Do you think you'd stink after wearing a shirt for 5 days straight? 👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇 8020 Sun Hoodie: geni.us/8020SunHoodie Appalachian Gear Co: geni.us/AppalachianGearCo
Thank you for this review. I've been reading and watching reviews on alpaca tops for about a week now and this video is the one that I got the most value out of. I appreciate the real-world evaluation and the fact that you didn't spend a lot of time just repeating marketing hype about the brand or alpaca fiber itself. Thanks again for all of the work you put into this review.
Good quality alpaca is nice. But for hot weather, I like high quality and/or aged flax linen, or nylon-tencel blends. Flax linen and tencel are also very low odor accumulating materials (along with alpaca and merino wool), and not as insulating as alpaca (or merino). Both have significantly stronger tensile strength than alpaca, also. You can make them thinner, which dries faster and is less insulating. Insulation in heat can be good when it is really hot and dry though, like 100^F and plus. It helps to create a micro climate between you and the ambient temps/conditions. Energy always flows from areas of more to less to try to reach an equilibrium. Btw, out of all the synthetics, nylon is the least odor facilitating. There seems to be a direct correlation between the moisture regain, hydrophobicity vs hydrophilic levels, and odor accumulation factors. The synthetic materials with the least moisture regain and highest hydrophobicity i.e. polypropylene, and then polyester, are the most odor facilitating. After polyester, is acrylic. And after acrylic is nylon. This is because nylon isn't really fully hydrophobic like the other synthetics commonly used for clothing. (This whole odor facilitation thing of synthetics btw, has to do with surface electro chemical charges in relation to electro chemical charges of different microbes). And as mentioned, nylon-tencel blends work pretty well in this regard, though not as good as straight tencel, linen, alpaca, and/or merino. I would love to try a linen nylon blend, but haven't ever seen it. I've seen some linen polyester blends very rarely, and these are fairly good. Oh, and in hot, DRY deserts specifically, you want the material to hold onto moisture as much as possible. Let's apply the micro climate concept with the just former, and the more ideal will be a black, somewhat but not too thick cotton spandex blend long sleeve shirt. And over that, would be a very light colored, more loosely woven and loosely fitting linen long sleeve shirt. The light color will reflect Solar visible light heat, while the black underneath will absorb extra UV. And the cotton spandex will hold on to moisture prolonging the evaporative cooling effect. The two layers and somewhat thick baselayer provide extra insulation and help with maintaining that micro climate of moisture evap cooling. Dunking it every once in awhile is pretty nice. Everything dries fast in a super dry desert. Maybe a thin fishnet baselayer underneath all that, to allow some direct evap from the skin, though some moisture will get channeled into the cotton spandex next layer as well?
I have owned mine for over a yr. Has about 800 miles worth of trail life. No smells , no rips or wear, warm on cold weather and cool in warm weather. I absolutely love it. If I had to change 1 thing, I would put a draw string around the hood. It's by far my favorite hiking apparel.
Seems this one isn't sold any longer. None available in mens sizes. Instead I'm ordering from Alpacas of Montana which uses 53% alpaca in it's ultralight hoodie. Looking forward to testing it out on the trail.
Thanks for this awesome review. When I bought my first 80/20 Alpaca shirt I was concerned that it was too prickly on my skin. I’m glad I persisted through the initial break in period because now it feels soft and comfortable. I’m impressed with alpaca and will try out the sun hoody as my Patagonia started to stink after just three days.
This kind of content is why I consider Justin’s channel one the top 3 hiking and backpacking channels out there. I saw his review on the Osprey Synchro 20 day/cycling pack and bought one and now it is my go to daypack. I am so happy with that pack I don’t even look at other daypacks now. No pack is perfect but that one comes close, at least for me.
hey @JustinOutdoors, thanks for posting this video about your experience with alpaca clothing. It is super helpful! Can you help provide an update on the durability of this alpaca clothing? I'm looking into getting something that is quick drying, odor resistant, and durable through machine washing and hang drying
Best wool i've ever used for both warmth and warm conditions is KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie. I have the alpaca top but i find i can't wear it next to skin and it still gets hot in warm conditions. The KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie is incredibly light but also durable (so far) and has the same "anti-stink" properties. Its the best most versatile wool garment i have.
