Ragz: A Summer Must-Have

By Audrey van Petegem, Contributing Editor

Is it summer yet? I know I keep asking because we are totally geared up over here (as you could tell from my post on swimwear last week and on the FaceStick sunblock before that). Summer = water + fun. That’s the first thing I think of. Then, it’s water + wet + cold = miserable kids.  That invariably seems to be the formula.

With two kids in swimming lessons, many pool parties, beach days and a teenager who lives at the beach all summer, I’m so glad that I found these Ragz pullovers. They are made with a lightweight Warmtech® natural chamois material which pulls the water right off of your skin while not absorbing the moisture, thus eliminating any need for icky damp towels.  They also provide instant warmth, with excellent wind and UV protection.  And the best thing about them is that the more you wash and wear them, the better they become!

Mark Levine, the founder of the Ragz company, was the typical young beach jock who was tired from being at the beach all day (what a life) and couldn’t handle his damp towel that just caused him to be cold. This ingenious young man came up with a design of a pullover using a type of chamois material, that would keep you warm and dry, and would also be a great wind and UV protector.  That was in 1985. The Ragz were originally designed for swimmers and scuba divers, but Mark found that water polo teams became interested in them, as well as sailors, boaters, waterskiers, wakeboarders, kayakers and campers. Heck, anyone spending long hours at a beach deserves to be comfortable all day long.

The Ragz come in sizes to fit everyone in the family, from 0 /6 months to L/XL adult. These chamois pullovers will certainly help extent our days at the beach by warding off the “Mommy, I’m cold” crankiness. Might even stay out long enough to catch a few sunsets this year. You can order the Ragz Pullovers directly from the website at  www.ragzpullovers.com. You can also look for them at water-sporting events across the United States and Canada, including boat shows, waterskiing, wakeboarding and surfing competitions, to name a few.  These are the perfect solution for anyone who spends time near or on the water.