Soothfeel sells two swim pieces that end up in the same beach bag. The first is a high-waisted swim skirt with built-in boy shorts and a pocket, the kind of bottom you wear when you want to swim, walk to the snack bar and sit on a dock without thinking about your bikini line. The second is a long, lightweight zip hoodie labelled UPF 50+, meant to go over a swimsuit when the sun is high or the boat ride is long. The skirt costs $19.98. The cover-up costs $28.99.
They do different jobs, so this is not a contest between two of the same thing. It is a question many shoppers face with a small budget and a trip coming up: which one do you buy first? If you already own both kinds of piece, it is also a check on whether either is worth adding.
The thing that decides it is fit confidence. The swim skirt has 2,145 ratings at 4.5 stars, and when its buyers talk about fit, 411 of 463 mentions are positive. The cover-up has 914 ratings at 4.4 stars, and when its buyers talk about size specifically, the negatives win, 23 to 19. One piece you can order in your usual size with reasonable confidence. The other needs more thought.
The two pieces at a glance
Soothfeel High-Waisted Swim Skirt with Pocket
$19.98at our last price check
Soothfeel UPF 50+ Long Hooded Swim Cover-Up
$28.99at our last price check
Here is what each listing actually states, in one place, before we look at each piece.
| Feature | Swim skirt | Hooded cover-up |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Swim bottom: ruffled skirt over boy shorts | Long full-zip hoodie for over swimwear |
| Fabric on the listing | "80% Polyamide, 20% Elastane" (also "Polyester, Spandex") | "100% Polyester" |
| Sun rating | UPF 50+ (first bullet) | "certified UPF 50+" (first bullet) |
| Pockets | 1, in the shorts underneath | 2, described as "deep" |
| Closure | Pull on | Full zipper |
| Fit type on the listing | Form-fitting | Loose |
| Care | Machine wash | Machine wash |
| Price | $19.98 | $28.99 |
Design and construction
The swim skirt: high rise, ruffle, shorts underneath
The skirt is a pull-on swim bottom. The outer layer is a short skirt with a ruffled hemline, and the bullets describe the base layer as "boy shorts underneath." That two-layer build is the point of a swim skirt. The skirt gives you the look of a skirt, and the shorts mean you can climb a pool ladder or sit cross-legged on a towel without worrying about what shows.
The rise is high. The detail table says "High Rise," and the bullets say it is cut so that "you can confidently wear a bikini top with it and not expose your belly and bum." Buyers confirm the height in plain terms. One writes that it is "high waisted above the belly button which makes me feel very comfortable." Another: "It's definitely high waisted... above my bellybutton." So plan your top around that line. A cropped bikini top leaves only a narrow band of skin between the two pieces, while a tankini top overlaps the waistband.
The pocket sits in the shorts, not on the skirt. The listing says it holds "valuables such as keys or cards." It does not give a size, so treat it as a key-and-card pocket and keep your phone in the bag.
The video on the listing shows the skirt in motion, which is the best way to see how the ruffle moves when you walk.
The cover-up: a long zip hoodie with thumb holes
The cover-up is a full-zip hoodie cut long. The detail table calls the silhouette "Anorak" and the length "Long Length," and the bullets say it is long enough "to protect your hips and crotch from sunburn." In practice that means it ends below the seat, so over a swimsuit it reads as a short jacket-dress rather than a top. Buyers notice the length. "These are long," writes one. A buyer who is 5'10" says "it still is a nice, long fit."
The working details are the ones you want on a sun layer. There is a hood for the neck and ears. There are thumb holes, which the bullets say "keep the long sleeves in place and give extra coverage" over the backs of your hands. There are two pockets, described as deep enough for a phone, keys or cards. The front closes with a full zipper, so you can open it fully when you are sitting in the shade.
Fabric: one is listed twice, the other once
The skirt's listing contradicts itself about fabric, and you should know that before you order. The "Fabric Type" field says "80% Polyamide, 20% Elastane." Polyamide is nylon. A separate "Material Type" field says "Polyester, Spandex." Both are common swimwear blends, and elastane and spandex are the same fiber under two names, but polyamide and polyester are different fibers. We cannot tell you which is right from the listing. Your garment's sewn-in label will settle it. What is consistent is the stretch: the table calls it "Medium Stretch" and "Lightweight," and buyers describe it as "Comfy and stretchable" and say the "Top doesn't roll."
One more oddity on the skirt: the detail table says "Lining Description: Unlined," which is true of the skirt layer. The boy shorts are a separate built-in layer, not a lining. The same table also lists a tank top form, a high neck and non-adjustable straps, fields that do not apply to a bottom-only garment. That is form data from a generic template, and it is safe to ignore.
