Key takeaways
- A Nashie is a collared, button-up UPF50+ swim shirt. The name is short for “Not a Rashie”, Aussie for rash guard.
- It's loose, doesn't cling when wet and dries in minutes, so you can swim in it and wear it to dinner.
- It runs smaller than typical US sizing, so if you're between sizes, size up.
A Nashie is a collared, button-up UPF50+ swim shirt. It looks like a proper shirt, you swim in it the way you would a rash guard, and it dries in minutes. So the Nashie you wore into the water is the one you wear to dinner.
Good to know: Nashie (na-shie), noun. A loose fitting, stylish swim shirt designed in Australia that looks good when worn in the water, and on land.
A Nashie at a glance
| What it is | A collared, button-up swim shirt |
|---|---|
| The name | Short for “Not a Rashie”. A rashie is what Australians call a rash guard |
| Sun protection | UPF50+, the highest sun protection rating for fabric, blocking 98% of UV rays |
| Fabric | A quick-dry polyester and spandex blend. Buttery soft, chlorine and salt water resistant |
| Fit | Loose. It sits off the skin and doesn't cling when wet |
| Range | Short sleeve, long sleeve, women's and swim trunks |
| Sizes | Men's S to 6XL, women's S to 5XL. Runs smaller than US sizing |
| Made by | Nashie. 100% Australian owned, started in Brisbane |
| Reviews | 6,000+ reviews, 4.9 stars |
Why it's called a Nashie
“Nashie” is short for “Not a Rashie”. In Australia, where Nashie started, a rash guard is called a rashie.
The rash guard was never designed for a day at the beach. It was made for surfers, to stop board wax rubbing their chests raw, and it's tight because it has to be. Everyone else borrowed it for sun protection because it already existed and it covered skin. Then we all spent a few decades peeling them off in parking lots.
A Nashie is the update. UPF50+ sun protection, in something you'd happily wear to dinner.
Nashie vs rash guard: what's the difference?
Rash guard, rash shirt, swim shirt. Different names, same garment: tight, stretchy, and pulled on over your head. Here's how a Nashie compares.
| Rash guard | Nashie | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Tight and stretchy | Loose, sits off the skin |
| Look | Sportswear | A collared, button-up shirt |
| When it's wet | Clings | Doesn't cling, doesn't go see-through |
| Getting it off | Peeled over your head | Unbuttoned |
| After the swim | You change | You keep it on. It dries in minutes |
| Sun protection | Usually UPF50+ | UPF50+ |
| Most at home | In the surf | At the pool, the beach, on the boat, and at dinner after |
“Nice swim shirt. Doesn't look or feel like a rash guard. Dried quickly.”
Berl T., verified buyer
What makes a Nashie a Nashie
It dries in minutes
Towel off, stand in the sun, and a Nashie dries in minutes while you're still wearing it. Sun and a bit of breeze do the work. Nothing hung over the pool fence. No sitting through lunch in something soggy.
UPF50+ sun protection
Every Nashie is rated UPF50+. That's the highest sun protection rating for fabric, blocking 98% of UV rays. And because it's a shirt you'd wear anyway, there's way less sunscreen to rub in, reapply and miss a spot with.
It looks like a real shirt
Collar. Buttons. A proper cut. From across the bar it reads as a shirt, not swimwear, which is the whole idea. Beach to bar.
It doesn't cling
Wet rash guards stick. A Nashie's fabric sits off the skin when it's wet and doesn't go see-through, so it drapes like a shirt in the water and out of it.
“Just as advertised, did not stick to me, dried fast and looked great! Wife even commented on how good it looked!”
Ben M., verified buyer
Buttery soft, and built for salt and chlorine
The fabric took 18 months to develop. It's buttery soft, it's chlorine and salt water resistant, and it hides sweat on a hot day. It doesn't need ironing either, which matters when it's living in a suitcase.
Where people wear a Nashie
The pool with the kids, then lunch. The beach, then dinner. A cruise with half the usual luggage. The boat, the lake, the backyard, the golf course. Anywhere you'd otherwise be choosing between covering up and looking sharp.
“Look good, swim, grab dinner after. All in the same shirt. Can't ask for more than that.”
Matt R., verified buyer
“Great shirts especially when you want to travel light. You can wear all day at the pool and then out to dinner and people will give you compliments.”
Andre, verified buyer
The Nashie range and sizing
Nashies come in men's short sleeve and long sleeve, a women's range, and matching swim trunks. Men's sizes run S to 6XL and women's S to 5XL.
Nashies run smaller than typical US sizing. If you're between sizes, size up, and check the size guide for the measurements.
“Sizes run small for Americans, so make certain you consult the size guide!”
Steven C., verified buyer
A lot of Nashies are bought by somebody else. The wife, the mom, the daughter who's seen enough of him in a rash guard. If that's you, the size guide takes two minutes.
Who makes Nashies?
Nashie is 100% Australian owned. It started in Brisbane, Australia with Tom and Ash, who wanted sun protection people would keep on all day without being asked. Surf lifesaving clubs around Australia are now asking for Nashies as their club shirts, Nashie has been featured in Australian media, and orders ship across Australia, to New Zealand, the US and beyond. The full story is on the About Us page.
Frequently asked questions
What does Nashie stand for?
“Nashie” is short for “Not a Rashie”, which is Australian for “not a rash guard”. It's a collared, button-up UPF50+ swim shirt, made by the Australian brand of the same name.
Is a Nashie a rash guard?
It does a rash guard's job: UPF50+ sun protection you can swim in. It just isn't built like one. A rash guard is tight, stretchy and pulled on over your head. A Nashie is loose, collared and buttons up the front, so it passes as a normal shirt once you're out of the water.
Can you swim in a Nashie?
Yes, that's what it's for. The fabric is quick-dry, chlorine and salt water resistant, and sits off the skin when it's wet. A Nashie is a loose fit, so it's made for the pool and for calm water where you can comfortably stand. The proper use guide has the details.
How fast does a Nashie dry?
In minutes. It dries fastest while you're wearing it in the sun with a bit of breeze, after a quick towel off. It takes longer in the shade, in humid weather, or hung up indoors.
Is a Nashie UPF50+?
Yes. Every Nashie is rated UPF50+, the highest sun protection rating for fabric, blocking 98% of UV rays.
Does a Nashie cling or go see-through when wet?
No. The fabric sits off the skin when it's wet and doesn't go see-through, so it drapes like a shirt in the water and out of it.
How does Nashie sizing run?
Smaller than typical US sizing. If you're between sizes, size up. Men's sizes run S to 6XL and women's S to 5XL, and the size guide has the measurements for each one.
Is there a women's Nashie?
Yes. The women's Nashie range comes in short sleeve and long sleeve, in sizes S to 5XL.
How do you wash a Nashie?
Machine wash in cold to warm water, up to 30°C (86°F), and tumble dry on low. No bleach and no dry-cleaning. It doesn't need ironing.
Where can you buy a Nashie?
Right here at thenashie.com, with free shipping on 2+ shirts and easy returns.
Is Nashie an Australian brand?
Yes. Nashie is 100% Australian owned and started in Brisbane. You can read the full story on the About Us page.