Best Sun Shirts of 2026
sun hoodies for UPF protection from the sun’s harmful uv rays
June 9th, 2026, updated with 5 new winners, 10 new sun shirts tested
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A sun shirt does something sunscreen can't: it protects you all day without reapplying, doesn't wash off in sweat, and keeps you cooler than bare skin in direct sun. UPF-rated long sleeves with hoods have become standard kit for hikers, anglers, climbers, and paddlers who spend long days outside, and the difference between a good one and a mediocre one is something you feel by hour four.
I'm a professional hiker who previously held the Fastest Known Time on the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail. I log around a thousand miles of hiking each year at high altitude in sunny California, where UV exposure is significant and a good sun shirt is non-negotiable. For this guide, I tested more than 30 sun shirts over six years on summits, backpacking trips, thru-hikes, and camping trips in Joshua Tree to find the best UV protection across real conditions. Other Treeline Review writers also tested men's versions and plus size versions of these sun shirts in other climates so we could get even more real world data.
Sun shirts vary more than they look like they do from the outside. A UPF 50+ rating matters, but so does whether the fabric traps heat on a warm day, how the hood fits over a hat, whether thumb loops actually prevent riding up, and how the shirt holds up after hundreds of miles of pack friction and hand washing. Those are the things that only reveal themselves on trail.
Top Pick: The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody (men's and women's) earn our Best Overall award. It accumulated so many category wins during testing that we named it the overall winner: it has the thinnest and lightest fabric of any shirt we tested, dries among the fastest, offers 50+ UPF protection, has the most stretch for scrambling and off-trail movement, and comes in sizes XS through 3X.
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Sun Shirt Comparison Tables
Men’s
| MEN'S SUN SHIRT | TREELINE AWARD | UPF | FIT | HOOD | THUMB LOOPS | SIZES | MATERIAL | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody | Best Overall Read why |
50+ | Standard | ✔ | ✔ | S-XXL | 88% polyester, 12% elastane | $79 |
| REI Sahara Shade Hoodie | Best Budget Sun Shirt Read why |
50+ | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | S-XXXL | 92% polyester/8% spandex (bluesign approved) | $59 |
| Townshirt Sun Hoodie (unisex) | Best for Hiking Read why |
50 | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XXL | 88% polyester, 12% spandex | $85 |
| Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody | Best Shirt for Hot Weather Read why |
17-45 | Standard | Either | ❌ | XS-3XL | 100% recycled polyester for solids (50% recycled for heathers and cross dyes) | $69 |
| Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie | Best Hooded Sun Shirt Read why |
50+ | Regular | ✔ | ✔ | S-XXXL | 84% nylon, 16% spandex | $115 |
Women’s
| WOMEN'S SUN SHIRT | TREELINE AWARD | UPF | FIT | HOOD | THUMB LOOPS | SIZES | MATERIAL | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody | Best Overall Read why |
50+ | Standard | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XL | 88% polyester, 12% elastane | $79 |
| REI Sahara Shade Hoodie | Best Budget Read why |
50+ | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-3X | 92% polyester, 8% spandex (bluesign approved) | $60 |
| Townshirt Sun Hoodie (unisex) | Best for Hiking Read why |
50 | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XXL | 88% polyester, 12% spandex | $85 |
| Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody | Best Shirt for Hot Weather Read why |
17-45 | Standard | Either | ❌ | XS-XXL | 100% recycled polyester for solids (50% recycled for heathers and cross dyes) | $69 |
| Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie | Best Hooded Sun Shirt Read why |
50+ | Regular | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XXL | 84% nylon, 16% spandex | $115 |
| Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie | Best for the Beach Read why |
50+ | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XXL | 68% bamboo, 29% polyester/3%, spandex | $78 |
| Ridge Merino Solstice Lightweight Hoodie | Best Merino Sun Shirt Read why |
30+ | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XL | 87% merino wool, 13% nylon | $90 |
| Title Nine Upland Longsleeve Sun Shirt | Best for Travel Read why |
50 | Relaxed | ❌ | ✔ | XS-XL | 83% nylon, 17% elastane | $89 |
| Royal Robbins Salathe Sun Hoodie L/S | Best Lightweight Read why |
40+ | Relaxed | Either | ❌ | XS-XL | 100% polyester | $120 |
| Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down | Best Sun Shirt for Thru-Hiking Read why |
50 | Relaxed | ✔ | ✔ | XS-XXL | 86% polyester, 14% spandex | $95 |
| Patagonia Long Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt | Best Fishing Sun Shirt Read why |
30+ | Relaxed | ❌ | ❌ | XS-3XL | 52% recycled nylon, 48% T400® polyester with mechanical stretch | $99 |
Curious about Sun Protection? See our Sun Protection & Hydration page:
The Winners: Best Sun Shirts and sun hoodies
Best Long Sleeve Sun Shirt: Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody
UPF: 50+
Fit: Standard Fit
Material: 88% polyester/12% elastane
Hood/Thumbloop: Yes/Yes
Sizes: XS - 3X
What we liked: lightweight, soft fabric, hood, thumbholes, plus size availability, most breathable sun shirt on hot days
What we don't like: drawstring on bottom
For a lightweight, affordable, and highly UPF-protective sun shirt, we think the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody is the best of all worlds. With a UPF rating of 50+, the lightest and thinnest fabric we tested, and sizes ranging from XS-3X, the Crater Lake hoody is everything we want in a sun shirt. The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody is winner for Best Lightweight Sun shirt, Best Sun Shirt for Hot Weather, and Best Plus Size Sun Shirt. It racked up so many of our awards that we decided to call it Best Sun Shirt Overall.
Compare Prices Of The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody
Women's
Men's
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The Mountain Hardwear Crater Hoody's secret sauce is in the fabric: It has 55 UPF protection fabric. It has the thinnest fabric we tested for this story. Of all the sun shirts we tested, it is the one that feels the least hot (aside from those literally made with cooling fabric).
The Crater Lake dries among the quickest of the shirts we tested, making you feel cool as the sweat dries through the process of evaporative cooling. 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.
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Design-wise, the Crater Lake hoody checks all the boxes: It has thumb holes to help protect the top of your wrists from sun exposure. The hood has a drawstring that stays in place and is generous enough to be helmet-compatible.
One thing about the design we're less thrilled about is the draw string at the bottom of the women's version (doesn't exist in the men's). While this may allow a more flattering look, the string gets in the way while going to the bathroom and gets tangled up in packs. Of course, this is an age-old problem for all sweatshirts with strings–but the men's shirt seems to be just fine without a drawstring.
That being 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. If it really bothers you, just pull it out.
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Treeline writer Felicia Hermosillo spent a summer wearing this UPF shirt on a thru-hike of the Southern Sierra High Route and while climbing all of Colorado's 14ers (14,000-foot peaks). At altitude, sun protection is essential.
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In a previous version of this story, we wrote that we were concerned about the long-term durability of the thin fabric. Since then, Mountain Hardwear has updated the Crater Lake Hoody to address the issue in the earlier model. After conducting a year's worth of further testing, we also believe the initial shirt we tested was from a bad batch. This year's model has survived weeks straight of wearing it backpacking and climbing with no issues.
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One of the things we liked the most about the Crater Lake is the value for the price. There are less expensive sun shirts out there, like the Baleaf that is our Best Budget winner. But the UV protective fabric on the Crater Lake is much thinner and more breathable. Unlike the Patagonia Cool Lite Hoody, the hood stays in place.
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We also like that the Crater Lake is available in various sizes, from XS to 3X, and in various cuts. The Crater Lake is available in tanks, tees, and crop tops. Some people want to wear those styles and we get that.
While we don't think those designs are the best for sun coverage, we think getting any UPF 55 protection is better than the UV protection offered by cotton fabric.
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The Crater Lake Hoody is a best seller and top-rated at REI, Backcountry, and Amazon. It was the overall winner at Outdoor Gear Lab, praising it highly for breathability. We agree, and this has become our go-to hoody for warm days where sun protection is essential.
