Material: 100% recycled bluesign certified polyester, What we like: moisture wicking, relatively affordable, bluesign recycled fabric, sewn Fairtrade factory, What we don't like: no official UPF rating, no thumbholes, hood isn't secure. It wicks sweat and still feels airy, even when climbing steep hills in the intense mountain sun. If you burn easily or dont like using sunscreen, then a sun hoodie might be just what you need to keep your neck and arms covered. Designed as a fishing shirt, the Sun Stretch was meant for keeping tackle. This might have something to do with it also being one of the cheapest sun hoodies, but the reviews dont lie and they are mostly very good. For starters, it has a 1/4 zip which is great on hot days for temperature control. But before we published, Patagonia voluntarily recalled the Cool Daily Hoodie because not all batches were living up to their reported UPF 45. The two standout features of this sun shirt are the quality of the soft breathable fabric and the cut and design features. In addition, the sleeve and torso length provides ample coverage without being too relaxed. Its also worth noting a few reviewers, including Outdoor Gear Lab, found the material to be initially scratchy. Thumb loops are more of a personal preference, and I personally like having them and think they offer some key benefits. While the Astroman Hoodie isnt the sun shirt for every situation, we think it excels in its niche as a climbing sun shirt. Does it restrict movement? I would highly recommend this to hikers and backpackers looking for a top that can be worn on its own or as part of a multi-layer clothing system. I tested this shirt during Treeline Review's business retreat backpacking trip north of Yosemite and fell in love. For this guide, I tested 20+ sun shirts on summits, backpacking trips, thru-hikes, and camping trips in Joshua Tree to find the best UV protection. Unlike other sun shirts we tested, the Icebreaker Cool-Lite has panels sewn into the side to maximize mobility. It doesn't breathe nearly as well as other sun shirts we tested. We found the fabric to be too thick for hot weather. The Ushood has the best upper neck coverage that weve seen it stretches to above the nose and can double as a built-in mask to protect your face from sun or mosquitoes. On the other hand, if a sun shirt looks good and feels comfortable against your skin, you'll be more likely to wear it. Once it's on, you don't have to think about it. Like all technical base layers, we expect sun shirts to be "breathable," meaning they should expel hot, moist air from near the sweating skin. Besides getting dirty (which would happen to any shirt), it showed no wear. So instead, we highly recommend it as a put-on, take off and stow top layer for rock climbers, alpine scramblers, and technical ridge walkers. Our writer Dean Krakel trail runs, thru-hikes, bikepacks, and mountain bikes in his River Run, barely registering signs of wear. Best yet, the material of the Sun Stretch is 55% recycled and blue sign certified. Some UPF clothing (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) can be more expensive to produce than other outdoor clothes. The idea is that white reflects the sun's rays back and away from the body. Additionally, the shirts we tested have been tested on dozens of day hikes in Southern California, Colorado's high country, and eastern Oregon over many months. If the sun shirt fabric is scratchy or stiff, it's likely headed to the back of the closet. I typically hold onto shirts for a lot longer than 2 to 3 years but those numbers depend a lot on the frequency of use and washing. Sun hoodies though are often more lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking as well as having a hood to protect your full neck, ears, and often your forehead. Patagonia is an excellent company with high moral standards which is leading the way in the outdoor industry. We only want the same thing as youthe best gear at the best price. While we didn't disqualify scoop necks from our testing process (after all, a neck gaiter or bandana can provide more customizable sun protection than built-in protection), we found that higher-necked sun shirts make sure that you don't opt out of protecting a vulnerable part of your body. The fabric can get stretched or thinner over time as with the tight weave. See our Best Sports Detergent guide for other ways to keep odors at bay in your technical fabrics. Whether you wear lighter or darker colors, the key is choosing loose clothing that can draw away heat and isn't heavy or thick. If you don't, you'll be less likely to wear it and benefit from its sun protection. When I co-founded Treeline Review, maintaining that same level of journalistic integrity was a fundamental tenet to creating an objective review site, which is rare in outdoor media. Alternatively, you could size up for a looser fit. It was a previous winner for this guide. The cooling fabric went from a blessing to a curse. If youre wearing a sun shirt, we recommend you also wear sunglasses. You can get this in a wide range of colors however we do recommend the lighter colors to help reflect more sunlight and keep you cooler. It also has a button to fasten the hood from blowing off your head. While all types of skin cancer are less common in People