Thanks! You are the first reviewers I have seen who understand that UPF 15 is adequate; color reflectivity is important; and breathability is critical. Please keep up the high quality work!
Thanks so much for saying, and glad you agree. The more we've talked about it, the more we think that the UPF rating system is poorly designed and misleading. It's natural to assume UPF 45 would be 300% more protective than UPF 15, but is actually only 4.8% more protective, at the cost of being half as breathable.
@a-oc1wl For sure - UPF 15 is not adequate for everyone all of the time. But the data shows it's much more breathable than UPF 50, ergo more comfortable, and we feel it is the better option for most people most of the time when extreme UV exposure or sensitivity is not a factor.
@@adventure_alan_co I'm sorry but I don't see how this makes sense at all. The way I see it it's designed exactly the way that makes sense, and it's looking at the percentages of how many of the sun's rays are blocked that seems misleading to me. Between UPF 15 and 45 you're blocking 93.3% vs 97.8% of the sun's rays. This means that both are a lot better than nothing, that's true. But you're not interested in how many sun rays you're not getting, you're interested how many more you are getting, which is 6.6% vs 2.2%, because that's what translates to real world consequences: *You get 3x, meaning 300% the cancer risk, not 5% more, if you wear UPF 15 vs 45.* Or alternatively you can wear UPF45 3x as long to get the same amount of risk. So three is the factor you're interested in and the numbers 6.6% vs 2.2% are much more representative for that (or 1/15 vs. 1/45, exactly how it's designated). It's kinda like if you wanted to show how bad smoking is but compared it to an unreasonably high baseline, say people that did cleanup at Chernobyl. Yeah compared to the cancer risk of the latter both smoking and not smoking are like infinitely better and not smoking will seem to yield an absolutely insignificant improvement.
@@adventure_alan_coif you see it from the other way, Upf15 literally lets 3 times the amount of uv rays pass compared to upf 45. 6,7 to 2,2 so you can last in the sun 3 times as Long until you get the same uv esposure
Combined with the article and charts on your website, this was outstanding, relevant info and delivered some surprising data. Very helpful. Btw, I wore my OR Echo for 16 straight days at altitude in the High Sierra this summer and was never sunburned through it.
Thanks SO much for saying, that really means a lot! We're with you on Echo and find it more than sufficiently protective - but there are dissenters out there who will tell you they've tanned/burned through it. Just want to make sure we're acknowledging both sides.
Great work! I read the article and looked at your data and was very impressed. This is beyond Outdoor Gear Lab levels of research and testing and makes for super interesting and valuable content! The transparency for testing methods and judging criteria is also awesome!
You spent a lot of time planning and executing this video - and it shows. This is hands-down the best sun hoodie review that I have seen on UA-cam. 10/10. Keep up the amazing work. We appreciate it!
Love the details! I will say, for those sensitive to UV, upf 15 clothing, which is 15 when new, likely less when used for some time, may not be enough. If you are doing higher elevation, exposed, long days-I often do-with upf 15 you could be getting the equivalent of 48 minutes of UV exposure unclothed. Doing a 3-7 day trip, this could add up to a substantial amount of UV. Conversely a 50 upf shirt would allow 14 minutes of UV, all other things being equal. For those who hike often, this can add up. One way to test is just put a band-aid under the sun shirt and see how much darker the skin is around that after a long day and judge from there.
Love the bandaid test! That's a clever idea. And vtrue that threadbare fabrics are less protective. It's true that UPF 15 not be sufficient for everyone in prolonged heavy UV exposure. But for an overwhelming majority of people on across an overwhelming majority of trips, UPF 15 is sufficient.
This summer at high elevation I had a 15 buff and a 50 shirt. After a full day of exposure, it was clear that 50 makes a big difference. Might not matter in some situations, but if you're doing long day hikes at high elevation along ridgelines... go for the 50 and accept the loss of breathability
@@seattlegrrlie Thanks for the feedback! We very much acknowledge that UPF 15 is not sufficient for all people and all environments, but again - it is sufficient for most people in most environments. That said, a buff may not be a good example for what is/is not sufficient. If not pooled loosely around the neck, a Buff is generally designed to be worn stretched over your head in various configurations. But the very stretch that keeps it tightly in place around your head pulls its knit structure apart, opening it up and decreasing its UV protection level. Ergo, UPF15 likely is not sufficient for a Buff-style garment due to how its designed to be worn - a UPF 15 Buff may perform more like UPF 5-10, if those existed as ratings.
