CRESSIJunior Rash Guard UV Sun Protection (UPF) 50+, Short / Long Sleeve - Cressi Italian Quality Since 1946

Wonderful product. We had no worries about sunburn this summer. Comfortable, bright, fun!

Fantastic quality and my son loves it.

Cressi Junior Protective Tee-shirt (Blue - Short Sleeve - Size L/4)This type of technical tee-shirt is really useful for the kids on the beach. It allows them to stay out all day without getting sunburned or chilled (though you'll need to put sunscreen on the exposed areas like hands, face and arms). Because they dry so quickly, these tee-shirts work just as well whether they're wet or dry. This product from Cressi is excellent quality with lots of little design features that means it does a really good job. However, sizing information provided in the listing is inadequate, so it's hard to know how you'd choose which size to choose (I've set out the Cressi shorty size chart below).=== THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT ===* Good quality technical fabric that's really stretchy, so it provides a good fit without restricting range of motion (the nylon contains 8% elastane)* Well-stitched throughout with no loose threads or snags* Stretchy neck band which protects the neck from the sun but is still reasonably easy to get over the head* Attractive design with flashes of white on sky blue and Cressi branding front and back* Light in weight - weighs just over 100g* Made by family-owned company Cressi which has specialised in snorkling and diving equipment for decades (they are apparently the oldest scuba diving company in the world)* Minimal packaging (just a clear plastic bag)=== NIGGLES ===* Says 'Italian quality since 1846, but the label says the tee-shirt is made in Cambodia* Cressi seems to be living in the last century so far as colourways are concerned, since they only produce these tee-shirts in either baby blue for boys or baby pink for girls - yawn! That will limit the available market.* This online listing provides an insufficient description of sizing for people to be able to make an informed decision about which size to buy. All the listing says is that the product is available in I-II-III-IV-V and the drop-down menu gives the options XS/1, S/2, M/3, L/4 and XL/5, without specifying what these mean. The label sewn into the tee-shirt itself says "L/4 10-11", but you won't get to see that till it's delivered. Children vary so much in size and shape that giving an age range is tricky so height and weight can be more useful indicators. I found this tee-shirt to be exactly the same size as the Cressi shorty wetsuit I have in a age 9-10, so perhaps the wetsuit size table would provide some sort of guide to which size to order. Here's the information provided on the shorty swing tag:YEARS HEIGHT WEIGHT8 120-135 cm 47-53" 26-32 kg / 57-71 lbs10 135-145 cm 53-57" 32-39 kg / 71-85 lbs12 145-155 cm 57-61" 39-45 kb / 85-100 lbs* Although labelled 10-11, this fitted the 9-year old perfectly so may be a bit tight on an 11-year oldFor sale at the time of writing this review at £16.98.

Back in my day the type of person who wore a rash guard was a surfer who was trying to prevent chest irritation from hopping on and off their board. This is still the case with the youngsters who wear them to use on bodyboards, bu they are also somewhat of a fashion statement. They now get used as part of a regular swimming lesson. They have the added benefit of covering the entire torso so are warmer and protect from the sun. The 'Cressi Junior Lycra Rash Guard' is a good example. The light material has a slight waterproofing feel to it that helps in the water and it does prevent UV light. As this is Lycra, the material is also a little clingy and tight. This is great to give a figure forming fit, to allow better swimming speed and movement, but does mean that the sizing is a little on the small side. For example, the large would struggle to cover a typical 10 year old boy, but was perfect in size for an eight year old.

I was actually confused about the sizing for this rash guard when I ordered it as I don't think the sizing is very clear and it doesn't have a clear sizing guide on the product page. I can confirm that according to the label the L/4 size is actually intended for a 10-11 year old however there is no way this would fit an 11 year old and I actually think it is more intended for a size 7-8 year old.The vest itself is very well made and my two minor issues with it would be the sizing and the quite scratchy label on the neckline which we will end up having to try to cut out somehow. The guard itself is a lovely bright blue colour with the Cressi name on the front and a bird shape on the back both in white against the blue main body of the guard. The stitching is well done and the guard reasonably stretchy. I'm familiar with Cressi as I actually have one of their shortie wetsuits myself from my diving, which is still going strong almost ten years after buying it and so I have high hopes this guard will last a while too if cared for properly (rinsed well after use and left to dry in the shade) and be able to be used by both of my children.

This is a great shirt for keeping a youngster protected from the harmful effects of UV as ordinary T-shirts don't always offer this type and degree of protection from UV light. Being short sleeved you still have to thoroughly douse the arms from just above the elbow down with sun cream but it should provide a saving overall as you're not having to cover your child's trunk. The shirt is well put together and flat stitched so there's no ridges to irritate if they're in and out of the pool whilst wearing it and the collar around the neck is quite deep. It is on the small size fit wise. Our toddler who is big for his age (3, but closer in size to a 6 year old) nearly filled it, given that we got an L/4 I was quite surprised. Good quality material, does the job and despite the limited colour choice (pastel blue or pink) but these colours will fit with most active wear, however, you may need to order a size bigger than you would normally to get one that fits.