The best part was the smell test from the ladies. Imagine them talking about their trip years from now saying "remember that guy who asked us to smell him" and the other lady saying"yeah and how good was that alpaca shirt " and the other lady " yeah no smell at all what a day that was " 😅
I found the 80-20 runs smaller in comparison to the heavier wt Alpaca hoodie, I believe its do to the limited stretch compared to the alpaca hoodie. I’m a 42in chest and go with a size md for the regular hoodie. And have to size up with the 80-20. Just my thoughts to help as needed…
I had great results with merino synthetic 50/50 blend. Much stronger and no odour after a week of bikepacking! Also wicks and dries better than merino alone!
The old Rab MeCo blends were pretty good. They were 65% merino and 35% Cocona (activated carbon) treated, high wicking polyester. They made the baselayers somewhat thinner than 100% merino, and so they dried a bit faster, but still had very good odor control due to a combo of the majority merino and the activated carbon treated polyester. Definitely more durable than the 100% merino baselayers. Alpaca-nylon blend would be pretty good. Nylon is the least odor facilitating of the synthetics, while the strongest per density/weight (well, not considering things like UHMWPE fibers/fabrics, the new high tenacity polyester fibers/fabrics, kevlar, etc). I would love to see an alpaca NuYarn core fabric, blended with around 30 to 35% straight nylon. Such a combo would be very durable in all but the lightest and thinnest weight fabrics. Ideally the straight nylon fibers would be hollow core, as nylon is more thermally conductive and IR transparent (especially in microfiber size) than most other materials commonly used for clothing. Hollow core fibers would help to offset/counter balance this some.
Рік тому+3
Interesting 🤔 Thanks @Justin Oudoors How hot was it during the day?
i have a question on clothing. I saw a linen / viscose thin hoody yesterday in winner's. Was wondering what it would be like in summer for sun protection bug protection and slight chill at night around camp. Ever tried Linen? one was a cotton blend too
Very interested in your follow up head to head video. Also, could you include polyester garments in the comparison? I believe the is no silver bullet and different fabrics would be better in different situations and environments. Love the video and the channel. Just started listening to your podcast and found myself enjoying that content as well.
i bought into the hype 3 years ago, but it was the most scratchy shirt I ever owned. It felt like a very rough weave of someone's hair. I will say it didn't stink and fit well, but I could not get over the scratching and donated it.
Great review Justin! I wonder how this material will do with mosquitoes? Tight woven nylon does very well to keep the bites down, so I wonder how alpaca fiber will do. Can't wait for your next video.🙂
Any baselayers made with things like merino, alpaca, etc are generally knitted and rarely woven, let alone tightly woven (exception are things like old school worsted wool dress pants, which are more densely packed and less breathable). Knitted generally is one, way more breathable, and two, unless fairly thick, very easy for mosquitoes to bite through.
I'm definitely the odd one out. I don't find any of these new hoodies to work well for me here in the PNW. I'm always hot in them. I must have 6 pairs. Even your OR hoodie. I find a nice long sleeve polyester button down shirt to work best. I can unbutton the entire front for comfort.
Love this review. I feel like proper clothing can be an often overlooked segment of backpacking. What I would really like to know though is what is that trekking pole/mono pod you're using? I really like that straight cork handle.
Yes!! People get so excited by merino but I was feeling bummed hearing it (100% pure more than blends) can get holes and not as quick-dry as it could be and may (maybe not very common though? not sure) make some people itch. Then had been hearing Alpaca is like merino but more quick-dry, less likely to get holes, and less likely to make people itch. Then saw this company cause they soecifically gear their alpaca towards activewear and...I think?...use ethical alpaca. I told friends the hoodie by them may be the best piece of clothing I've heard of (though havent tried it on). Anyway super cool this video popped up that reviews it with such a thorough 5-day test!! One thing I wonder is if alpaca underwear and bras could hold up well as swimwear and on wet rockslides. Cause wool is said to be a great base layer.
