You're standing in front of your drawer at 7am with a toddler already halfway out the door towards the water, and you need to grab something that's going to protect your skin, actually stay put while you're chasing a four-year-old through the shallows, and not make you feel like you're wearing a wetsuit to a backyard swim. We get it. Rash guards, long sleeve swimsuits and crop rashguards all promise sun protection - but they're not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one for your day means either overheating on the walk to the beach or reapplying sunscreen every twenty minutes while you're meant to be watching the kids.
Here's the real difference, and how to pick without the guesswork.
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All three block UV rays with UPF-rated fabric (usually UPF 50+, which blocks about 98% of UVA and UVB), so on that front they're all doing their job. Where they differ is coverage, freedom of movement, and how they layer with the rest of what you're wearing.
If you're the parent who's in and out of the water all day - one minute chasing a runaway bucket, the next sitting on the sand reapplying sunscreen to someone else's shoulders - a rash guard like the Serangan is the easiest thing to just leave on. It sits close to the body, doesn't ride up when you're bending down for the hundredth time, and gives you full arm and torso coverage over whatever bikini or bottoms you're already wearing. It's also the fastest to throw on over a swimsuit you're already wearing when the sun gets stronger mid-morning.
Best for: long beach days, reef walks, paddling with kids, anyone who wants coverage without switching their whole swimsuit.
Long Sleeve Rash Guard - The Serangan
The easiest layer to leave on all day at the beach - full arm and torso coverage without changing your swimsuit.
$90.00 AUD
Shop the Serangan Rash Guard →A long sleeve one-piece like the Sulawesi is built to be the whole outfit - no bikini underneath, no separate top and bottom to keep adjusted. For a lot of mums, that's the appeal: less fuss, more support, and a sculpted fit that holds everything in place while you're diving under waves after a toddler or actually getting a lap in yourself. It's also the warmest of the three, since it covers the torso and legs in one piece - genuinely useful on those days the wind picks up on the beach.
Best for: swimming laps, surfing, freediving, anyone who wants full coverage and support in a single piece with nothing to readjust.
Long Sleeve Swimsuit - Sulawesi Nautical (Best Seller)
One piece, full coverage, sculpted support - nothing to readjust while you're in the water with the kids.
$230.00 AUD
Shop the Sulawesi Nautical →The Sumba crop rashguard splits the difference - long sleeves and full UPF protection on your arms, shoulders and torso, paired with a bikini bottom or a high-waisted bottom, for a fit that still feels like a bikini, not a wetsuit. It's the pick for the mum who wants the sun protection but doesn't want to feel like she's disappearing into fabric - you still get to feel like yourself, just protected.
Best for: snorkelling, beach days where you want to feel a bit more "you," pairing with existing bikini bottoms.
Long Sleeve Crop Rashguard - The Sumba
Full arm and torso protection with a cropped, bikini-style fit - sun-safe without feeling like safety gear.
$120.00 AUD
Shop the Sumba Crop Rashguard →| Rash Guard (Serangan) | Long Sleeve Swimsuit (Sulawesi) | Crop Rashguard (Sumba) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Torso + arms | Full body | Torso + arms, cropped |
| Worn with | Bikini/bottoms (own) | Nothing - it's the full suit | Bikini bottom |
| Best for | All-day beach, layering | Swimming, surfing, one-and-done | Snorkelling, feeling like "you" |
| Warmth | Light | Warmest of the three | Light |
| Ease of movement | High | High, sculpted fit | Highest |
Not sure which is right for your body and the way you actually swim? See the full sun-protective swimwear range.
And there's no rule that says you need to pick just one. A lot of Ocean Soul customers keep a Serangan rash guard in the beach bag as backup even on long sleeve swimsuit days, for when the sun gets stronger than expected mid-afternoon.
A rash guard is a top worn over a swimsuit or bikini bottoms, while a long sleeve swimsuit is a complete one-piece suit on its own. If you want one item that does everything, go long sleeve swimsuit; if you want a layer you can add over what you're already wearing, go rash guard.
UPF 50+ fabric blocks around 98% of UVA and UVB rays and doesn't wear off in the water the way sunscreen can, so it's more reliable for all-day coverage on the areas it covers. You'll still want sunscreen on any exposed skin - face, hands, feet.
Most UPF swim fabric is lightweight and quick-drying, designed to be worn in the water rather than out of it, so it's built to stay cool while swimming. It'll feel warmer than a bikini once you're out of the water and in direct sun, which is when a rash guard or crop style can feel more breathable.
A rash guard is usually the easiest - it stays in place through constant movement, doesn't need adjusting, and pairs with whatever bottoms you're already wearing.
They work well together rather than as a substitute for each other. Sunscreen needs reapplying every couple of hours and washes off with water and towelling; UPF fabric keeps its protection level all day without reapplication on the areas it covers.
There's no single "best" between these three - just the one that matches what your day actually looks like. If you want the least fuss, go long sleeve swimsuit. If you want a layer you can add and remove, go rash guard. If you want coverage that still feels like your swimwear, go crop rashguard. Whichever you pick, you're covered - literally.
Find the sun-safe style that actually fits your day.
Shop Sun-Protective Swimwear
Rash guards, long sleeve swimsuits and crop rashguards all promise sun protection - but they're not interchangeable, and picking the wrong one for your day means either overheating on the walk to the beach or reapplying sunscreen every twenty minutes while you're meant to be watching the kids.
Many travellers imagine snorkelling as a quick swim from the beach. In Bali, it's often much more than that. A typical snorkelling day might begin with an early morning boat ride before visiting several reefs across different islands.
There comes a point in every Bali trip where you start to feel it - the pull to go further. Beyond the cafés, beyond the beach clubs, beyond the familiar rhythm of Canggu and Uluwatu. Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands, and while Bali is the gateway, it’s only the beginning.
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