What is UPF vs SPF?

SPF vs UPF
Never
Compromise
Sun Protection
& Style

Designed for the life you actually live and love outside.

Sunscreen
SPF

Measures how long before UVB rays cause redness and visible skin damage — on cream alone. Washes off. Wears off. Reapply every two hours.

Topical · Degrades
Fabric
UPF

Measures how much UV radiation — UVA and UVB — a fabric physically blocks. No reapplication. No missed spots. Woven in permanently.

Structural · Always on
UPF 50 vs SPF 50 Sunscreen

Same number. Completely different protection. Here's why the UPF sun hat wins.

Sunscreen
SPF 50

Blocks UVB only — UVA rays that cause aging and deeper damage still get through

Degrades within 2 hours — heat, sweat, and water strip it away

Easy to miss spots — ears, hairline, back of neck routinely under-applied

Lab results assume a thick even layer — real-world use delivers far less

VS
GoldenOur Hat
UPF 50

Blocks both UVA and UVB — full spectrum protection from a single layer

Never degrades — protection is structural, not chemical. Works all day, every day

Zero missed spots — every inch the hat covers is fully protected, every time

Performance is guaranteed — tested and certified, not dependent on application

The real difference: SPF 50 sunscreen blocks about 98% of UVB rays under ideal lab conditions. UPF 50 fabric blocks 98% of all UV radiation — UVA and UVB — every single time you wear it, no reapplication required. Same number. Dramatically more reliable protection.

UPF Rating Explorer
UPF 50 is the threshold dermatologists recommend for serious sun protection.
15 Good
30 Very Good
GoldenOur 50 Excellent
UV Blocked 98%
Passes Through 1 in 50
BlockedTransmitted

Why UPF 50 is our standard: At UPF 50, fabric blocks 98% of UV radiation — the same threshold major dermatology associations recommend for daily protection. Protection you'll actually wear is better than maximum protection you leave at home.

What You're Blocking
Two types of UV. Both harmful. UPF handles both.
UVB · The burn ray
Surface Damage

Responsible for sunburn and direct DNA damage to skin cells. The primary driver of most skin cancers. SPF addresses this ray only — UPF blocks it too.

UVA · The aging ray
Deep Damage

Penetrates deeper, causing collagen breakdown and hyperpigmentation. Passes through glass. Present even on cloudy days. Sunscreen often misses it. UPF doesn't.

GoldenOur Sun Hat
Never Compromise
Sun Protection
& Style
Shop GoldenOur UPF Sun Hat

Never Compromise Sun Safety & Style