Best Budget Sun Shirt: REI Co-op Sahara shade Sun Hoodie
UPF: 50+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 92% polyester/8% spandex (bluesign approved)
Hood/Thumbloops: Yes
Sizes: XS-3XL
What we liked: cut, neck coverage, thumb holes, UPF rating, blue sign approved fabric
What we didn't like: thicker fabric can feel hot
The REI Co-op Sahara Sun Hoodie is one of the most popular sun hoodies out there. At a reasonable price, it's got great neck coverage, thumb holes, and a UPF-rating of 50+. It even has bluesign approved fabric.
Compared to other sun hoodies in this price range, it has the most refined design. Not only does it have all the features we see in higher-end sun hoodies, it also has a stylish and flattering cut. It fits well on adventurers of many sizes, with availability from XXS to 4X. The t-shirt version even won an award in our Best Big and Tall Outdoor apparel guide.
While there’s a good variety of budget sun shirts now available, we think you’d be hard-pressed to find a budget sun shirt that feels so luxurious, especially since it is often on sale.
View the REI Co-op Sahara Sun Hoodie
Women's
Men's
We tested this sun hoodie on a thru-hike of the notoriously sun-exposed Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains as well as at high altitude on thru-hikes of the John Muir Trail.
As much as we like this shirt for cooler weather pursuits, if it gets too hot, this is not the shirt we'd recommend. The fabric is relatively thick compared to other sun hoodies. If you're on a budget, this is a good choice.
Best Sun Shirt for Hiking: Town Shirt Sun Hoodie
As Treeline Review writer Elliot Koeppel writes, "The Town Shirt sun hoodie is the shirt that made me believe in the magic of sun hoodies." The Town Shirt seriously nailed everything a sun hoodie should be. It has every practical feature that a sun hoodie ought to have, such as a secure hood and thumbholes and UPF protection. The fabric of the Town Shirt is a polyester and Spandex blend that is soft, stretchy, and silky, which makes it comfortable and helps reduce friction against your skin as you move with a pack on.
It dries quickly and wicks sweat excellently. Plus, it has thumb holes to protect your hands from the sun, and a kangaroo pocket for storing small essentials. Like the Voormi River Run sun hoodie, it has a button for your hood so that it stays in place. Best yet, it comes in vibrant, trail-themed patterns.
It’s got a similar soft, silky feel to the Patagonia Capilene Cool—but unlike the Patagonia Capilene Cool, the Town Shirt has thumb holes, a kangaroo pocket, and a little button to keep the hood secure on windy days. All of these features are well-integrated into the overall hoodie—they’re unnoticeable when not in use, but wonderful to have and use when they’re needed.
Town Shirt Sun Hoodie
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The kangaroo pocket is excellent for smaller essentials like lip balm and earbuds while hiking, but bulkier items like car keys or my phone bounce around too much. The sleeves are an ideal length for using the thumb holes—there’s adequate room for your arms to fully extend without either pulling from being too short or excess fabric from being too long.
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It wicks sweat (and tears, and presumably blood) and dries quickly too—it feels so much drier after just a gust of wind or even some breeze. And though the full drying process may not be quite as instantaneous as it feels while hiking, the shirt was truly dry after hanging up for less than half an hour.
In my time with this shirt so far, I used it under a midlayer on a surprisingly cold, dark, brisk walk home and found that it was a highly effective base layer. I stayed warm without overheating, and it was still almost entirely dry when I returned home. It’s been wonderful on day hikes, in the gym, and at the beach. I can’t wait to take it on a longer backpacking trip or thru-hike.
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Another one of my favorite things about the shirts from Town Shirt is the brand’s fun trail-themed patterns–it’s so cool to have a little slice of trail with you on your shirt, wherever you end up taking it.
Best Shirt for Hot Weather: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
UPF: unlisted but previously tested at 17-45 (average 34)
Fit: Standard Fit
Material: 100% recycled bluesign certified polyester
Hood/Thumbholes: Yes/No
Sizes: XS-XXL (women's), XS-3XL (men's)
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
The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody has and continues to be the standard for sun shirts among Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail thru-hikers, who hike day after day in hot temperatures. We spent years testing the Patagonia Cool Daily Hoody and loving almost everything about it — from its quick drying fabric to its minimalist design and reasonable price.
The Patagonia Cool Daily Hoody hits all the marks for what we look for in a sun shirt: lightweight, comfortable fabric, quick-drying, and full coverage. It's among the thinnest and lightest weight fabrics on the sun shirts we tested and dries among the most quickly, too.
You'll also find the Cool Daily T-shirt as winners in our Best Men's Hiking Shirts guide, Best Women's Running Shirts guide, and it is the overall winner in our Best Men's Running Shirts guide.
Compare prices of the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Women's
Men's
Hiking with the Patagonia Cool Daily Hoody in the autumn in the Sierra.
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The updated 2026 Capilene fabric is a 100% recycled polyester jersey with wicking finish. It’s breezy, light and airy, yet not too fragile (like some mesh options), and still provides coverage. The Hoody has an awesome button closure high on the neck to keep the hood fitted around your head or hat and from blowing around.
The Hoody now has a standard fit, but with a slightly sporty/cropped fit. The women’s version is ever so slightly cropped—it falls around/just below the waist, slightly above the hips (for reference I have a medium to average torso length, and fall between a women’s S and women’s M for most apparel tops).
Essentially, it’s not too long, and this length keeps the weight light and moves really nicely with you.
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The fabric is thin, lightweight, and soft and feels cooling. It's got a little less stretch than the Crater Lake hoody, but is fitted so as to leave a small gap of air between your skin to get some flow.
The Cool Daily is also treated with a Polygiene anti-odor technology called HeiQ® Fresh Durable Odor Control, which seemed to work even after a week of continuous use. The fabric is 50% recycled, bluesign certified for environmentally-friendly dying, and sewn in a Fair Trade factory.
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We’ve used the Cool Daily on hundreds of miles of hiking and backpacking over many months and have found it to be a reliable and durable shirt to keep you covered from the sun.
We love the minimalist design on the Cool Daily but recognize it has some drawbacks. We like that there are no drawstrings to get caught in backpack straps, climbing equipment, or the washing machine. But the hood doesn't have a way to secure it in the wind.
We also wish this shirt had thumb loops or thumb holes to cover the top of your hands, as was offered in the Patagonia Tropic Comfort. The two models are almost identical except for those features.
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The Capilene Cool Daily nearly won our award for overall winner. However, we think most outdoors people are better served with a sun hoodie with higher UPF 17 and 45 with an average of 34.
But Patagonia states “even at 17 UPF, the products block 92% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.”
And ultimately, we think when it is hot, if your choices are wearing a tank top or wearing something comfortable and long sleeve with 17 UPF, you should go with the 17 UPF. The Capilene Cool Daily is so comfortable, we think you’ll choose sun protection, even on a hot day.
Despite the lack of UPF-rating, it is still immensely popular. And after two more years of testing and finding that we continuously reach for this shirt when the temperatures are hot, we decided to give it the award we think it deserves: best sun shirt for hot weather.
Best Hooded Sun Shirt: Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie
UPF: 50+
Fit: Regular Fit
Material: bluesign® approved 84% nylon, 16% spandex
Hood/Thumbholes: Yes/Yes (thumbloops)
Sizes: XS-XL (women's), S-3X (men's)
What we like: extreme durability for using during crack climbs, very stretchy and sized for excellent airflow, extra long zipper for lots of aeration, climbing-friendly features like fits in a pocket with a loop for your harness
What we don't like: fabric can feel warm
Designed as a mid-layer sun shirt, the Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Hoodie seems out of place in a category of sun shirts dominated by against-the-skin layers. But the Astroman has become one of our favorite active layers and our winner for best hooded sun shirt.
Nearly every sun shirt we tested is hooded, so what makes this the best one? This excellent 3-panel hood stays in place while also venting out heat, fending off wind, and working with a climbing helmet. The taller-than-usual zipper keeps your almost-scuba hood in place when the wind or your climbing move wants it to fall down. Since its a zipper, though, you can vent it out when it is hot.
As the name (which references a famous climbing route on Washington Column in Yosemite) implies, it was designed as a technical, durable, stretchy, form-fitting layer for rock climbers with a UPF 50+ rating.