Very interesting and great video! Definitely an interesting add and seems like a nice option. As summer is here, this may be a need in some areas of backpacking for sure. Great video
🎉Hi Justin, Amen and amen, alpaca wool is awesome!! We have a lot of alpaca farms here in Michigan so they sell the wool and the products made from it too. The socks are amazing for hiking and get better the more you wear them. Expensive, yes, but well worth it. No, blisters, nostink and real warm and comfortable 😊
That is so much tencel and so little alpaca, that it shouldn't be called an "alpaca" piece, but a "tencel" piece. Really no point to just put 20% alpaca in it beyond marketing b.s.'ing tactics of, "yeah, its an exotic alpaca baselayer". Tencel btw, is a pretty inexpensive material, and so, these should be like 50% less expensive than the baselayers that use a majority of alpaca content.
A couple of years ago I bought 3 pairs of alpaca socks. They didn’t last well despite washing as per recommended, they would easily fall down and wore out in the heel base and the toes, and the kicker here is I only wore them around the house in crocs. The other factor seemingly overlooked here, is every individual’s body will sweat and perform differently to another individual, making it too difficult to draw a conclusion. But $100+ is too much for such a niche garment, maybe it’s destined to be the next outdoors fad?
@Justin Outdoors This vid was great! If you're looking to do a head to head test why not try a sock test ?! One foot w/merino wool & one foot alpaca wool, I'd love to see that video comparison. Happy, safe, & healthy hiking!
Solid review but these aren’t really sun hoodies. Too warm. Great material and I love mine. But over 70 F if you’re hiking is just too warm for me. The stink-proof is for real though. Really helps to let it air out over night to really minimize stink. Same with merino. Maintenance is very important for alpaca though - dry flat or it stretches. And always store with moth balls. And use special wool cleaner. I wash by hand, but rarely, because doesn’t need it.
@@bilaltahir9978 sun hat better than a hoodie. Let the air flow around your neck. Hat protects from sun. The whole “sun hoodie” concept is overblown. Their fine, but not needed. The only problem with the hats is that they are goofy. But they work.
I recommend traditional arabic and berber clothing. It's proven in the last 1500 years, and performed well. The white color reflects heat, the smooth surface doesn't absorb sand. It doesn't absorb body smell too and has an outstanding ventillation due to the loose fitting. The head scarf protects your neck from the sun, but let it ventillate. I expect you can buy whole clothings at local markets way cheaper, than a sunhoodie from a niche hiking gear. But I bet the hoodie performs better in cooler temperatures at night, and your whole clothing may weigh less, if you plan for situations when it matters.
@@Istenostor so long as it comes with a camel, no problem. Otherwise, I’d be curious to see what kinds of backpacks those guys wore… which is to say, they don’t wear backpacks with those outfits.
I also have jumped from merino to alpaca ....first hoodie then socks then shirts and now underwear...I am hooked. I sweat instantly and stink depending on my diet. I love garlic and onions.
3:50 Not as good as Astroman. Polyester doesn't stink from wearing it. It stinks from being stored in the pack damp. So your test doesn't really tell us much (other than the Astroman is a better shirt).
I prefer a brimmed and vented hat to a hood for sun protection when it's hot. A sweaty hood is no bueno. I've owned one of the Alpaca hoodies for several years now. It's not bad, but it's not particularly exceptional especially for the price.
Great post! I've just bought a couple of merino wool shirts for exactly the same thing. To take less spare clothes (less weight, and pack space), in fact I'm thinking of two shirts, one for daytime and one to sleep in. Your post has sparked a thought, that perhaps one might be enough. Great experiment, I enjoyed it. You thought about doing similar with wool socks and woolen underwear? Take care buddy 😊
The merino underwear is quite bad, they smell worse than cotton and for the boxer type it shrinks on the leg side then it starts to fall from you, very uncomfortable... Resist in buying them or take only one out of curiosity.
@@cristibaluta Thanks Cristian, appreciate your comment; shame Justin didn't bother to, on his own channel! Anyway, You sound someone just like myself who is keen to get the perfect "set up" to enjoy more time, more comfortably, out doors; and is quite prepared to experiment to find what works. I will take on board what you say. And thankyou so much for sharing your personal experiences; and again for taking the time to comment. Take care buddy 😊
Isnt it kind of merino wools selling point that it can absorb 30% water before it feels wet? Not that it cant get more saturated than that. Kinda weird to spin thst into a selling point for alpaca
Whatever, dude. I have that sun hoodie and wore it every day for 2 months. It never smelled bad. I only washed it because I dropped a small potato chip on it and it soaked up the grease like it was hungry. I’ve washed it twice now to get rid of that spot, but it’s hanging on to the grease. I guess it’s a permanent stain. BE CAREFUL WHEN EATING CHIPS!