of Color, their outcomes are dramatically worse, writes Dr. Andrew Alexis for SkinCancer.org. I'm the Editor in Chief of Treeline Review. But fear not, we don't allow our judgment to be influenced by these arrangements! You can comfortably wear the hood over a climbing helmet or wear it underneath if you prefer. It is ridiculously comfortable and well fitted which makes it a pleasure to wear, even in direct sunlight. We don't find the dense and stretchy fabric as comfortable next to the skin as the other sun shirts weve tested (though we still wear it often against the skin, too). The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie is winner for Best Lightweight Sun shirt, Best Sun Shirt for Hot Weather, and Best Plus Size Sun Shirt. The advantage of a sun shirt is that it's built into your system. This story may contain affiliate links, which help fund our website. The feature we liked the most is the sunglasses lens cleaner. You can reduce your sun exposure by choosing to hike early in the morning or later in the evening when the sun's harmful UV ray is not as strong. I tested this sun shirt peak bagging in Southern California in the summer and found it to be the best cooling sun shirt. Both types of UV rays can cause skin cancer. The Crater Lake has among the most stretch of the sun shirts we tested, which is ideal for mobility when climbing, scrambling, or doing steep off-trail. Sun hoodies solve this problem. The Crater Lake is available in tanks, tees, and crop tops. To put it in perspective: the extra melanin from a tan provides a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 2-4, which is far below the minimum recommendation of SPF 15. Our testers wore sun shirts as they collectively thru-hiked 500 miles on the Blue Mountains Trail, 800 miles across the Arizona Trail, 1500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail, 750 miles on the Oregon Desert Trail, and 2000 miles on the Continental Divide Trail. The Ridge Merino Solstice was long enough to provide complete protection without feeling loose enough to get in the way. We think getting any UPF 55 protection is better than the minimal UV protection offered by cotton fabric. There is absolutely no doubt that sun hoodies with UPF 50+ fabric protect you from harmful UV rays and help keep you cool. What we liked: fabric really does feel cooling, longer back to prevent riding up, generous sleeve length, What we didn't like: cut could be more flattering, the fabric is thicker than we'd expect for a hot weather fabric. Despite the budget price, the Baleaf sun hoody has features found in the most expensive sun hoodies we tested, such as thumb holes to protect the back of your hands from the sun. Vents are an excellent addition but the most important point is that the fabric can breathe without vents as this will make the biggest difference. The hood has a drawstring that stays in place and is generous enough to be helmet-compatible. We also carried a snack inside the pocket while climbing. A sun hoody is designed to protect you from the suns harmful UV rays as well as keeping you cool and comfortable. Finally, the revolutionary GTT Empel Technology is an environmentally friendly PFC-free water-repellent finish that helps keep you dry. Though I once was a sponsored athlete, when I became staff on the Outdoor Team at New York Times/Wirecutter in 2017, I ended my affiliations to meet their Code of Conduct. Our other concern with this sun shirt is the breathability. We still like this sun shirt, but given the price and abundance of options available, we think there are better sun protection options, especially for the price. We also didn't like the large logo on the sleeve. They both have their uses and you may have a preference that works for you but sun hoodies offer the most comprehensive sun protection and comfort. There's no reapplication (like you need to do with sunscreen). We agree, and this has become our go-to hoody for warm days where sun protection is essential. As a result, many button-up shirts didnt meet the performance criteria we set for a sun shirt. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time. While it is good to have a jacket that does it all, this is predominantly designed for hot weather and I find that whenever you add a DWR treatment to fabric, it becomes less breathable. We experienced this at first, but it softened after a wash. Sun protection is essential when spending time outdoors, so we trail-tested UPF clothing to bring you this review of the six best sun shirts for men and women. Sirena has thru-hiked the 800-mile north-south Arizona Trail twice. Best yet, its affordable for a wool shirt, matching the price of many of the synthetic sun shirts we tested. What we liked: lightweight, soft fabric, hood, thumbholes, plus size availability, most breathable sunshirt on hot days. This makes it potentially less durable than other sun shirts, especially when it comes in contact with velcro. Black Diamond has really raised the bar in terms of what is possible. Additionally, as a small company that makes shirts in the US, the color and sizing options are more limited than bigger brands. Most button-up sun shirts are great for looking stylish while hanging out at the bar patio, camp, or anywhere in Colorado. Note that UPF is not the same