The IceRays field guide
UV vs thorn protection, honestly
It is a fair question from gardeners: "Will your sleeves stop the rose thorns?" The honest answer is no. IceRays sleeves are made to cover your arms from the sun. They are not made to stop thorns, prickles or sharp tools. This page explains the difference, so you can pick the right cover for each job and not get a nasty surprise in the rose bed.
Two different jobs
Sun protection and thorn protection need almost opposite things from a fabric.
- Sun protection is about blocking UV, the part of sunlight that burns and damages skin. A fabric can do that while being thin, light and stretchy, so it is comfortable on a warm day.
- Thorn protection is about stopping a sharp point. That needs thick, tough material such as leather, heavy canvas or special puncture-resistant fabric. Those materials are heavier and warmer to wear.
No thin, cool sleeve can also be thorn-proof. If anyone tells you otherwise, be wary.
What IceRays sleeves are good for
UPF is a rating for fabric. UPF 50+ means the fabric blocks 98% or more of UV. IceRays fabric was tested by ARPANSA in 2015 (black sample) and rated UPF 50+. You can read what that test covered (PDF, opens in a new tab).
In the garden, that makes sleeves useful for:
- Weeding, planting and potting.
- Watering and picking.
- Mowing and edging, as long as there is no loose fabric near moving parts.
- Any time your forearms are out in the sun and there is nothing sharp to grab them.
They are thin and light, and sweat dries off them in a breeze, which can feel cool. And there is no sunscreen to reapply with muddy hands.
What they are not good for
Please do not rely on sun sleeves for:
- Roses, bougainvillea, blackberry, citrus or cacti. Thorns will go straight through thin stretch fabric.
- Pruning thick, woody shrubs, where branches spring back and scrape.
- Sharp tools such as secateurs, saws, hedge trimmers or brush cutters. Sleeves are not cut-resistant.
- Garden chemicals. Sleeves are not chemical protection. Follow the label on the product for what to wear.
- Protecting thin or fragile skin from knocks. Sleeves will not stop skin tears or bruising.
Thin stretch fabric can also snag. If a thorn catches your sleeve, check it afterwards. A hole lets the sun through at that spot, and worn or stretched fabric protects less.
What to wear for prickly jobs
For thorny work, choose gear made for the task:
- Gauntlet gloves. Long gardening gloves that run up past the wrist and cover part of the forearm. Leather or puncture-resistant styles are made for roses and pruning.
- A heavy long-sleeved work shirt, such as thick cotton drill or canvas.
- Purpose-made arm protectors for pruning, sold at garden centres and hardware shops.
- Safety glasses when cutting or trimming, to keep twigs out of your eyes.
These cover you from the sun too, of course, while you are wearing them. The trade-off is they are hotter, so save them for the jobs that need them.
Which cover for which job
| Job | Sun sleeves | Thorn gear |
|---|---|---|
| Weeding and planting | Good fit | Not usually needed |
| Watering and picking veggies | Good fit | Not needed |
| Pruning roses | Not enough | Gauntlets and a heavy shirt |
| Clearing blackberry or lantana | Not enough | Full heavy clothing, gauntlets, eye protection |
| Hedge trimming | Not enough | Heavy shirt, gloves, eye and ear protection |
| Spraying chemicals | Not suitable | Whatever the product label says |
Mix and match through the day
Most gardening sessions are a mix of jobs. A simple way to handle it:
- Start with your hat, sunscreen on your face and neck, and sun sleeves with your usual shirt.
- When you get to the roses, put the gauntlets on, or swap to the heavy shirt.
- When the prickly job is done, go back to the lighter setup so you do not overheat.
Keep both kits by the back door, so swapping is easy.
If you have thin or fragile skin
Skin often gets thinner and bruises more easily as we get older. A light sleeve covers the skin from the sun, but it will not cushion a knock or stop a scrape. If you are worried about skin tears or bruising, talk to your GP or practice nurse about the best way to protect your skin in the garden. Our page on covering thin skin and bruising has more general information.
Looking after your sleeves
Wash them as the care label says. Check them now and then for snags and thin patches, and replace them when they look worn. Read more in how to care for sun sleeves.
More for gardeners
- Gardening in the sun: how to cover up without overheating
- The best time to garden by the UV index
- Sun sleeves for gardening
- Do cooling sleeves work?
For the sun-cover part of your kit, the IceRays 4-pack is AUD 120 for four pairs, or $30 a pair. That saves $31.80 on four singles. One size fits all adults.
Related guides
Common questions
Are IceRays sleeves thorn-proof?
No. They are thin sun sleeves. Thorns can go through them. Use gauntlet gloves or a heavy work shirt for prickly jobs.
Will sleeves stop scratches from rose bushes?
Do not count on it. Rose thorns go through thin stretch fabric. Wear leather or puncture-resistant gauntlets for roses.
Will sun sleeves protect my thin skin from tears?
No. They cover skin from the sun but do not cushion knocks. If skin tears are a worry, ask your GP or practice nurse for advice.
What happens if a thorn snags my sleeve?
Check the fabric. A hole or thin patch lets more sun through at that spot. Replace the sleeve if it is damaged.
Can I wear sun sleeves under gardening gauntlets?
Yes, if it is comfortable. The sleeve covers the arm from the sun and the gauntlet handles the thorns.