2:49 Pink spoon raises eyebrows. Also, Alpaca wool is nothing next to Vicuña wool...or so they say. It's so expensive you can't really buy it anywhere.
I’ve owned two of these from App Gear, and returned both for two reasons. First, the fit was just awful and flatly sloppy. It only got sloppier the more I wore it. Second, the lack of ability to vent down my neck (zipper or buttons) made it uncomfortable at times. I’m good with the fabric, but not the fit or design from this company.
@@adonijahdriver1327 Good questions, did you watch the video link I posted? Alpaca in captivity have been selectively bread so produce unnatural amounts of wool, so we are the cause of that problem not the heroic saviours. That said, for those unfortunate animals that are in that predicament we do have a duty to help them by shearing. In that case we should do so as gently and carefully as possible to avoid causing fear and pain. This is not what is happening on these farms, where the aim is making money rather than animal flourishing. It would be great if we stopped putting animals in this position to begin with, and not funding the industry that does these things (to reduce demand) is a good start if you love animals the way most of us do.
Great let's exploit another animal species so as not to be too stinky, sounds like a fair trade. Oh and before people flame me have a look at the conditions and lifespan of these animals.
Do you think you'd stink after wearing a shirt for 5 days straight?
👇 GEAR FROM THE VIDEO 👇
8020 Sun Hoodie: geni.us/8020SunHoodie
Appalachian Gear Co: geni.us/AppalachianGearCo
Hello Justin, can you let us know about the durability please? I was wondering if with heavyuse it will last. Thank you!
What size are you wearing?
Thank you for this review. I've been reading and watching reviews on alpaca tops for about a week now and this video is the one that I got the most value out of. I appreciate the real-world evaluation and the fact that you didn't spend a lot of time just repeating marketing hype about the brand or alpaca fiber itself. Thanks again for all of the work you put into this review.
Good quality alpaca is nice. But for hot weather, I like high quality and/or aged flax linen, or nylon-tencel blends. Flax linen and tencel are also very low odor accumulating materials (along with alpaca and merino wool), and not as insulating as alpaca (or merino). Both have significantly stronger tensile strength than alpaca, also. You can make them thinner, which dries faster and is less insulating.
Insulation in heat can be good when it is really hot and dry though, like 100^F and plus. It helps to create a micro climate between you and the ambient temps/conditions. Energy always flows from areas of more to less to try to reach an equilibrium.
Btw, out of all the synthetics, nylon is the least odor facilitating. There seems to be a direct correlation between the moisture regain, hydrophobicity vs hydrophilic levels, and odor accumulation factors. The synthetic materials with the least moisture regain and highest hydrophobicity i.e. polypropylene, and then polyester, are the most odor facilitating. After polyester, is acrylic. And after acrylic is nylon. This is because nylon isn't really fully hydrophobic like the other synthetics commonly used for clothing.
(This whole odor facilitation thing of synthetics btw, has to do with surface electro chemical charges in relation to electro chemical charges of different microbes).
And as mentioned, nylon-tencel blends work pretty well in this regard, though not as good as straight tencel, linen, alpaca, and/or merino. I would love to try a linen nylon blend, but haven't ever seen it. I've seen some linen polyester blends very rarely, and these are fairly good.
Oh, and in hot, DRY deserts specifically, you want the material to hold onto moisture as much as possible. Let's apply the micro climate concept with the just former, and the more ideal will be a black, somewhat but not too thick cotton spandex blend long sleeve shirt. And over that, would be a very light colored, more loosely woven and loosely fitting linen long sleeve shirt. The light color will reflect Solar visible light heat, while the black underneath will absorb extra UV. And the cotton spandex will hold on to moisture prolonging the evaporative cooling effect. The two layers and somewhat thick baselayer provide extra insulation and help with maintaining that micro climate of moisture evap cooling. Dunking it every once in awhile is pretty nice. Everything dries fast in a super dry desert.
Maybe a thin fishnet baselayer underneath all that, to allow some direct evap from the skin, though some moisture will get channeled into the cotton spandex next layer as well?