Though it has improved with the new Astroman Air version, we don't find the stretchy fabric as comfortable next to the skin as the other sun shirts we’ve tested (though we still wear it often against the skin, too). 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.
The Astroman fits snug for the size, perfect for jamming your arms in cracks while rock climbing. It's available up to 3XL in men's, though we wish the same availability existed for women's sizing.
The Outdoor Research Astroman made our list of Gear that Lasts a Lifetime due to its incredible material.
Compare prices of the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie
Women's
Men's
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We love the Astroman at altitude and on cool days, but it is overly warm for hot weather. We suspect this warmth was due to the tight-knit of the high UPF fabric. The fabric is also designed to be durable enough to jam your arms in cracks without ripping. The Astroman may be the only shirt we tested that we would feel confident doing that with.
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Still, the Astroman has some features to mitigate overheating: a generous zipper in the front allows you to vent additional heat. It was among the fastest sun shirts to dry in our quick-dry tests and wicked moisture away well.
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The Astroman also has several other climber-friendly features. For example, the shirt stuffs into the chest pocket, with room to spare. (The women's version doesn't have a chest pocket but instead as very generously-sized side pocket that operates the same way).
It also has a clip-in loop to make it easy to attach to a harness. We also carried a snack inside the pocket while climbing.
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. The Astroman is stretchier, more form-fitting, and quieter in the wind.
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The newest version of the Astroman is renamed as the Astroman Air. The goal is to help with breathability and venting, while maintaining extreme stretch and a high UPF rating.
It keeps the 3-panel hood for use with a helmet but has added some strategically positioned laser-perforated holes for more breathability.
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While the Astroman Hoodie isn’t the sun shirt for every situation, we think it excels in its niche as a climbing sun shirt. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more durable, lightweight, sun-protective shirt with stretchiness suitable for climbing.
Best Sun Shirt for the Beach: Free Fly Shade Hoodie
Material: 68% viscose from bamboo/29% polyester/3% spandex
Weight: 12.8 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $80
What we liked: I could live in this, it’s so soft.
What we didn’t like: Narrower in the shoulders than ideal, and (at least this colors) shows sweat stains very visibly at first
The Free Fly Shade Hoodie is the best sun hoodie for the beach. Its the only sun shirt we considered made of a bamboo-based viscose. This material is not only incredibly soft and buttery, but it takes a little longer to dry. There are conditions like hiking in the alpine zone where longer sun shirts are not what you want. But the beach is a place where most people's bodies may find staying a little cooler from a wet shirt to be a huge benefit.
The Free Fly Shade hoodie’s thumb holes don’t irritate our thumbs, even after wearing them for hours.
The fit is pretty standard – true to size, nice and breezy, and its hood doesn’t restrict peripheral vision so you can wear it while kayaking or SUPing (stand up paddle boarding). There is ample room for hair and a cap. The hood is secure in mild and moderate wind, and blew off in stronger gusts until we used a Buff to keep it on, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to be out in windy conditions.
Compare prices of the Free Fly Shade Hoodie
Women's
men's
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In some hot heat, low humidity climates like deserts or hiking in the West or a beach, a sun hoodie that takes a little longer to dry can actually make you feel cooler. So if you are hiking in those kinds of climates and want a material that absorbs moisture and takes longer to dry, the Free Fly Shade may be a better option.
Still, the Free Fly Shade hoodie dries quickly from sweat and precipitation. In our tester, that translated to within about 15 minutes on a dry, hot day.
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Despite being made of natural bamboo-based material, the Free Fly Shade hoodie has the same UPF rating 50+ rating found on polyester or nylon-based sun shirt. On top of that, it consistently kept our men's and women's testers cool in the direct sun. We didn't overheat while hanging out in direct sun at Tenaya Lake or Mono Lake in the Sierra, nor did we overheat hiking in it in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
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Its set-forward shoulder seams keep backpack straps from rubbing or causing chafing so it can be comfortably worn with or without a pack.
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If you run hot or are headed to the beach, the Free Fly Shade hoodie might be the sun shirt for you. It’ll keep you from getting sunburnt with its high UPF rating, and is soft and quick-drying enough to wear all day, whether you’re out hiking or just messing around outside at the beach.
Best Merino Wool Sun Shirt: Ridge Merino Lightweight Solstice Hoodie
UPF: 30+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 87% Merino Wool 13% Nylon
Hood/Thumbholes: Yes/Yes
Sizes: XS-XXL
What we liked: soft fabric, moisture wicking, durability, lots of airflow, merino's antibacterial properties keep down odor
What we don't like: drawstrings can get caught in backpack straps
After three years of testing, the Ridge Merino Solstice hoodie is still our go-to sun shirt due to its comfort and coverage. The Solstice Hoodie has a loose yet flattering fit (in both men’s and women’s models) that has plenty of airflow, preventing overheating. What has us reach again and again for the Solstice over other sun shirts is its comfort with a soft merino wool blend that never felt itchy.
In addition, the Ridge provides full coverage with a high neckline, adjustable hood, and thumbholes that keep the sleeves over the backs of hands. Best yet, it’s affordable for a wool shirt, matching the price of many of the synthetic sun shirts we tested.
Compare prices of the Ridge Merino Lightweight Solstice Hoodie
Women's
Men's
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We backpacked 500 miles of the PCT using the Ridge Merino Solstice. Besides getting dirty (which would happen to any shirt), it showed no wear. The fabric is soft and does not restrict movement, reminding us of other merino sun hoodies we’ve tested—but at half the price.
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The Ridge Merino Solstice was long enough to provide complete protection without feeling loose enough to get in the way.
Unlike the button fasteners found on other sun shirts, the Solstice has a drawstring hood that allows exacting precision for securing the hood. The Ridge merino blend never felt itchy or hot. Instead, it felt more like cotton.
Ridge Merino is a small and relatively new company, but the Solstice Hoodie has made splashes in Adventure Journal. At Treeline Review, we keep our eyes out for new brands with ideas that could change the market — and merino sun shirts are one of them.
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The newest model updates the drawstring so that it no longer gets caught in the wash or gets in the way. This fixes one of our only issues with this.
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Breathability on this merino sun shirt is excellent. I find it ideal for sunny and exposed hikes at altitude such as in the Sierra (which makes sense given that Ridge is based in Mammoth Lakes, CA). It is best for hikes below 80F, but I've worn it above 100F in the Mazatzal Wilderness in Arizona during a record breaking heatwave and actually was pretty shocked by how comfortable it remained. Most amazingly, the shirt was stained across from all my sweat and caked in salt but didn't smell. That's why it made my list of favorite gear from the Arizona Trail.
Best Sun shirt for Travel: Title Nine Upland Sun Shirt
UPF: 50+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 83% nylon, 17% elastane
Sizes: X-XL (women's only)
Hood: No hood
What we liked: soft, lightweight, breathes well, no wrinkle, can be dressed up and down for capsule wardrobes while traveling
What we didn't like: sun shirts without hoods will offer less protection, not available in plus sizing
If you prefer a sun shirt without a hood, I think the Title Nine Upland Sun Shirt is the best sun shirt for travel. It is great for capsule wardrobes while traveling because you can dress it up or down, making it fit in at nicer restaurants to mountain hikes.
Since it doesn't have a hood and has a drawstring cinch at the waist to style it, it doesn't look weird when you wear it with slacks or a skirt. You can get the sun protection you need while walking around cities and while doing outdoors activities and switch seamlessly between the two.
The fabric is flowy, lightweight, and breathable, and doesn’t wrinkle (another plus for travel). It is made of synthetic material, which not everyone loves. For a dedicated hiking sun shirt, many people may prefer something with a hood. But for travel, we like the flexibility of the Title Nine Upland Sun Shirt.
For more, see our in-depth review of the Title Nine Upland Sun Shirt.
View the Title Nine Upland Sun Shirt
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I tested the Upland Sun Shirt for two weeks of early summer travel. During this time, I spent the first two weeks in a small mountain town, walking around shops, going to the theater, and walking in the extensive local park system for the majority of the day. I also visited restaurants and read in bookshops and on outdoor patios at cafes and breweries.