The cover-up is simpler: "100% Polyester," lightweight, medium stretch. The bullets call it "Ultra soft" and "cool to the touch," and buyers agree on softness more than on anything else. Softness has 65 mentions with 64 positive. One buyer says "The material is polyester, but really soft and silky." The detail table also says, plainly, "Not Water Resistant." That is about rain, not sun, but it tells you this is a light layer and not a jacket for weather.
What UPF 50+ means here
Both listings state UPF 50+. A UPF 50+ label means the fabric lets through less than one-fiftieth of the sun's UV. It protects only the skin under the fabric. On the skirt that is your hips and upper thighs. On the cover-up it is your arms, shoulders, back and, with the hood up, your neck. Your face, legs and hands outside the thumb holes still need sunscreen or shade.
The cover-up's bullet says "certified UPF 50+" but does not name who certified it. The skirt's bullet gives the rating without any certification claim. Neither listing gives a test standard.
Fit and sizing
The swim skirt: mostly true to size
The swim skirt's listing says "form-fitting," and its buyers report sizes and bodies freely, which makes it easier to plan. Here is what they say, quoted from the excerpts.
| Buyer's height and weight | Size ordered | What they report |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0", 110 lbs | Medium | "Fits perfect" |
| 5'1", 150 lbs | 14 | "size 14 was just right" |
| 5'2", 117 lbs | Medium | "Fits great" |
| 5'2", 150 lbs | XL | "flattering" |
| 5'3", 155 lbs | Medium | "very comfortable" |
| 5'4", 133 lbs | Small | "A small fit perfect" |
| 5'7", about 225 to 230 lbs | 3XL | "very flattering and covered" |
| 5'8", 186 lbs | Not stated | "the perfect length" |
| Usually a size 10 | Large | "it's a little big" |
Two things stand out. First, the reports cluster around "true to size," and a couple of buyers say exactly that. Second, the same weight lands in different sizes: 150 pounds at 5'1" took a 14, and 150 pounds at 5'2" took an XL. That tells you the skirt's fit depends on where you carry weight, which is normal for a high-rise bottom. Measure your waist at the navel, where this waistband sits, rather than at your hips.
There is one dissent: "Good quality but runs small. Order a couple sizes up." It is one voice against a large majority, but if you are between sizes, the high waistband is the part that will feel tight first, so go up.
On length, the listing gives no inch figure, which is a real gap for a skirt. Buyers fill it in. One puts the hem "just above mid thigh." A buyer at 5'8" calls it "the perfect length," and another says "not too short." Length has 199 mentions, 153 positive and 46 negative, so roughly a quarter of buyers who talk about length are not happy with it. If you want a knee-grazing modest skirt, this is not it. Look for listings that state 17 or 18 inches, which you will see in the comparison table below.
On tummy control, the bullets claim it, and one buyer would "have preferred more tummy control." The waistband covers. It does not appear to shape much.
The cover-up: loose on paper, snug for some
The cover-up's detail table gives two fit signals that do not quite agree with its buyers. It says "Fit Type: Loose" and "Fit to Size Sentiment: True." Buyers split. One says "Perfect, fits true to size i got medium, 5'4", 125lbs." Another, "165, 5'8, large worked perfect." Then the other side: "Too small in waist & hips but nice length." And the strongest warning in the listing: "This is a rash guard with a zipper. It runs VERY small, so order at least two sizes up from your normal size."
The arms are where the snugness shows. "Looks great but arms are snug so feels sweltering in warm weather," writes one buyer. Another, in the opposite direction, says the "Arms are not too tight for fat Grandma arms." Size mentions on this listing run 19 positive to 23 negative, the only topic on either listing where complaints outnumber praise.
| Your situation | Suggested size on the cover-up | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want it close, like a rash guard | Your usual size | Several buyers find it true to size |
| You want it loose over a swimsuit | One size up | A buyer between sizes recommends "sizing up" |
| Broad shoulders or full upper arms | One to two sizes up | Snug arms are the most specific complaint |
| Long arms or tall | Usual size, check sleeves | A buyer with long arms says "the sleeves still cover my wrists" |
Coverage, tops and colors
How much each piece covers
Coverage is the reason most people shop for either piece, so it deserves its own look. On the swim skirt, the coverage topic has 70 mentions, 58 positive. The praise is specific about why. "The ruffle detail on the bottom makes it different than other swim skirts," writes one buyer. Another prefers "the shorts under the skirt instead of the normal bikini bottoms," and calls the result "PERFECT coverage and very stretchy." A buyer on a cruise says it has "good coverage for us senior ladies." Those are three different buyers with three different reasons, and all of them land on the same two features: the built-in shorts and the high waist.
Where the skirt does not cover is the length below the hip. It ends above mid-thigh on the bodies buyers describe, so the shorts handle modesty when you sit or bend, and the skirt handles the look when you stand. If you want the skirt itself to reach the knee, the coverage you want is in a longer listing.