Bamboo (like from Free Fly or Huk) are also a no smell option.
Не знаю, делают ли у вас одежду из крапивы, но это очень хороший вариант для лета.
I have owned mine for over a yr. Has about 800 miles worth of trail life. No smells , no rips or wear, warm on cold weather and cool in warm weather. I absolutely love it. If I had to change 1 thing, I would put a draw string around the hood. It's by far my favorite hiking apparel.
Seems this one isn't sold any longer. None available in mens sizes. Instead I'm ordering from Alpacas of Montana which uses 53% alpaca in it's ultralight hoodie. Looking forward to testing it out on the trail.
Thanks for this awesome review. When I bought my first 80/20 Alpaca shirt I was concerned that it was too prickly on my skin. I’m glad I persisted through the initial break in period because now it feels soft and comfortable. I’m impressed with alpaca and will try out the sun hoody as my Patagonia started to stink after just three days.
This kind of content is why I consider Justin’s channel one the top 3 hiking and backpacking channels out there. I saw his review on the Osprey Synchro 20 day/cycling pack and bought one and now it is my go to daypack. I am so happy with that pack I don’t even look at other daypacks now. No pack is perfect but that one comes close, at least for me.
hey @JustinOutdoors, thanks for posting this video about your experience with alpaca clothing. It is super helpful!
Can you help provide an update on the durability of this alpaca clothing? I'm looking into getting something that is quick drying, odor resistant, and durable through machine washing and hang drying
Best wool i've ever used for both warmth and warm conditions is KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie. I have the alpaca top but i find i can't wear it next to skin and it still gets hot in warm conditions. The KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie is incredibly light but also durable (so far) and has the same "anti-stink" properties. Its the best most versatile wool garment i have.
The best part was the smell test from the ladies. Imagine them talking about their trip years from now saying "remember that guy who asked us to smell him" and the other lady saying"yeah and how good was that alpaca shirt " and the other lady " yeah no smell at all what a day that was " 😅
Thx for the review... Looks like a good AZ sun shirt for some higher country backpacking.
I found the 80-20 runs smaller in comparison to the heavier wt Alpaca hoodie, I believe its do to the limited stretch compared to the alpaca hoodie. I’m a 42in chest and go with a size md for the regular hoodie. And have to size up with the 80-20. Just my thoughts to help as needed…
I had great results with merino synthetic 50/50 blend. Much stronger and no odour after a week of bikepacking! Also wicks and dries better than merino alone!
A blend is way better than 100% merino. I’ve had good results with NuYarn.
What brand make 50/50?
The old Rab MeCo blends were pretty good. They were 65% merino and 35% Cocona (activated carbon) treated, high wicking polyester. They made the baselayers somewhat thinner than 100% merino, and so they dried a bit faster, but still had very good odor control due to a combo of the majority merino and the activated carbon treated polyester. Definitely more durable than the 100% merino baselayers.
Alpaca-nylon blend would be pretty good. Nylon is the least odor facilitating of the synthetics, while the strongest per density/weight (well, not considering things like UHMWPE fibers/fabrics, the new high tenacity polyester fibers/fabrics, kevlar, etc).
I would love to see an alpaca NuYarn core fabric, blended with around 30 to 35% straight nylon. Such a combo would be very durable in all but the lightest and thinnest weight fabrics. Ideally the straight nylon fibers would be hollow core, as nylon is more thermally conductive and IR transparent (especially in microfiber size) than most other materials commonly used for clothing. Hollow core fibers would help to offset/counter balance this some.
Interesting 🤔 Thanks @Justin Oudoors How hot was it during the day?
Around 37C/100F!
Best hiking channel hands down
Does anyone have a current link for the hoodie? I can’t find it now
Congrats on the wedding soon! 🎉❤🎉
i have a question on clothing. I saw a linen / viscose thin hoody yesterday in winner's. Was wondering what it would be like in summer for sun protection bug protection and slight chill at night around camp. Ever tried Linen? one was a cotton blend too
Лён, имеет охлаждающий эффект. Для тёплой, жаркой погоды, самое то. Он не впитывает запахи и очень прочный.
Kudos to those ladies doing an initial sniffing test!
Great review. Didn’t know that about alpaca wool. I’ll definitely be looking more into that too! Looking forward to your thoughts as you use it more.