For the second part of my trip, I picked up the pace and wore the Title Nine Upland Long Sleeve shirt while climbing mountains along the Pacific Crest Trail through conifer forest and then above treeline with lots of sun exposure. I also wore it on long, steep uphill climbs in the foothill trails system.
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The Upland Sun Shirt is made of a thin, breathable fabric that kept me cool during outdoor vinyasa and summiting mountains.
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The Upland Sun Shirt doesn't cling or feel clammy after working up a sweat. The nylon/elastane fabric wicked sweat away well and dried quickly, both from sweat and also after washing it at my Airbnb after my hike.
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I loved wearing this shirt for travel because it doesn't get wrinkly but looks much more stylish than my polyester sun shirts (that also don't get wrinkly). The string tie at the waistband allows you to cinch this sun shirt to your own body shape and preferred level of flowiness, depending on what activity you are doing and what you wear it with. It looks like a flowy blouse with a drop hem. I get a lot of compliments while wearing this sun shirt, which is better than I can say for pretty much everything else I've tested for this guide.
Best Lightweight Sun Shirt: Royal Robbins Salathe
UPF: 40+
Fit: Relaxed
Material: 100% polyester
Hood/Thumbholes: Either
Sizes: XS-XL
What we like: very durable without being heavy, mosquito protection, cool prints
What we don't like: lower SPF than other shirts, flowy boxy fit can ride up
The Royal Robbins Salathe sun shirt is the best lightweight sun shirt we tested for its incredible lightweight breathable material that is also quite durable. Most durable sun shirts aren't good at venting or breathing. It's often be "an either/or situation." The Royal Robbins Salathe gives you the best of both worlds while also having fun prints and mosquito protection.
It's made of a Bluesign®-approved recycled fabric in a ripstop nylon. Unlike most ripstop we see on outdoor apparel, this feels very light yet quite durable. Our men's tester wore the shirt for 800-miles of bushwhacking through Utah on the Hayduke Trail. That lightweight durability is another reason the Royal Robbins Salathe wins best lightweight.
The real differentiator on the Royal Robbins Salathe Sun Shirt is that it is woven with a chemical-free Mosquito Protection Technology (MPT), which uses a tight weave to block mosquitoes. That means it won't wash out like most other mosquito repellents. It also has lightweight partial elastic cuffs to manually seal out insects.
Compare prices of the Royal Robbins Salathe
Women's
men's
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Most lightweight sun shirts breathe well but rip or snag quickly. Such was the case with the Outdoor Vitals Altitude sun hoodie we tested, that snagged and pilled on our first off-trail bushwhack to a desert peak with it. In contrast, Treeline Review writer Sam Schild thru-hiked the Hayduke Trail in Utah bushwhacking his way off trail in this shirt with no issue.
I personally have taken it on some of the most horrendous off-trail routes without issue. I've crawled through bushes and snapped my way through scrub oak and buckthorn in this shirt, all the while hoping there wasn't a rattlesnake under the tunnel of spikiness. My morale may have been deflated but my Royal Robbins Salathe was unscathed.
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The Salathe sun shirt comes with a zip that allows you to manually vent off heat on the uphills. The fit is boxy, so it allows lots of airflow. Still, it has secure seams along the sleeves and the waist to keep mosquitoes from flying up your shirt.
Best Sun shirt for Thru-hiking: Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down
UPF: 50
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 86% Polyester, 14% Spandex
Hood/Thumbholes: Yes/Yes
Sizes: XS-XXL
What we liked: button up allows venting, hood for neck protection, zippered chest pockets hold a phone, stylish, fun patterns and colors
What we don't like: sleeves are short for thumb loops, retains odor, limited supply
Hikers have long dreamed of a sun shirt that is both a button-down shirt and has a hood. Now, that sun shirt is a reality and our winner for Best Hiking Sun Shirt, the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down.
Speaking as a Triple Crowner myself (someone who has hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail), this shirt is something I’ve been long hoping would be available for hiking and backpacking. Button down shirts like our winner for Best Fishing Shirt are great for venting and looking stylish. But hoods are essential for protecting sensitive skin along the neck and the top of ears that aren’t always protected by sun hats. With the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down, it’s now possible to have both.
Additionally, it has thumb loops and zippered phone pockets, which are always bonuses when we find them on other sun shirts. I tested this shirt on a 300-mile thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail as well as day hikes near Ashland, Oregon and was constantly getting compliments on its stylish look. For these features, the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down wins our award for best hiking sun shirts.
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down is the overall winner in our Best Men's Hiking Shirts guide.
View the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down
Women's
Men's
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The Triple Crown Button Down is filled with thoughtful features that were developed over many miles of thru-hiking and thinking that other shirts were almost perfect, but needed a few additions.
It’s quickly become a popular shirt on long trails for its stylish and fun designs—and more importantly, practical features.
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As far as fit goes, the length in the torso and relaxed fit were exactly what I needed for staying down while wearing a backpacking backpack and venting heat while moving. The sleeves could be longer. I have a negative 2 ape index, meaning my arms are shorter than my height. Still, I had trouble getting my thumbs to reach the thumb loop holes. As Jolly Gear is a relatively new company, I hope this is fixed in future iterations.
After putting a thru-hike into this shirt, I’ve noticed that the polyester blend fabric retains odor. I’m not going to hold it against this shirt, though. This is common for any synthetic sun shirt and frankly, any shirt that one thru-hikes in.
Lastly, as a small company, supply is limited. Last year, when I got my shirt in June, they were out of my preferred color. Be sure to get yours early in the season!
For more of our sun-related gear recommendations, see these popular Gear Guide stories:
Best Sun Shirt For Fishing: Patagonia Long Sleeve Self-Guided Shirt
UPF: 30+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 52% recycled nylon/48% T400® polyester plain weave with mechanical stretch
Hood/Thumbholes: No/No
Sizes: XS - 3XL
What we like: good pockets, quick dry, lightweight fabric, stretch, ability to unbutton for extra airflow, sunglasses wipe, plus size availability (men's only)
What we don't like: price
Some folks prefer to spend their backcountry time in button-up shirts or without a hood. For anglers, hoods can reduce visibility and can be annoying while casting. After much research and testing, we’ve found that Patagonia’s Sun Stretch Shirt — marketed as a fishing shirt — provides coverage while still feeling comfortable during movement that takes your arms above your head, including bigger casts. We award the Patagonia Sun Stretch the award for Best Sun Shirt for Fishing for its full coverage and ample pockets.
That being said, we’ve tested this shirt over thousands of miles of hiking and backpacking and think this fishing shirt is an excellent sun shirt for other outdoor activities, too.
The Sun Stretch has been discontinued but we're currently testing its replacement, the Patagonia Self-Guided Sun Shirt. It has more fishing-specific features like a tool dock under the right chest pocket flap and corrosion-resistant zippers.
View The Patagonia Long Sleeve Self-Guided Shirt
Women's
Men's
Treeline writer Mike Unger testing the Patagonia Sun Stretch sun shirt on the Arizona Trail. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz.
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The Patagonia Sun Stretch Shirt ticks all the boxes for quick-dry, lightweight fabric, with plenty of stretch for movement and enough airflow to prevent overheating while also snagging some style points. We love the size availability in men's–up to 3XL. It'd be great if they also offered the same size range in women's.
Best yet, the material of the Sun Stretch is 55% recycled and blue sign certified.
Button-up sun shirts as a category suffer from fabric that doesn’t stretch or is too thick. There are a lot of slick-looking button-up sun shirts out there — many with UPF 50 sun protection fabric. Most button-up sun shirts are great for looking stylish while hanging out at the bar patio, camp, or anywhere in Colorado.
But to keep that “in place” sleek design, the fabric sometimes has to be thicker or less flowy than we’d want in a sun shirt. As a result, many button-up shirts didn’t meet the performance criteria we set for a sun shirt.