One way to counter balance this, is to wear a very thin, very breathable underlayer of black colored (something like the thirty two degrees nylon undershirts would be perfect for this) and a very breathable, thin, and very light colored over shirt over that. It will run a bit warmer of course, but have MUCH higher UV protection while still being quite breathable if both fabrics are highly breathable. Color of the fabric not only affects how well a material absorbs Solar visible light and converts into IR/heat (or reflects more visible light), but also strongly affects how well it absorbs or lets UV pass through. Very light colored fabrics allow more UV to pass through. Very dark color fabrics absorb more UV. (This also relates to why very dark colored synthetics last significantly longer under intense UV exposure than very light colored synthetics). But of course, very dark black _thin_ fabrics are very hot in the sun. Hence why you wear dark black underneath and white or the like on top.
You all do some of the best (top 2!) backpacking / hiking content anywhere. Your reviews are thorough and it's clear you actually have used/tried the gear. Keep up the awesome work, I learn so much.
What an awesome and thorough review! I will save this for the next time I need to refresh my sun hoodie. Currently using the Capilene Daily and it's going strong!
I searched high & low this summer for a sun hoodie for a kayak expedition. I also came to the conclusion that the Outdoor Research Echo was the best choice. Good to know that I have an eye for these things without needing to do all the fancy experiments like you guys.
WOW- well done! 👏 I really enjoyed nerding out on this topic! Thank you so much- I know a great deal of effort went into this from start to finish and it's greatly appreciated 😊 I immediately subscribed at the end of the video and now I'm about to go check out your other videos!
Interesting watch. There are some other factors you may not have considered. For example, thickness vs thinness is probably the primary factor in relation to insulation, but not completely. The fabrics thermal conductivity matters some (nylon being the most thermally conductive of common materials), the fiber size, fiber shape, and fiber arrangement. Air porosity (what you called breathability) also affects it strongly (and relates to fiber arrangement as mentioned). Generally, the more convection that is allowed, the more thermal transfer that can happen. Also, whether or not it holds onto moisture (absorbs it directly into the material itself) affects it. Materials that directly absorb significant water, whether natural fibers or nylon to some extent for synthetics, will tend to be more cooling in nature. (Part of the reason of why people often advise against wearing cotton baselayers and mid layers in winter or in cold, and especially cold and wet conditions). But humidity + temps are a big factor in all this. If I'm hiking in relatively dry (35% rh or less) and warm to hot conditions, I actually want the fabric to hold onto moisture some to help cool. I don't want 100% polyester in such conditions. Meanwhile, natural fibers (especially plant ones, though I prefer linen to tencel some) and nylon-natural fiber blends are acceptable. Fabric color not only affects how much it converts solar visible light into IR (i.e. "heat/warmth"), but also how it handles UV degradation. Intense UV is hard on very light colored synthetics, especially nylon. All other factors being equal (same color), the materials which handle UV exposure the best are natural and semi natural fibers (tencel, modal, rayon, etc), then acrylic, then polyester, then nylon. White, pure nylon can get degraded and weakened by intense UV pretty quickly. There are coatings and the like that can help with that though. So in durability considerations, this needs to be considered. Thankfully nylon starts off with the highest tensile strength of all the above, and so it can still last a decent time. Oh, and out of natural and semi natural fibers, I believe hemp has the highest UV resistance/durability. I like hemp-polyester blends. Hemp definitely absorbs moisture, but as the fibers are quite hollow, they dry in reasonable time since there is less solid material to absorb moisture. Very similar to linen, and like linen, its quite cooling when wetted out with sweat and in relatively dry conditions. (For every humid conditions, I prefer extremely breathable, very thin 100% polyester some over others, though 100% nylon and highly breathable nylon [hard to find though] is ok).
such a thorough review! thanks!! I couldnt help but notice my preferred sun hoody was not reviewed. The past three years I've worn the Arcteryx Cormac in 3 season weather (ranging from 20 degree to 110 degree days) and it has performed outstandingly. My wife wears the OR Echo and it seems like mine provides more warmth and dries faster in the evening after sweating in it all day. And little-to-no smell even by day 6 of wearing it non-stop. I don't like Arcteryx as a brand overall, it's the only item I own from them, but it's definitely worth checking out. Somehow it didn't make the list of 27 options 😳
Thanks so much for saying! We had to draw the line somewhere, and some relevant sun hoodies were missed. That Arc Cormac looks compelling though, we'll add it into the next round of testing. Don't think we've tried a 100% poly UPF40.
Very thorough test. Anti-microbialness and texture are probably the most important elements I look for so I’ll be taking a look at your chart for that.
Thanks!! We went really deep into trying to identify the best textures by having testers conduct a first impression hand feel test on each sun hoodie, and then stack ranking them or cluster ranking them. But preferences were so varied and so disparate that we scrapped that test for lack of adequate sample size and because personal preferences matter more than averages. Ultimately, it's up to the end user to determine which texture feels best. Regarding anti-microbialness/anti-smelliness, we scored them based on fabric composition, rather than lab testing. Those with high parentages of natural fibers like merino scored highest, followed by those with anti microbial treatments, and those with Spandex getting last place. It sounds like you'd prefer a merino wool sun hoodie - unless you dislike the texture.