Very interested in your follow up head to head video. Also, could you include polyester garments in the comparison? I believe the is no silver bullet and different fabrics would be better in different situations and environments.
Love the video and the channel. Just started listening to your podcast and found myself enjoying that content as well.
i bought into the hype 3 years ago, but it was the most scratchy shirt I ever owned. It felt like a very rough weave of someone's hair. I will say it didn't stink and fit well, but I could not get over the scratching and donated it.
I didn't find mine to be all that itchy, but I never wear it without at least a short sleeved shirt under it.
Maybe I missed it... do you wear anything underneath the sun hoodie?
I don't think he wears anything under his sun hoodies, even with the OR Astroman one
Why would you wear something underneath?
Hey justin what gloves are you wearing?
Thanks for this. I’ll look forward to hearing about your longer term experience with this hoody.
Great video, because funny as well as instructive. Loved the smeller ladies! Excellent work.
Great review Justin! I wonder how this material will do with mosquitoes? Tight woven nylon does very well to keep the bites down, so I wonder how alpaca fiber will do. Can't wait for your next video.🙂
Any baselayers made with things like merino, alpaca, etc are generally knitted and rarely woven, let alone tightly woven (exception are things like old school worsted wool dress pants, which are more densely packed and less breathable). Knitted generally is one, way more breathable, and two, unless fairly thick, very easy for mosquitoes to bite through.
I'm definitely the odd one out. I don't find any of these new hoodies to work well for me here in the PNW.
I'm always hot in them. I must have 6 pairs. Even your OR hoodie.
I find a nice long sleeve polyester button down shirt to work best. I can unbutton the entire front for comfort.
Love this review. I feel like proper clothing can be an often overlooked segment of backpacking. What I would really like to know though is what is that trekking pole/mono pod you're using? I really like that straight cork handle.
Thanks! It's the komperdell camera staff
Yes!! People get so excited by merino but I was feeling bummed hearing it (100% pure more than blends) can get holes and not as quick-dry as it could be and may (maybe not very common though? not sure) make some people itch. Then had been hearing Alpaca is like merino but more quick-dry, less likely to get holes, and less likely to make people itch. Then saw this company cause they soecifically gear their alpaca towards activewear and...I think?...use ethical alpaca. I told friends the hoodie by them may be the best piece of clothing I've heard of (though havent tried it on). Anyway super cool this video popped up that reviews it with such a thorough 5-day test!! One thing I wonder is if alpaca underwear and bras could hold up well as swimwear and on wet rockslides. Cause wool is said to be a great base layer.
What color was the hoodie royal blue?
Pronounced “Ten Cell”. A regenerated cellulose similar to rayon but has several advantages.
Why are you wearing two different backpacks? I see the Flash 55 and then there's a black day pack.
Excellent review. Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting and great video! Definitely an interesting add and seems like a nice option. As summer is here, this may be a need in some areas of backpacking for sure. Great video
I really would love to get the appgearco poncho, but every time I look, it's sold out 😢
I have had mine four months, zero washes
🎉Hi Justin, Amen and amen, alpaca wool is awesome!! We have a lot of alpaca farms here in Michigan so they sell the wool and the products made from it too. The socks are amazing for hiking and get better the more you wear them. Expensive, yes, but well worth it. No, blisters, nostink and real warm and comfortable 😊
I LOVE MY AGC HOODIE, I WEAR IT ALL THE TIME AND IT DON'T STINK...THANKS FOR THE VIDEO
Fit true to size?
Is the shirt a little itchy?
Don't get sunburn before the wedding 😅 is that your wedding, if so congratulations for the big day 🎉
Thanks! It is my wedding. Tomorrow! June 10
@@JustinOutdoors
Mazel Tov !!!!
Congrats
@@JustinOutdoors hope it's a beautiful day 💍🥂
Congrats bro! Enjoy
Oh happy wedding!!
I wear a sun shirt for evaporative cooling. I take a poly one for really hot and Marino for a bit cooler conditions. Alpaca is warmer?
I would love to know how different brands of alpaca shirts compare. I've seen ads for Paka, which is 80% Tencel and 20% Alpaca and less expensive.