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The Patagonia Sun Stretch avoids the most common problems of button-up sun shirts. To test the Patagonia Sun Stretch, our writers and editors have thru-hiked the 800-mile long Arizona Trail in the Patagonia Sun Stretch as well as the 2,650-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail. On both trails, they found the fabric to be quick-dry and stretchy without restricting movement. In addition, it doesn’t feel overly thick like the similarly-designed REI Sahara.
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Another perk of the Patagonia Sun Stretch is its abundance of pockets. Designed as a fishing shirt, the Sun Stretch was meant for keeping fly fishing accessories accessible. The feature we liked the most is the sunglasses lens cleaner. When you’re on the water, glare from the sun can make it difficult to see where to cast. Sunglasses are a must for anglers to increase visibility and, as we explain in our guide to Fishing the Uncompahgre River, to reduce the change of getting a hook in your eye.
For hikers and climbers, it’s great for snacks or a phone. It also has sleeve tabs, so you can button up your sleeves if you want to convert your long sleeve shirt into a short sleeve.
Other sun shirts we tested
Baleaf Sun Shirt
UPF: 50+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 100% Polyester
Sizes: X-3XL (women's), XS-3XL (men's)
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
Finding a budget sun shirt that fits well proved a challenge. The Baleaf sun shirt was not only $10 less than the closest competitor, but it offered an excellent balance of features and coverage. It’s available in 29 colors from size XS to 3XXL in men’s and women’s from S to 3XXL in 7 colors.
Despite the budget price, the Baleaf sun hoody has features found in the most expensive sun hoodies we tested: thumb loops, neck gaiters, and hidden pockets.
However, this year the REI Co-op Sahara Sun Hoodie won as best budget because it fits better and looks better on most people. It's also available from XS to 4X and comes with sustainability features we appreciate like bluesign approved fabric and being from a Climate Neutral Certified brand.
Compare Prices Of The Baleaf Sun Hoodie
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Men's
Tester Brian Davidson wearing the Baleaf hooded sun shirt in the southwest desert on a hike at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Baleaf is a brand known for quality, budget apparel and is also a winner in our Best Shorts for Thru-hiking guide. To test the Baleaf shirt, we took in camping and backpacking in the desert southwest in June—not a cool time of year. Our journeys took us to Mesa Verde National Park, which is at altitude and has no shade. For the price, the Baleaf stayed surprisingly cool and wicked sweat well.
Ridge Merino Solstice Pro
UPF: 30+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 87% Merino wool, 13% nylon
Sizes: S-XXL
Hood: Hood only
What we liked: comfort, fit, price, generous hood, size and color availability, ventilation offered by the neck zipper
What we didn't like: pocket fabric can bunch
The Ridge Merino Solstice Pro hoodie is the quarter zip iteration of the the Ridge Merino Solstice hoodie that won our best merino sun shirt award. After backpacking more than 200 miles in New Mexico on this shirt, the Solstice Pro nearly beat out the original for best merino sun shirt.
We like the ability to manually vent out heat, even if we know that it exposes the chest to more of the sun's rays in the process.
Ultimately, we chose the original over the zip version because it is more affordable. Though the pocket was generous enough to fit an iPhone, we found the chest pocket material to bunch up. However, we liked that the chest pocket impressively was actually in a spot that didn't interfere with backpack straps (for the most part). While we think chest pockets are good options for climbers, most hikers and backpackers will find it unnecessary.
View the Ridge Merino Solstice Pro
Women's
Men's
Outdoor Vitals Altitude
UPF: Not stated
Fit: Close
Material: 80 GSM 100% polyester
Sizes: S-3X
What we liked: very lightweight, very breathable
What we didn't like: not durable, fit runs narrow, easily snags, not UPF rated
The Outdoor Vitals Altitude sun hoodie was a strong contender for lightest sun shirt. At only 3.4 oz for a women's size small, this airy sun shirt was excellent at preventing us from overheating during exposed hot weather peak bagging at lower elevations in Southern California. It's also quite reasonably priced.
Outdoor Vitals warns that this is an extremely lightweight garment. We found that it easily snags when hiking on trails with brush. Outdoor Vitals tested this shirt at altitude on the Uinta Highline Trail and we think high alpine, low vegetation routes or well-maintained trails are a good option for this shirt.
View the Outdoor Vitals Altitude
Women's
Men's
UPF: 36+
Fit: Athletic Fit
Material: 58% merino (18 micron) / 42% nylon, knit
Sizes: XS-3X
What we liked: very lightweight, odor-resistant, comfortable
What we didn't like: less durable, fit
The Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight sun hoodie is an affordable merino wool sun hoodie that we liked. It reminds us of a more affordable version of the Voormi River Run sun hoodie.
The material is soft and comfortable enough to sleep in on overnight trips while staying cool and temperature regulating when traveling through different ecosystems.
Ultimately, like the River Run sun hoodie, we found the Tern Ultralight to be prone to snagging. The brand recently updated the sun hoodie with a new material using NuYarn, a spinning technology that allows wool to last longer. We're looking forward to testing it and will report back.
View the Outdoor Vitals Tern Ultralight
Outdoor Research ActiveIce spectrum sun hoodie
UPF: 50+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 94% polyester, 14% spandex
Hood/Thumbloops: Yes/Yes
Sizes: XS-XL
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
The Outdoor Research ActiveIce is a UPF sun shirt made of cooling fabric for sun protection on hot days. I tested this sun shirt peak bagging in Southern California in the summer and found it to be the best cooling sun shirt. Its sleeves are generous. I liked the longer backside of the shirt, which prevented the shirt from riding up with a backpack.
View The Outdoor Research Activeice Spectrum Sun Hoodie
Women's
Men's
The fabric dries quickly, though it was thicker than other sun shirts we enjoyed wearing in hot weather, notably the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody.
The hood doesn't have a drawstring or button, and the fabric is slippery, so it may be more likely to slip in the wind.
As with other cooling shirts we've tested, a downfall of this sun shirt is that it really does feel about 10 degrees cooler than other fabrics. As much as we loved the cooling fabric on warm days, we had some incidents where the weather changed quickly in the mountains. The cooling fabric went from a blessing to a curse.
If you're backpacking, we think you’re better off going with a fabric that regulates warm and cool temperatures well. But if you have checked the forecast, are certain of hot weather, and are out for a day hike, paddle, or bike ride, the Outdoor Research ActiveIce may help keep you cooler.
Voormi River Run Hoodie
UPF: 30+
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 52% wool, 48% polyester
Hood/Thumbholes: Yes/Yes (thumbloops)
Sizes: XS-XL (women's), S-XXL (men's)
What we liked: flattering look, very thin and surprisingly durable, button to fasten hood instead of drawstrings, thumb loops
What we didn't like: itchy, not as high UPF as other sun shirts, may be difficult to get because the company is small
The Voormi River Run Hoodie was described by our writer Dean Krakel as “the best piece of clothing I’ve ever owned.” After hiking almost 2,000 miles of the Continental Divide Trail in this shirt, he bought four more. It was a previous winner for this guide.
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. The Voormi makes you look good, and it works well as a base layer.
See our in-depth review of the Voormi River Run hoodie for more info.
View The Voormi River Run Hoodie
Women's
Men's
Columbia Pfg Tidal / Terminal Tee Hoodie
UPF: 50+
Fit: Regular Fit
Material: 100% polyester interlock
Hood/Thumbholes: Hooded and non-hooded versions are available/Thumbholes
Sizes: XS-3XL
What we like: price, size availability, color availability
What we don't like: the cut isn't refined or flattering, neck hole on women's has too much sun exposure, the thick fabric feels too hot, retained odor, large logo on side of the arm
The Columbia PFG Tidal Tee Hoodie (women’s) and PFG Terminal Tackle Hoodie (men’s) is much-beloved and get applause from three outdoor media outlets (with other styles of the Terminal PFG line snagging three more thumbs up). The Terminal PFG is a solid budget option with enough sizing, colors, designs, and styles to satisfy everyone in the family (including a few featuring sports teams).
View the Columbia Tidal / Terminal Pfg Tackle Hoodie
Women's
Men's
Their bestseller and most popular sun shirt with a UPF 50 is a long sleeve. We bought the hoodie version to get better neck protection.