The cover-up's coverage is about sun, not modesty, and it is broad. With the hood up, the zip closed and your thumbs through the holes, the fabric runs from the top of your head to below your seat and down to your knuckles. That is more skin under a UPF label than most swim cover-ups give you. One buyer with long arms says "the sleeves still cover my wrists," and another notes that "Long sleeves are the best to stop from burning." The trade is heat. A buyer who found the arms snug says it "feels sweltering in warm weather," while others call it "thin and cooling" and "Not too hot." Fit, more than fabric, seems to decide which of those you get.
What to wear them with
The skirt's bullets suggest pairing it with a bikini top, a tankini top or a swim bra. Because the waistband sits above the navel, the pairing changes the look more than with a low-rise bottom. A tankini top that ends at the hip will overlap the waistband and read as one piece. A bikini top leaves a band of skin at the ribs. Buyers seem happy mixing it with tops they already own. One writes that she "mixed and matched some bathing suit tops I had from Venus and they were perfect and affordable." Another says it "looks so cute with any top."
The cover-up is less fussy. It goes over a one-piece or a two-piece, and because it is long and zips fully, it also works as a light layer for the walk from the car or the ride to the dock. One buyer throws it on "over my night gown" and uses the pockets for her phone. Another wears it as everyday clothing at 5'10". The detail table rates it for "Spring, Summer, Fall" and "Mild Weather," which matches how buyers use it: a sun layer, not warmth.
Colors
Neither listing in the listing gives a full color count, but buyers mention several. On the skirt, buyers name black, navy, dark gray and white, and one reports that "the white is not see through even when wet." That is the most reassuring single sentence for anyone considering a light swim bottom. On the cover-up, buyers mention pink, which one calls "very pretty" while warning that it "Runs small," and another praises the "vibrant colors." If a color matters to you, check the swatch photos on the listing for the exact shade, because beyond those photos these buyer notes are all the color evidence there is.
A long day out with both
It helps to picture where each piece earns its price. Say you are on a boat from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon. The skirt is what you swim in. It dries on you between swims, and buyers say it "Dries more quickly than my other tankini bottoms." The pocket holds a key to the cooler lock or a card, not your phone. When the sun is overhead at noon, the skirt protects only your hips and upper thighs, which is where the cover-up comes in.
The cover-up goes on over everything after the first swim. With the hood up and thumbs through the holes, your arms, shoulders, neck and back are under fabric labelled UPF 50+. A buyer who spends "a lot of time on the water in the summer" says it "has been helpful in protecting my fair skin." The two deep pockets carry your phone, which the skirt cannot. When you come ashore for lunch, the cover-up's length means you can walk into a beach restaurant without changing.
That is the honest case for owning both. Each covers a gap in the other. If you can only buy one this season, we would still start with the skirt, because its fit is the safer bet, but the pairing is genuinely good.
Care and how they hold up
Both listings say "Machine Wash" and nothing more. Neither gives a water temperature, a dryer instruction or a word about chlorine or salt water. That is thin guidance for a stretch swim bottom you will wear in a pool, so read the sewn-in label when it arrives and follow it rather than the listing. If the label is as brief as the listing, the gentlest option you have is the safest one.
On durability, the skirt's buyers are mostly positive. "I have 3 of these swimsuit bottoms and love them. They hold up great," writes one. Another calls it "well made, and the white is not see through even when wet," which is useful if you are considering a light color. The clearest complaint is about stitching: "I wore it this July ONE TIME and the hemming in the shorts was not even fully sewn." One buyer on a cruise says she "Haven’t had it long enough to know the true quality yet," which is honest about how early most reviews are written.
The cover-up's buyers report it washes well. "Great fit, lightweight, washes nicely," writes one. "Doesn’t wrinkle easily," says another, which matters for a layer that spends the day balled up in a beach bag. One buyer checked the construction closely: "Well made- no zipper issues, seams are straight, no loose threads."
What buyers say
Swim skirt
The skirt's distribution is strong. Seventy-five percent of buyers give five stars and 12% give four. One- and two-star ratings together come to 6%. The topic counts are lopsided in its favor: appearance 245 positive to 4 negative, comfort 173 to 7, value for money 72 to 2. The weakest topic is length, as covered above, followed by fit at 52 negatives out of 463 mentions.
It's modest and comfortable without sacrificing style, going to buy another pair.Amazon buyer
Topic counts as Amazon groups them on the product page, read November 14, 2026.
