I'm tired of getting sunburned, and am understanding a high convienance factor just putting on some sunscreen on the hands, neck and face and rolling out.

Can anyone recommend anything in particular, like thickness? Maybe throw in a good online outlet to get it at?

When I surfed, just about any rash guard would work.  Some lasted longer than others but all of them did the job.



O'Neill  is a pretty good brand. http://www.rashguardshirtco.com/page/R/CTGY/oneillrash




 

Yeah, as stated above, look into surfing rash guards, they'll do the trick.

2/3 shorty wetsuit would work fine, if you want something heavier than the rash guard.  I have a DeepSee 2/3 (not a shorty, though) that I used for warm-water diving, and that my uncle used for surfing out in California a couple times.

Dive Skin?

Dive skin is just what I was thinking of.

I have seen some that have a SPF 50 rating too.

For swimming, I just bought a white Under Armor shirt from Dick's and wear it all the time at the local pool when I go with the family. It really does block almost all UV, and 4 hours later when I got home, I took my UA off and my back and shoulders weren't burned at all (no skin color change at all). I also like how it retains very little water compared to a cotton tee shirt when you get out of the pool. In a few minutes in the sun, it just feels damp. I wish I had remembered to put SPF on the tops of my feet though! Uh... shoes suck with burned feet. For $28, it was a deal.

I've always worn O'Neil or Hurley rash guards when surfing.  



Though a guy walking around with a wearing a rash guard at the beach/pool without a board = fail

Spray on sun block takes two minutes to apply.

I windsurf and have a lot of experience in this matter...  Will be in Maui in for 2 weeks in about a month, and that sun is brutal on an Anglo-Saxon.  I always wear a long sleeve rash guard when on the water there.

Don't wear neoprene unless you need it for thermal protection.  It will be too heavy and restrictive!  You want lycra and you want it with a tie down to your trunks.

Any will work, but my best results with durability have been with Body Glove.  Note that many sunscreens (especially Hawaiian Tropic) will stain lycra, but you're not in a fashion show anyway.  The below is an example, I'm not endorsing this company in any way:

http://www.rashguardshirtco.com/page/R/PROD/bodygloverash/1211

Surfboard at the pool = bigger fail.

Durability is a big plus...

ETA:  Do you just order your shirt size?

Yes, but be advised that they are supposed to be tight.  You may not want to buy online unless your are confident of sizing.  It would be best to try one on.  The more they stretch, the more they let sun in.  Common sense will tell you when it fits well.  You might just want to buy a generic one at Dicks (insert your local sports store here), then if you like it get a better one in time...  Once you use one, you'll never go back, because it becomes quite clear to you just how fatiguing the sun can be...

The SPF of a rash guard is precise.  The SPF of sunscreens is kind of a crock, and should only be used as a relative strength.  The reason is because the SPF of sunscreen is normally tested at application levels that you'll never see used in reality.  Don't get me wrong, they work but you're not getting 50 times your natrual protection if it says SPF 50.  Maybe if it's still white thick and oily you might, but when it gets absorbed properly and washes off a little, it's quite a bit less.  Enough to prevent a burn?  Sure, which is what you are after, but your cannot compare the protection levels between a physical barrier and 'sunscreen'.

ETA:  I also wear a boonie hat (that I've added cord stops to) when I'm windsurfing.  I'm sure the sun baked kids think I'm uncool but my dome is in need of protection beyond sunscreen...  At 38, I've already had some sun caused issues (non cancerous) frozen off...