As expected from a budget pick, the cut isn’t as refined or flattering as other shirts we tested. We found the fabric to be too thick for hot weather. The women's version in particular had a scoop neck cut that didn't offer as much protection as we want. After several hikes, we noticed it retains odors. We also didn't like the large logo on the sleeve.
Ultimately, the Baleaf Sports sun shirt comes with a hood for the price of the unhooded version of the Columbia PFD Tackle. The Baleaf still has a large logo but hasn't retained odors.
We still think this Columbia shirt is a good option, especially if you can find it on sale. But we think if keeping your costs down is your main concern, you’re better off getting the hooded Baleaf sun shirt or if you're willing to spend a little more, our best budget winner, the REI Co-Op Sahara Sun Hoodie.
REI Sahara Solid Long Sleeve shirt
UPF: 35
Fit: Regular Fit
Material: 95% nylon, 5% spandex
Hood/Thumbloops: No/No
Sizes: XS-3XL
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
The REI Sahara button-up sun shirt has been around for nearly a decade and is a common sight on the Pacific Crest Trail for its many pockets and “safari-shirt” style. You can easily roll up and button up the sleeves to turn it into a ¾ sleeve shirt or keep the wrists buttoned for extra protection.
View The Sahara Button-Up Shirt At REI Co-Op
Women's
Men's
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.
More disappointingly, while we were initially excited about the pockets in the front, they aren’t big enough to store a phone or sunglasses.
The fabric also feels thick for a sun shirt. It doesn't breathe nearly as well as other sun shirts we tested.
Ultimately, we think if you want a button-up style shirt, you’re better off going with the Patagonia Sun Stretch.
Minus33 Microweight 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino
UPF: 20
Fit: Slim
Material: 84% Merino Wool, 12% PFAS-Free Nylon, 4% Spandex
Sizes: S-XXL
The Minus33 Microweight ¼ Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino is a winner in our Best Baselayers guide for best affordable base layer. The hood, thumb holes, and natural UPF protection of wool make it a good option for a sun hoodie and the brand markets it as both a base layer and a sun hoodie.
However, after testing, the fit and thicker material make it a better option as a base layer. With ¼ zip, it allows ventilation, which helps cool it down. We still think it's a good option for sun protection in cooler conditions, such as at altitude in the summer.
View the Minus33 Microweight 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino
Women's
Men's
Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
UPF: 15-20
Fit: Athletic Fit
Material: Recycled polyester (bluesign® approved)
Sizes: XXS-4X
The Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie is one of the most popular sun hoodies. At a mere 3.9 oz for a women's size S, this lightweight sun hoodie doesn't feel too hot. It breathes well. It also has some of the best size availability of any sun hoodie we tested–from XXS to 4X and comes in 15 different colors and patterns.
We also love that the Echo Hoodie has a ponytail holder in the women's version.
Ultimately, the only flaw with the Echo Hoodie is that it has a limited UPF of 15 (lighter colors) to 20 (darker colors). We think for a sun hoodie, you should be able to get more SPF protection.
The Echo Sun Hoodie is a winner in our Best Men's Hiking Shirts guide for Best Lightweight shirt.
View the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
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Men's
Smartwool Active UL Hood
UPF: Not stated
Fit: Relaxed Fit
Material: 38% merino, 33% TENCEL lyocell, 29% polyester
Sizes: S-XXL
Hood: Hood only
What we liked: comfort, lightweight, breathable, good for hot weather, doesn't stink
What we didn't like: hood is not secure
The Smartwool Active UL Sun hoodie nearly won an award for its extremely soft and lightweight material. It is quite breathable and works well as a wool sun hoodie for hotter days. The material feels thinner than the Ridge Merino Solstice sun shirt. However, it is almost too flowy. The hood is floppy and doesn't stay in place and has no way to cinch it when the wind picks up. This means that I rarely wear it as a sun hoodie.
Smartwool Active UL Hood
Women's
men's
UPF: 40+
Fit: Relaxed
Material: 100% gsm gsm polyester
Sizes: XS-XXL
Hood: Yes
What we liked: lightweight material, soft, dries quickly
What we didn't like: weird sizing, buttons are heavy
The Zpacks Cool Sun Hoodie is made of an extremely lightweight material that breathes well during climbing up steep trails above treeline. We tested it on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Sierra. Unlike most sun hoodies, it has snap buttons instead of a zip. However, we found the buttons incongruously heavy compared to the lightweight material of the sun shirt. The fit is unisex and our women's tester found the fit on the size S to be quite long (like this could have been a dress) and rather boxy.
Zpacks Cool Sun Hoodie
The North Face Sunriser Hoodie
UPF: 40+
Fit: Slim
Material: 89% recycled polyester
Sizes: XS-XXL
Hood: Yes
What we liked: wicks well, dries quickly, inclusive sizing
What we didn't like: material is too thick and warm for temperatures above 80F
The North Face Sunriser is a classic sun shirt that works well in cooler temperatures at altitude. We don't have "best sun shirt for cooler weather" as an award, but if we did, this would be a winner.
The Sunriser is thicker than many sun shirts we tested. I would call it a hooded base layer with sun protection more than a sun shirt.
It's a good option for high altitude, high sun living and after I tested this, I handed it over to Stasia Stockwell, our Breckinridge, Colorado-based writer who will make better use of it than my Southern California testing.
The North Face Sunriser Hoodie
Women's
men's
Royal Robbins Expedition III L/S
UPF: 40+
Fit: Relaxed
Material: 100% recycled polyester
Sizes: S-XXL
Hood: No
What we liked: mosquito protection, durability, can be worn over other shirts
What we didn't like: thicker material feels stiffer than other sun shirt materials
The Royal Robbins Expedition long sleeve shirt is what you think of when you think of long sleeve button up sun shirt. This looks like the sort of shirt you'd wear on safari. It's very similar to the shirt I wore when I studied abroad in Africa.
The benefit of the Royal Robbins Expedition over that classic button up sun shirt look is it has UPF 50 sun protection and Mosquito Protection Technology. It also breathes pretty well. I wore it while kayaking and hiking at altitude at direct sun and was pretty impressed. I prefer the flowy feel of the Royal Robbins Salathe sun hoodie (which uses a more lightweight version of this fabric and also has the mosquito protection).
But if you want a button up sun hoodie for a classic look, this shirt did not disappoint.
Royal Robbins Expedition III L/S
Women's
men's
Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie
UPF: 20+
Fit: Slim
Material: 70% bamboo, 30% polyester
Sizes: XS-XXL
Hood: Yes
What we liked: incredibly soft, stays cool on hot days
What we didn’t like: we preferred the fit and feel of the Shade hoodie more
The Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight hoodie has made of the same benefits as the Free Fly Bamboo Shade hoodie that won our award for best for the beach. The soft, buttery fabric feels great against the skin and works well for the beach, kayaking, SUPing, or any water based sport.
Ultimately, we liked the feel and fit of the Shade hoodie better. But this is still a great choice if you want a more natural fiber sun hoodie that works well on the water.
Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie
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men's
Mountain Hardwear Sunshield Hoody
UPF: 50
Fit: Standard
Material: 87% nylon, 13% elastane
Sizes: XS-XL
Hood: Yes
What we liked: stylish, durable, wind-resistant, vents well
What we didn’t like: not as breathable as other sun shirts
The Mountain Hardwear Sunshield hoody is a loose fitting sun hoodie with plenty of venting. The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake is softer and more breathable. The Sunshield is more snag-resistant and wind resistant, feeling more like the Outdoor Research Astroman Air hoodie.
We like the Sunshield a lot and use it often for yoga and more casual outdoor activities. It isn't as breathable as the Crater Lake hoodie, but it looks more stylish, so it fits those situations well. We also wore it for a thru-hike of the West Coast Trail in Canada, which is a cooler weather hike with a lot of beach-side sun exposure. It excelled in high sun, high wind, and cooler temperatures.
While it isn't a winner in any category, we reach for this sun shirt a lot. Still, we noticed some pilling along where our shirt touched our backpack's hip belt, so keep that in mind if you're thru-hiking in this shirt.