Hooded cover-up
The cover-up's distribution is close behind: 72% five-star, 13% four-star, and 8% one- or two-star. The praise is about feel and purpose. Sun protection has 52 mentions and not a single negative. Comfort is 66 to 2, style 51 to 1, and suitability for summer 38 to 0. A buyer who paddleboards in Arizona and another on North Carolina beaches both describe it as light enough for heat. The sour notes are size and length, with length at 31 positive to 12 negative.
Great sun protection when out on the boat. We spend a lot of time on the water in the summer and this has been helpful in protecting my fair skin....Amazon buyer
Topic counts as Amazon groups them on the product page, read November 14, 2026.
How the swim skirt compares
The competitor search we ran was for women's swim skirts with a pocket, so these rows set the skirt against its direct rivals. The cover-up has no matching rows here.
Prices, ratings and monthly purchase counts as shown on Amazon search results on November 14, 2026. Highlighted rows are the products reviewed here.
The Soothfeel skirt holds up well in this company. Its 4.5 stars match the best ratings in the table, and its 2,145 ratings edge out every row, including a near-identical high-waisted listing with 2,029. Several rivals advertise their length in the title, 17 or 18 to 20 inches, which tells you they are cut longer and more modest. That is the real choice in this table. If you want a short, ruffled skirt that flatters in photos, the Soothfeel fits. If you want coverage to the knee, the long-skirt listings are where to look, and their ratings in the 4.4 to 4.5 range suggest they are not a step down.
For a short swim skirt from another brand, our Pinup Fashion swimwear roundup covers a ruched swim skirt and a high-waisted skort. For another cover-up, see our Halife V-neck swim cover-up review. For a UPF layer you swim in, rather than one you wear over a swimsuit, the BOJIN roundup includes a long-sleeve rash guard. Soothfeel's own pages are here for the swim skirt and the hooded cover-up. The rest of our coverage is in swimwear.
Who should buy which
The swim skirt is the easier buy. You know roughly where it sits (above the navel), roughly where it ends (above mid-thigh), and buyers of many sizes report that their usual size worked. It suits you if you swim in a bikini top or tankini and want shorts under a skirt, a high waistband and a pocket for a key. It also crosses over: a few buyers wear it as an ordinary skort, and one calls it "great for walking around the beach storefront areas."
Skip the skirt if you want a long modest cut or a lot of tummy shaping. Neither is what it does.
The cover-up suits you if you spend long hours in direct sun: on a boat, a paddleboard, a beach without shade. The hood, thumb holes and long cut cover more skin than most cover-ups, and the UPF 50+ label applies to all of it. It is also simply comfortable, and the softness praise is near unanimous.
Skip the cover-up, or size up, if you are broad through the shoulders or arms, or if you want a loose, floaty cover-up. In your usual size it can fit closer to a rash guard than to a beach jacket.
| You are... | Buy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Building a swim kit from scratch on a budget | Swim skirt | Lower price, larger and more consistent buyer record |
| Fair-skinned and spending all day on the water | Cover-up | Hood, thumb holes, long cut, zero negative sun-protection mentions |
| Between sizes | Swim skirt, one size up | The high waistband feels tight first |
| Broad-shouldered and wanting a loose layer | Cover-up, one to two sizes up | Snug arms are the most specific complaint |
| Wanting a modest knee-length skirt | Neither | The skirt ends above mid-thigh |
Verdict
We recommend the swim skirt as the first Soothfeel piece to buy. It is cheaper, it has more than twice the ratings, and its buyers agree on its fit to a degree the cover-up's do not. We recommend the cover-up as a second piece for long sun days, with one firm condition: if you are between sizes or full through the arms, order up. We don't recommend either if you want a long, modest silhouette.
Start with the swim skirt
The swim skirt is cheaper, has more than twice the ratings and a fit that most buyers describe in the same words. The hooded cover-up is a useful second piece, but its sizing pulls two ways, and you should size with care.
- Swim skirt sits above the navel with built-in boy shorts and a pocket
- Swim skirt buyers praise fit, comfort and coverage in large numbers
- Cover-up has a hood, thumb holes, a full zip and two pockets
- Both listings state UPF 50+
- Swim skirt fabric is listed two ways: polyester and spandex, or 80% polyamide and 20% elastane
- Cover-up size mentions are more negative than positive, 23 to 19
- Cover-up sleeves run snug for some buyers
- Neither listing gives a length in inches
Best for: Women who want swim bottoms with real coverage and a pocket, and who may add a sun layer for long days on a boat or beach.
Skip it if: You want a long modest swim skirt of 17 inches or more, or you need a cover-up with a guaranteed relaxed fit through the arms.
Where the numbers come from. Prices, star ratings, rating counts and monthly purchase badges were read from the product pages on November 14, 2026; they move daily. Fabric, sizing and dimensions come from the product specifications. Buyer quotes are Amazon reviews as the product page shows them, linked to the full review where Amazon gives one. See how we review.