That is so much tencel and so little alpaca, that it shouldn't be called an "alpaca" piece, but a "tencel" piece. Really no point to just put 20% alpaca in it beyond marketing b.s.'ing tactics of, "yeah, its an exotic alpaca baselayer".
Tencel btw, is a pretty inexpensive material, and so, these should be like 50% less expensive than the baselayers that use a majority of alpaca content.
Nice video! Those have been on my radar for awhile!
A couple of years ago I bought 3 pairs of alpaca socks. They didn’t last well despite washing as per recommended, they would easily fall down and wore out in the heel base and the toes, and the kicker here is I only wore them around the house in crocs.
The other factor seemingly overlooked here, is every individual’s body will sweat and perform differently to another individual, making it too difficult to draw a conclusion.
But $100+ is too much for such a niche garment, maybe it’s destined to be the next outdoors fad?
Have 2 alpaca pullovers from traveling bolivia. The indigen people there use the wool all day. It's sure more durable than all my merino stuff.
Do you have canadian companies for alpaca wool?
@Justin Outdoors This vid was great! If you're looking to do a head to head test why not try a sock test ?! One foot w/merino wool & one foot alpaca wool, I'd love to see that video comparison. Happy, safe, & healthy hiking!
Solid review but these aren’t really sun hoodies. Too warm. Great material and I love mine. But over 70 F if you’re hiking is just too warm for me. The stink-proof is for real though. Really helps to let it air out over night to really minimize stink. Same with merino. Maintenance is very important for alpaca though - dry flat or it stretches. And always store with moth balls. And use special wool cleaner. I wash by hand, but rarely, because doesn’t need it.
What do you recommend for a sun hoodie at really hot temperatures?
@@bilaltahir9978 sun hat better than a hoodie. Let the air flow around your neck. Hat protects from sun. The whole “sun hoodie” concept is overblown. Their fine, but not needed. The only problem with the hats is that they are goofy. But they work.
I recommend traditional arabic and berber clothing. It's proven in the last 1500 years, and performed well. The white color reflects heat, the smooth surface doesn't absorb sand. It doesn't absorb body smell too and has an outstanding ventillation due to the loose fitting. The head scarf protects your neck from the sun, but let it ventillate. I expect you can buy whole clothings at local markets way cheaper, than a sunhoodie from a niche hiking gear. But I bet the hoodie performs better in cooler temperatures at night, and your whole clothing may weigh less, if you plan for situations when it matters.
@@Istenostor so long as it comes with a camel, no problem. Otherwise, I’d be curious to see what kinds of backpacks those guys wore… which is to say, they don’t wear backpacks with those outfits.
I also have jumped from merino to alpaca ....first hoodie then socks then shirts and now underwear...I am hooked. I sweat instantly and stink depending on my diet. I love garlic and onions.
Those are some brave ladies! LOL
yeah, $111 for a shirt...that's a lot
Hmmm...id be interested of their entire site wasnt sold out...
They've gone out of business
Have fee products from appalachian trail gear they are awesome
Is the shirt itchy?
You would be swimming in Bow Lake before getting into my car.
Oh man, I've had one of the these in my cart for weeks thinking about it. You're going to make me spend more money! Anyone know of discount deals?
3:50 Not as good as Astroman.
Polyester doesn't stink from wearing it. It stinks from being stored in the pack damp. So your test doesn't really tell us much (other than the Astroman is a better shirt).
What's going on with Righty?
I prefer a brimmed and vented hat to a hood for sun protection when it's hot. A sweaty hood is no bueno.
I've owned one of the Alpaca hoodies for several years now. It's not bad, but it's not particularly exceptional especially for the price.
What size are you wearing and what are your measurements? Trying to gauge size. Thanks
Great post! I've just bought a couple of merino wool shirts for exactly the same thing.
To take less spare clothes (less weight, and pack space), in fact I'm thinking of two shirts, one for daytime and one to sleep in.
Your post has sparked a thought, that perhaps one might be enough. Great experiment, I enjoyed it. You thought about doing similar with wool socks and woolen underwear?
Take care buddy 😊
The merino underwear is quite bad, they smell worse than cotton and for the boxer type it shrinks on the leg side then it starts to fall from you, very uncomfortable... Resist in buying them or take only one out of curiosity.