Mountain Hardwear Sunshield Hoody
Women's
Men's
Testing the Mountain Hardwear Sunshield on a thru-hike of the West Coast Trail in British Columbia, Canada.
Author Liz Thomas testing the Prana Odea Hooded Sun Shirt in Jefferson Park, Oregon. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Who needs a sun shirt?
The short answer is: anyone who spends time outdoors — especially at altitude.
A sun shirt is designed to reduce your exposure to the sun, usually with a combination of full-coverage design and sun-protecting fabrics.
It’s easy to forget to apply and reapply sunscreen when you’re wrapped up in the beauty of nature or the adrenaline rush of your outdoor activity. Additionally, some people don’t like the greasy feel of sunscreen. Many mainstream sunscreen brands still exclusively make products designed for lighter-skinned people that leave darker skin looking ashy.
That's why we have extensive guides to gear for sun protection. But the truth is, sunscreen wears off and needs reapplying. And is just one of many sun protection measures you should take.
Regardless of your skin’s level of melanization, the sun can damage the skin. Frequent and prolonged exposure to the sun — like that experienced by folks during outdoor activities — is the chief cause of skin cancer. While lighter-skinned people are more likely to sunburn than darker-skinned people (and sunburns are risk factors for skin cancer), skin cancer can happen in people of all skin tones.
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. It is true that melanin naturally provides some level of protection. But science has notoriously left People of Color out of health studies—so there’s still a lot unknown about skin cancer in People of Color.
What is known is that UV exposure is a major risk factor for melanoma in People of Color. Dr. Alexis writes that additionally, UV radiation can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation (spots of extra pigmentation).
Scientists have found strong evidence that both UVA and UVB rays are linked to skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer at least once in their life.
Pre-tans and “base tans” are common phrases in the outdoor community to explain why someone may not wear sunscreen. But these tans are actually a sign of skin damage. 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.
Author Liz Thomas sitting in a hammock while testing the Outdoor Research Astroman Air sun hoody in the San Gabriel mountains of California. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
What to look for in a sun shirt
The author testing The North Face Sunrise hoodie on a hike in Mammoth Lakes, CA.
Out of the hundreds of items that market themselves as sun shirts, we needed to find the most promising models to move onto the testing round. REI's Expert Advice section also has great general information about what to look for in sun protection clothing.
Full Coverage
This may seem obvious, but dozens of products bill themselves as sun shirts that are tank tops or t-shirts. You should cover your entire arm and neck to get the best sun protection. The more it covers, the better. A hooded sun shirt will provide even more protection.
Comfort and Style
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. No matter how good a sun shirt may be at providing protection, you won't wear it if it isn't comfortable and doesn't look good. If the sun shirt fabric is scratchy or stiff, it's likely headed to the back of the closet. On the other hand, if a sun shirt looks good and feels comfortable against your skin, you'll be more likely to wear it.
UPF Rated Fabric
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) fabric indicates the number of harmful UV rays a fabric can block from your skin. In general, the tighter the weave, the better the sun protection. For example, cotton jersey fabric provides UPF 15. 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).
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).
Note that UPF measures how much of the sun's rays can penetrate through clothing and accounts for UVA and UVB protection.
Note that UPF is not the same as SPF. The Skin Cancer Foundation explains that SPF is a rating used for sunscreens. It measures the time it takes for your skin to redden after sun exposure when using the product exactly as directed. For example, SPF 15 sunscreen means that if it takes someone with medium-toned skin one hour of sun exposure to redden, it will take 15 hours of sun exposure to get the same amount of damage when wearing sunscreen.
Loose Fit & Vents
That tightly knit UPF clothing can make it feel hot and sweaty right next to your skin. One way designers can make sun-protective clothing feel less clammy is to create a loose cut. (This is why we don't recommend a rash guard or swim shirt as a sun shirt-rash guards are too tight for comfortable wear outside of the water.) Additionally, some sun clothing will have vents in less exposed areas.
When the fabric is stretched, it can widen the space between the knits and let more UV light penetrate. To reduce the chance this happens, we recommend sizing up. A sun protection shirt should not fit like a base layer.
Upper Chest Coverage or Hood
The upper chest part of the body receives a significant amount of sun exposure throughout the day. This area of skin is susceptible to sun damage as the skin can be thinner here. Therefore, we preferred sun protection shirts that button up to the neck or completely cover the neck. 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.
Many people like sun shirts to have hoods for added protection of the back of the neck and ears. However, because button-up sun shirts rarely have hoods, we decided not to make it a requirement.
Wrist Coverage
Long sleeves are great, but ideally, your sun shirt has sleeves long enough to cover the top of your wrists. The skin is thinner in the wrist area. If you're using poles, the top of your hands will likely increase exposure throughout the day. Many folks opt for sun gloves for ultimate coverage. But decent wrist coverage — especially if it has a thumb loop — can work almost as well (and doesn't require you to pack sun gloves or take them out of your pack).
Durability
One of Treeline's tenets is choosing gear that is good for the environment. Sometimes, this simply means buying good-quality gear that will last for years. That reduces the amount of old gear in a landfill and the number of resources needed to keep replacing cheap, low-quality gear.
Breathability and Moisture Wicking
Like all technical base layers, we expect sun shirts to be "breathable," meaning they should expel hot, moist air from near the sweating skin. A good sun shirt should be moisture-wicking, increasing the surface area of exposure for quick evaporation.
Quick-drying
Scientists show that wet fabric can reduce UPF rating. The ideal sun shirt will dry sweat quickly to operate the UPF rating at its max. To test this, we soaked sun shirts side-by-side. We rated and recorded the moistness of shirts over two hours, timing how long it took for them to feel dry.
Author Liz Thomas testing the Patagonia Cool Daily sun hoody. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sun Shirts
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We get this question a lot. It really depends on your definition of work. Unfortunately, there is no failsafe way to prevent getting skin cancer. But wearing a sun shirt when recreating outdoors reduces UV radiation, which can lead to skin cancer.
The best sunscreen and sun protection for people outdoors is the one they wear.
Sun protection is like carrying an ice ax: it can't save your life if you don't use it.
The best sunscreen in the world does nothing for you if you don't put it on.
The advantage of a sun shirt is that it's built into your system. Once it's on, you don't have to think about it. There's no reapplication (like you need to do with sunscreen). There's no worrying about running out of it in the backcountry (like getting to the end of a bottle of sunscreen when you're dozens of miles from a store). Unlike sunscreen, there's no greasy feeling, weird smell, or worry about ashy residue on your skin.
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Some UPF clothing (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) can be more expensive to produce than other outdoor clothes. But when deciding whether a shirt is worth it, it's worth considering its cost relative to its lifetime. Sunscreen costs about $10 a bottle and only lasts a few hours on your skin. A sun protection shirt can last years. Plus, chances are you are buying a technical shirt for your outdoor activities anyway, so you may as well consider one with sun protection built-in.
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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. Whether you wear lighter or darker colors, the key is choosing loose clothing that can draw away heat and isn't heavy or thick.
White clothing has historically been considered "the best" for the summer. The idea is that white reflects the sun's rays back and away from the body. But one downside is that it also traps the body's heat inside.
An article in Nature describes why Bedouins wear black robes in the desert. Black clothing is the best way to stay cool in the summer, according to this story in Gizmodo on the physics of why different colors provide better sun protection. The reasoning is that black clothing draws out the body's heat. With some wind, that heat will escape your clothes, and you'll feel cooler.
Commenters and other articles refute Gizmodo's claim saying it's based on a study on birds, not humans.
This Wired experiment using infrared photography shows that there isn't much difference between black and white clothing when measuring infrared emissions. But it says that there could be an advantage to wearing loose dark-colored clothing to create a "chimney effect" whereby heat builds in the space between the clothes and the body and then escapes in the wind.
Whichever line of reasoning you believe, what's most important is to choose a color sun shirt that you will actually enjoy wearing. This will increase the chance that you'll decide to wear this shirt while outdoors.
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You may have noticed the explosion of sun shirt hoodies on the market. This begs the question — should a sun shirt have a hood?