as SPF. A sun shirt is designed to reduce your exposure to the sun, usually with a combination of full-coverage design and sun-protecting fabrics. The upper chest part of the body receives a significant amount of sun exposure throughout the day. This year's model has survived weeks straight of wearing it backpacking and climbing with no issues. Baleaf is a brand known for quality, budget apparel and is also a winner in our Best Shorts for Thru-hiking guide. Because the hood is designed to fit nicely over a helmet, our tester Brandon has added the Astroman to his cool weather bicycling costume, replacing his trusty Patagonia Houdini. Because it is just so darn comfortable and cool in the heat which is why most people get them in the first place along with the UV protection. Paracord Shoelaces: A Beginners Guide With 6 Pro Tips. The Arcteryx Remige Hoody has an amazing fit that is super comfortable and can be worn next to the skin for ultimate breathability in the sun. I also write the regular column "Ask a Thru-hiker" for Backpacker Magazine. All these new features are massive improvements however the one I am not convinced by is the waterproof treatment. Sun shirts as most people know them are the long sleeve button-up shirts with button sleeves and a collar. The best sun shirt is the one that is so stylish and comfortable that you'll want to wear it even when the sun isn't out. We still think this Columbia shirt is a good option, especially if you can find it on sale. REI's Expert Advice section also has great general information about what to look for in sun protection clothing. Made from 100% recycled polyester, this material is both good for the planet and for your comfort. The Prana Calder Hoodie (mens only) is a good option for hot weather sun protection. When you click on the links to purchase gear, we may get a commission, without costing you an extra cent. Youd be hard-pressed to find a more durable, lightweight, sun-protective shirt with stretchiness suitable for climbing. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas. Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which means we may receive a small percentage of any purchase you make. According to this story by the Cleveland Clinic, UPF protection clothing lasts 2 to 3 years. It measures the time it takes for your skin to redden after sun exposure when using the product exactly as directed. We also like that the Crater Lake is available in various sizes, from XS to 3X, and in various cuts. However, the knit may loosen over time and many washes, making it less effective. There are less expensive sun shirts out there, like the Baleaf that is our Best Budget winner. These are great for temperature regulation and the collar can be used to protect most of your neck. The sleeves should be extra long so that climbers can fully extend their arms without the sleeve riding up. The fabric is 50% recycled, bluesign certified for environmentally-friendly dying, and sewn in a Fair Trade factory. The reason is that sleeves will typically roll up when you extend your arms for things like climbing or sailing leaving your hands and wrists exposed. But the UV protective fabric on the Crater Lake is much thinner and more breathable. Of course, this is an age-old problem for all sweatshirts with strings. Instead, it felt more like cotton. Last year, we planned to make the women's and men's Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie our overall winner. The sleeves on the Icebreaker Cool-Lite Merino stay in place at an ideal length, covering the top of the hands up to the knuckle. We backpacked 500 miles of the PCT using the Ridge Merino Solstice. There's a lot of debate among scientists on whether black or white clothes are the best to wear during the summer to stay cool. The Sun Stretch is also lauded by Insider. Their bestseller and most popular sun shirt with a UPF 50 is a long sleeve. What we didn't like: only available as men's. Additionally, to find models that work, we interviewed dozens of outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, backpackers, and climbers who are likely to be out in the sun all day for multiple days of exposure. The fit isnt too baggy or too tight, it seems to hang very well and is hardly noticeable under a climbing harness. That being said, while backpacking, we hiked and slept in this shirt, and at night, preferred the drawstrings to the feel of a plastic toggle or other fasteners that otherwise would be in that spot. Sun hoodies are ideal for wearing in water because they completely cover your upper half and best of all they are moisture-wicking and fast drying. The skin is thinner in the wrist area. What we liked: price, pockets, size availability, What we didn't like: it doesn't breathe well, the fabric feels thick, cut is not as flattering. CONCLUSION: This is probably the best-looking sun hoodie we have tested and is one of those tops that looks good on anyone. Designed as a mid-layer sun shirt, the womens and mens Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Hoody seems out of place in a category of sun shirts dominated by against-the-skin layers. The American Hiking Society has some great tips for reducing sun exposure while outdoors. A hood provides more protection from the sun which is why you're wearing one in the