Rash guards are worth it for surfers and grapplers.

Probably. If you surf, do jiu-jitsu, or spend a lot of time in the sun and water, yes. If you’re just going to the beach once this summer, you can skip it.

A rash guard is a tight, quick-dry athletic shirt originally made for surfers. It protects against board rash (the friction burn from wax and fiberglass) and sunburn. That’s why it’s called a “rash” guard — it stops rashes from wetsuit chafing and beach sand. Same material as a swim shirt, but usually better fit and more durable.

The main reasons to get one: sun protection (UPF 50+ is standard), no chafing under a wetsuit or life jacket, and less staph risk in grappling sports. For BJJ or wrestling, it’s basically mandatory in many gyms. For casual swimming, a $10 rash guard from Target works fine.

If you’re buying for water sports, get one with flatlock seams so it doesn’t rub. For BJJ, get one with a tighter, longer cut so it stays tucked in. Don’t overthink the brand — any name brand like O’Neill, Roxy, or Hayabusa is good enough.

Don’t confuse it with a compression shirt; those are for the gym and don’t have UV protection or quick-dry properties.

If you’re in the water more than twice a month, it’s worth having one.