For years, sun-resistant clothing has carried a reputation for being technical and frankly, not very stylish, but performance brands are changing that perception. Today’s best men’s sun shirts combine lightweight protection with an elevated fit, soft fabrics, and designs that feel comfortable for every occasion. From sleek minimalist staples to coastal-inspired classics, these sun shirts are worth adding to your summer rotation.
The Everyday Essential: Vuori Short Sleeve Strato Tech Tee, $58
Vuori’s Strato Tech tee has quietly become the gold standard for elevated activewear, and for a good reason. The soft fabric and lightweight material offer mobility for performance as well as comfort for beach walks and workouts alike. This is the kind of shirt you throw on one time and immediately wish you owned it in every color.
An Adventure Staple: Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Shirt, $79
Patagonia’s Capilene Cool sun shirt has mastered the balance between technical function and laid-back style. Breathable, light, and airy, and built for serious heat, this is the shirt that you’ll want to pack for hiking trips, boat days, and all your other summertime getaways.
A Minimalist’s Pick: Arc’teryx Cormac Shirt, $80
The Cormac Shirt is sleek, incredibly versatile, and built for the sun, delivering high-performance protection without looking overly sporty. This is the shirt for the man whose summer wardrobe leans toward more understated, modern, and quietly luxurious.
The Hot Day Hero: Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Shirt, $120
Designed with extreme temperatures in mind, this shirt thrives in the type of sticky summer heat that makes most clothing unbearable. The perforated stretch fabric moves effortlessly and dries quickly, making this top perfect for travel days and outdoor activities alike.
The Gym-to-Beach Favorite: Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Shirt, $88
Lululemon’s Metal Vent line has earned its cult following thanks to its seamless comfort. This long-sleeve top transitions effortlessly from your morning workouts to afternoons in the sun, all while maintaining an athletic silhouette. This is performance wear that still feels refined enough to wear on the daily.
The Elevated Athletic Pick: Rhone Element Long-Sleeve Tee, $64
Rhone consistently delivers pieces that blur the lines between luxury and casual apparel, and the Element tee is one of their strongest offerings. Clean-cut, extremely airy, and tailored, it feels polished in a way that other sun shirts do not. You can think of this as the understated staple in your closet.
For a Country Club Classic: Peter Millar Featherweight Performance Sun Shirt, $98
Peter Millar has perfected that effortless coastal sophistication, and the Element tee captures this perfectly. Lightweight and breathable with a more sophisticated finish than most sun shirts, it feels equally as appropriate for golf courses as it does for a beach bonfire.
The Cool Coastal Option: Faherty Long-Sleeve Sunwashed Tee, $88
The Sunwashed tee has a perfectly broken-in feel from the very first wear, combining comfort with a laid-back beach town aesthetic. It is less overtly technical than some on this list, but that’s exactly what makes this top so appealing.