first place! We constantly did the sniff test, especially after a run through the wash, to determine what shirts smelled the best. Its sleeves are generous. After thru-hiking nearly 15,000 miles with almost no sun protection, I interviewed a University of Arizona sun cancer expert for a story on sun hats that I wrote for the New York Times/Wirecutter. For example, the shirt stuffs into the chest pocket, with room to spare. The best way to protect against the sun's harmful rays is to keep them off your skin altogether. I feel like it makes the hoody less breathable which is why it needs the extra ventilation. Unfortunately, we found the button-up sleeve system a challenge: either feel restricted in the wrists by buttoning the sleeve completely or have sunburned wrists when keeping the sleeves unbuttoned. Arcteryx Remige Hoody We test. The fabric is the softest of any sun shirt we tested, yet still feels airy and breathable. In a previous version of this story, we wrote that we were concerned about the long-term durability of the thin fabric. The Outdoor Research Astroman is a favorite at Outdoor Gear Lab, Mens Journal, and Gear Patrol. I log in a thousand miles of hiking each year at high altitude on mountains in sunny California, where I live. Unlike sunscreen, there's no greasy feeling, weird smell, or worry about ashy residue on your skin. Also, its only available in a mens version. One of the failings of other sun shirts is that sleeves will slip, exposing your hands, but the River Run has elastic wrist cuffs and thumb loops that are well-placed to pull over the top of your hands. The Astroman is stretchier, more form-fitting, and quieter in the wind. CONCLUSION: If you want to try using a sun hoody for your next hiking trip but dont want to spend a fortune in case you dont like it then this is the perfect entry-level option. However, the expert they interview makes it sound like that's a typical lifespan for any shirt. A sun protection shirt should not fit like a base layer. Microfibers around the threads in the fabric will also sluff off into lint. See our Best Face Sunscreen and Best Body Sunscreen guides for our recommendations for sunscreens that aren't greasy or sticky that you can use in addition to your sun shirt. But one downside is that it also traps the body's heat inside. Design-wise, the Crater Lake hoodie checks all the boxes: It has thumb holes to help protect the top of your wrists from sun exposure. The fabric is also designed to be durable enough to jam your arms in cracks without ripping. Additionally, some people dont like the greasy feel of sunscreen. For a fabric to receive The Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation, it must receive a UPF rating of 35 (allowing only 1/35th of the sun's UV rays to come through). A good sun hat keeps your face and neck out of the sun. The deep hood will easily fit over the top of a helmet and helps keep your head and neck cool in direct sun. For most people, you should get a hoody with UPF 50+ fabric to make sure your skin stays sunburn-free with sun protective clothing. The Crater Lake Hoody is a best seller and top-rated at REI, Backcountry, and Amazon. The one thing I am not a fan of is the massive logo down the sleeve which makes me feel a bit like a human billboard but its not a deal-breaker. The potential downsides may be that you lose some durability or have to sacrifice some UPF value. Long sleeves are great, but ideally, your sun shirt has sleeves long enough to cover the top of your wrists. In contrast, UPF 50 blocks out 98% of the sun's rays, allowing 2% of the rays (1/50th of the rays come through hence the 50 ratings). The Columbia PFG Tidal Tee Hoodie (womens) and PFG Terminal Tackle Hoodie (mens) is much-beloved and get applause from three outdoor media outlets (with other styles of the Terminal PFG line snagging three more thumbs up). Photo courtesy Liz Thomas. Hood: Hooded and non-hooded versions are available, What we liked: price, generous hood, size and color availability, What we didn't like: thicker fabric didn't breathe as well as other sun shirts. My one minor quibble with the Icebreaker Cool-Lite, other than the price, is the presence of the logo in the middle of the shirt. You can find more information about sun hoodies further down the page or keep scrolling to see which sun hoodies we recommend for hiking, climbing, and getting wet. The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that SPF is a rating used for sunscreens. It'd be great if they also offered the same size range in women's. One of Treeline's tenets is choosing gear that is good for the environment. Ultimately, the Baleaf Sports sun shirt comes with a hood for the price of the unhooded version of the Columbia PFD Tackle. The best sunscreen in the world does nothing for you if you don't put it on. The Patagonia Cool Daily Hoodie hits all the marks for what we look for in a sun shirt: lightweight, comfortable fabric, quick-drying, and full coverage. Our guide to the best sun shirts on the market will help you decide which one is right for you. Treelines editor Liz Thomas finished her PCT end-to-end hike wearing the Crater Lake Hoodie. They perform very highly when used for intensive exercise and are so comfy you will want to wear them at home and for everyday use too.