There are advantages and disadvantages to hooded sun shirts. A hood provides more protection from the sun — which is why you're wearing one in the first place! A hood will cover your neck, top of your head, and ears, and partially cover your face. However, you'll likely still need to wear a baseball hat to shade your eyes. In addition, somewhat counterintuitively, a hood will actually make you feel cooler, as it keeps the sun off your head and face.
Bottom line is whether your sun shirt has a hood is your preference. Our review contains sun shirts with hoods and without. Keep in mind that if you don't have a hood, you'll likely need to wear a sun hat to shade your face and neck. You may also need some kind of neck covering, depending on how much coverage your hoodless sun shirt provides.
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According to this story by the Cleveland Clinic, UPF protection clothing lasts 2 to 3 years. However, the expert they interview makes it sound like that's a typical lifespan for any shirt. 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.
To increase the lifespan of UPF sun shirts, see our Care and Maintenance section.
Treeline Review founder Naomi Hudetz testing the Smartwool merino 150 sun hoody in the Sierra mountains of California. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
How Does UPF Clothing Work?
Most UPF fabrics block harmful rays in one of 3 ways:
1.Tight Weave
A tight weave is the most common way fabrics can block sun rays. However, the knit may loosen over time and many washes, making it less effective. Microfibers around the threads in the fabric will also sluff off into lint. These minuscule gaps may be difficult to see but can still let harmful UV rays in. One downside of tightly knit fabrics is that they sometimes don't breathe as well as loosely knit fabrics, trapping moisture and warmth between your skin and the fabric.
2. Fabric
Some fabrics like silk naturally reflect UV rays. Others, like those with UPF ratings, are formulated to block harmful rays. The fabric can get stretched or thinner over time as with the tight weave.
3. Dyes and Chemical Treatments
Dyes and fabrics can increase a fabric's ability to repel the sun. However, these can wash out over time. A laundry additive called SunGuard may help restore some of the treatments in UPF fabric.
Other Sun Safety Tips
The American Hiking Society has some great tips for reducing sun exposure while outdoors. Be sure to see our entire Sun Protection section for other recommendations on gear. Here are a few more:
Sunscreen
Make sure your sunscreen is broad-spectrum, which blocks both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can age your skin prematurely; UVB rays cause sunburn. Both types of UV rays can cause skin cancer. See our Best Face Sunscreen and Best Body Sunscreen and Best Reef-safe sunscreens guides for our recommendations for sunscreens that aren't greasy or sticky that you can use in addition to your sun shirt.
Sun Hat
The best way to protect against the sun's harmful rays is to keep them off your skin altogether. A good sun hat keeps your face and neck out of the sun. See our Best Sun Hats guide for recommendations.
Sun Gloves
If you are out in the sun for an extended period, we highly recommend sun gloves. You'll keep the sticky sunscreen off your hands and won't have to worry about reapplying sunscreen. They come in both open finger and fingerless styles.
Sunglasses
No matter how well your clothing protects your skin, your eyes will still need protection from harmful UV rays. A good pair of running or sport sunglasses will be comfortable and secure on your face while you’re moving outdoors. It won’t slip when your face is sweaty. It will mute glare. Your eyes are valuable and worth protecting. See our Best Running Sunglasses guide for options at every price range.
Plan your Trip to Reduce Sun Exposure
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. If you would rather hike between 10 am and 4 pm, instead choose a shady trip.
Sun shirts care and maintenance tips
To get the most life out of your sun shirts, treat them like delicate clothes. Wash in cold water on the delicate cycle using mild detergents. Line dry out of the sun. Don’t bleach it, iron it, or tumble dry it. Avoid chlorine or wash your shirt after hanging out by the pool.
Before you start, check the label on your sunshirt. Not all sun shirts are washed the same. A wool sunshirt's care routine will generally be different than a synthetic sunshirt.
Typically, it's best to wash sun shirts in cold water on a gentle cycle using mild detergents that are free of bleach or fabric softeners.
If your sun shirt is delicate, like the Voormi Sun Hoodie, or has special features like mesh panels like the Outdoor Research Astroman Air, consider hand washing it instead of using a washing machine.
After washing, air dry your sun shirt to maintain its shape and integrity. Avoid using a dryer, as high heat can damage (or even melt) the fabric and also can impact some UV protection coatings. Most are quick drying, so it shouldn't be a pain.
Hang your sun shirt to dry completely before storing it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and damage.
When washing or drying your sun shirt, don't rub it against abrasive surfaces or using harsh scrubbing brushes. Sun shirts often have very thin fabric and sometimes chemical treatments that can be damaged by intense scrubbing.
As with any gear, periodically inspect your sun shirt for any signs of wear and tear. If there's fraying or faded areas, that likely means that area will not offer as much sun protection. I've had to replace sunscreen because after a while, it just gets too thin to be doing much to protect me from the sun.
One thing that is best practice but sometimes hard to avoid is keeping harsh chemicals away from your sunshirt. Chlorine and sunscreen are the biggies that could potentially degrade your fabric over time. That being said, it's a bit inevitable.
A good rule of thumb is if you're using sunscreen underneath your sun shirt (and dermatologists recommend you do!), apply it at least 15 minutes before putting on your sun shirt to allow it to fully absorb into the skin.
How We Researched and tested
A photo with eight of the sun shirts we tested side-by-side as part of dry-time testing. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
Sun shirts aren't a topic that gets a lot of attention in outdoor media, which made finding good comparative reviews a challenge. To build our initial list, we interviewed dozens of outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, backpackers, and climbers who spend full days in the sun across multiple days of exposure. We looked at models that consistently appeared across consumer reviews and retailer recommendations, then narrowed the field to the most promising options for field testing.
Treeline Review writer Mike Unger testing the Patagonia Tropic Comfort hoody on the Oregon Desert Trail. Photo courtesy Naomi Hudetz
We also interviewed Sirena Rana, a Tucson-based outdoor athlete and author of Best Day Hikes on the Arizona Trail. Sirena has thru-hiked the 800-mile Arizona Trail twice and is about halfway through traversing the entire Grand Canyon.
In addition to my personal testing of over 30 sun shirts for this story, other Treeline Review writers tested men's versions and plus size versions in other climates so we could get even more real world data.
Our testers wore sun shirts across thousands of miles of trail over six years, including:
a 500-mile stretch of the Blue Mountains Trail
Several thru-hikes of the 800-mile Arizona Trail
750 miles of the Oregon Desert Trail
A 1,200-mile thru-hike of the Pacific Northwest Trail
1,700 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail
Beyond the long trails, the shirts were tested on dozens of day hikes and overnight trips in Southern California, backpacking in Joshua Tree National Park, Colorado's high country, and eastern Oregon over many months. Several testers also wore them while cycling and mountain biking the 3000+ Great Divide Mountain Bike Trail.
In all that testing, we paid attention to four things: moisture management (does it feel sweaty or clammy, or does it wick sweat and evaporate quickly?), quick drying (how long does it feel wet after getting soaked with sweat?), comfort with movement (does it restrict movement or cause chafing during hiking, running, or backpacking?), and odor (synthetic fabrics in particular can retain smell even after washing, so we did regular sniff tests throughout the testing period and after laundry cycles).
Author’s Expertise: Why you should trust us
Author Liz Thomas testing a sun shirt on a southbound 1,000-mile long PCT section-hike near Jefferson Park, Oregon. Photo courtesy Liz Thomas.
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. Although that story was about hats, what I learned about the sun scared some sense into me; I've been wearing sun protective clothing (and looking for the perfect one!) ever since.
I'm the Editor in Chief of Treeline Review. I also write the regular column "Ask a Thru-hiker" for Backpacker Magazine. I previously held the women's self-supported speed record on the Appalachian Trail and am also known for my innovative urban thru-hikes. See my Packing List for an NYC Urban Hike for an example.
I'm also the author of Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike, which won the National Outdoor Book Award for Best Instructional Book. In addition, I regularly give talks at universities, non-profit conventions, and outdoor organizations about thru-hiking and urban thru-hiking.
You can see all of Liz’s articles at Treeline Review at her author page.
