The Australian store lists six colours: White, Black, Beige, Light Blue, Light Grey and Charcoal. Stock can differ between markets, so check the colour photos when you order. You can mix colours in a pack.

In general, darker fabrics absorb more UV than lighter ones of the same type. Our 2015 test was on a black sample. If that matters to you, read does sleeve colour matter? before you choose. Some bowls clubs ask for white, so check club rules too.

Looking after them

Follow the care label that comes with your sleeves. It is the right guide for your pair. Old, thin or faded fabric gives less protection than fabric in good condition, so replace sleeves when they start to look tired. That is one reason people buy a pack: one pair in the wash, one pair in the bag.

Choosing a pack

You can buy a single pair, a twin pack or a 4-pack. The 4-pack is the best value.

A 4-pack suits a couple who both play, a spare set for the car and the golf bag, or a gift. See the 4-pack or browse all sleeves. Still got questions? Our FAQ page covers the rest, or get in touch.