@@cristibaluta Thanks Cristian, appreciate your comment; shame Justin didn't bother to, on his own channel!
Anyway, You sound someone just like myself who is keen to get the perfect "set up" to enjoy more time, more comfortably, out doors; and is quite prepared to experiment to find what works.
I will take on board what you say. And thankyou so much for sharing your personal experiences; and again for taking the time to comment.
Take care buddy 😊
can mosquitoes bite through this shirt. If not this seems like a very promising option.
I haven't tested it extensively with mosquitos. One night so far and it seemed to keep them out. Bigger ones might be able to get through.
Alpaca is legit...
I'm curious if the small amount of smell that is there would completely go away if you gave it a quick rinse in a river.
It went away even after just airing it out for a bit!
What's the upf rating of this Sun hoodie?
Isnt it kind of merino wools selling point that it can absorb 30% water before it feels wet? Not that it cant get more saturated than that. Kinda weird to spin thst into a selling point for alpaca
Are there any Australian stockists or retailers for this product?
Thanks for products without any polyester or other plastics! No micro plastics form the washer to the ocean! Nature says thanks
Did you every try the Arcteryx cormac or black diamond alpenglow sun hoodies?
Is the wool ethically sourced?
They do not pay the Alpacas a living wage.
@@nunyabidness3075😂
I have this shirt. It has performed great on the few 3 day trips I’ve used it on. Very comfortable and doesn’t stink like the synthetics I have.
Looks like something I'd buy. Have to wait for it to be in stock I guess =(
So...where are your knife and fork! 😂
Whatever, dude. I have that sun hoodie and wore it every day for 2 months. It never smelled bad. I only washed it because I dropped a small potato chip on it and it soaked up the grease like it was hungry. I’ve washed it twice now to get rid of that spot, but it’s hanging on to the grease. I guess it’s a permanent stain. BE CAREFUL WHEN EATING CHIPS!
2:49 Pink spoon raises eyebrows. Also, Alpaca wool is nothing next to Vicuña wool...or so they say. It's so expensive you can't really buy it anywhere.
Oh never heard of vicuna! Gotta Google that
I’ve owned two of these from App Gear, and returned both for two reasons. First, the fit was just awful and flatly sloppy. It only got sloppier the more I wore it. Second, the lack of ability to vent down my neck (zipper or buttons) made it uncomfortable at times. I’m good with the fabric, but not the fit or design from this company.
Why is this guy wearing gloves in the desert???
@7:41 audio is kinda funky
"if it doesnt stink after 5 days ill eat my shorts"... which ones? the ones you put for 5 days too? LOL
I have no sense of smell so wearing clothes that don't stink help me not offend people around me. Great video, as always.
Wow you really suffer for all of us!
A full jumpsuit version with hoodie and matching sleep booties would be nuts.
Only if it had a vented crotch
actually to be honest the real body smell is from underpants and pants
Then feet
Another company out of business. Don’t bother trying to order it.
Anyone notice that Justin is wearing 2 different backpacks on his 5 day trip? What gives?
I did two loops with different sets of gear that started at the same trailhead.
Just once it would be so cool to have a cruelty free option. Guess I will just keep stinking :-(
What's cruel about it?
@@JonathanThriftnothing.
Alpacas need to be sheared annually in order to not overheat and stay healthy. How is that cruelty to make things from the sheared wool?
@@adonijahdriver1327
Good questions, did you watch the video link I posted?
Alpaca in captivity have been selectively bread so produce unnatural amounts of wool, so we are the cause of that problem not the heroic saviours. That said, for those unfortunate animals that are in that predicament we do have a duty to help them by shearing. In that case we should do so as gently and carefully as possible to avoid causing fear and pain. This is not what is happening on these farms, where the aim is making money rather than animal flourishing.
It would be great if we stopped putting animals in this position to begin with, and not funding the industry that does these things (to reduce demand) is a good start if you love animals the way most of us do.
@@Kvothe3 did the alpacas tell you that they weren't happy with their current arrangements or is it just your opinion that they are unhappy?
First🎉!??.... edit. almost , lol
Too heavy.
Great let's exploit another animal species so as not to be too stinky, sounds like a fair trade. Oh and before people flame me have a look at the conditions and lifespan of these animals.
If you still have a gallbladder, your not ultralighting :)