This was very informative and well done, thanks for sharing and explaining the process of your testing and final results. Much appreciated and greatly appreciated 🤙🏽
Thank you so much for your efforts and informative testing. That being said, fastest drying isn't necessarily better than slower drying that dries fast enough. A wetted fabric can enhance coolness where as wetted, super-fast drying, is uncomfortably cold for a short time until it is completely dry and no longer providing evaporative cooling. And, as you noted thin and less breathable can be warmer than thicker, better wicking, and more breathable.
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback! There's definitely truth to what you're saying about wet fabrics being cooler. But for the most part, we find that even the fastest drying model, the OR Echo, still holds onto enough sweat while you're moving to provide evaporative cooling while generating heat and sweating, and that the biggest quick dry pay off is that its dries faster once you've stopped moving/stopped generating heat and sweat, or no longer want it to be wet in the first place.
Thank you so much for this! This thorough, scientific approach definitely holds its ground. I love my echo hoodie and would agree with you completely. My second favorite is the capilene as well for the texture of the shirt and the feel. My only question is what happened to the mountain hardwear Crater Lake hoodie?
Really appreciate you saying, and glad you agree. Enough folks have asked about MH Crater Lake that it should have been tested and that was an oversight. However, we did have a reason to pass on it. See the copy/paste answer below: As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane, UPF 50. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature or chassis. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is the baseline, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex), Kuiu Gila (92/8), or Town Shirt (88/12) for example. We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50), and is overall medium, but never exceptional. From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model.
I have only tried one "sun hoodie" so far -- something my mom bought me on Amazon so I have no idea what the specs are. I used to just use a white cotton shirt for sun protection. Anyway, this thing was so unbreathable that I got a heat rash on my neck. Now I understand why! Thanks for the fantastic info!
In the group of 27 test hoodies, we did try a $20 amazon brand cheapo. It performed very poorly in the breathability department. Also, as an interesting context piece, a white cotton tee shirt allows one in five UV rays through, and if it were an option would score UPF 5
Many thanks for the extended study and sharing, really interesting! However I must comment on the UPF rating comparison, which is misleading. You say the difference between for example UPF50 and 15 is very small because the absolute difference in blocking is just few percent. But that is exactly what makes a huge difference, because we dont really care about whats blocked, but whats coming through to burn our skin. And this number is exactly linear in the UPF scale. In other words UPF50 indeed passes less than a third of UV compared to UPF 15, which makes it three times more effective. Not saying 50 is necessary, I just don't have experience on that, but its certainly not the same as 15.
My favorite from the dozen I've tested has been my Paka Sol in the High Sierra despite the slower dry time & heavier fabric. Alpaca is more useful in a layering system from my experience.
We tested the Paka Sol and it's included in the sample set. It was one of the most breathable and very luxurious feeling and comfy! But didn't make the cut because as you point out, also one of the heaviest, warmest, and slowest drying. Our biggest complaint is that it's actually majority Tencel, and only a small minority of the fabric is alpaca wool.
I have 2 of the Free Flys, the ZPacks Darwin version an OR and a Leve. I'll allow my purchases to speak for themselves. Many of the fishing companies (which is where I believe these originated) have good, cheaper versions IMHO.
Good assort! We're big fans of the Leve brand, OR Echo (obviously), and the Zpacks. We tested the Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight and found it to be aggravatingly slow drying, one of the very slowest in our group of 27. Interesting, considering that it was designed to be worn while participating in water sports.
Thanks! If you click through to the website article, we link to a top quarter zip pick. But in general the author takes an anti-quarter zip stance, because the discomfort of a structural zipper rubbing against chin/neck offsets the added comfort of mechanical venting. However, if you replace the zipper with buttons, we're 100% in. That's just very rare, but the Voormi River Run is an example.
Wow great info. The hoodie is my favorite backpacking shirt type in and out of the sun. I really like the Montbell sun hoodie. Too bad you didn't test that. I think it would rate close to the Echo. It also has a 1/4 chest zipper - an essential sun hoodie feature for me, so it beats the Echo
Hey thanks for saying! We really appreciate it, and also wear sun hoodies for everything! Haven't tested the Montbell Cool Hoodie, but just peeped the product page. Looks like it would perform similarly to our top pick the OR Echo in that's it ultralight and 100% polyester. They're claiming it blocks 90% UV, which means it probably would have scored a UPF 10, only the UPF rating system starts at UPF 15, and anything less cannot claim a rating. Don't love that this is how the system works, but it is what it is.
This video and your article are incredibly helpful, thank you so much for putting all this together. This answered so many questions I've had that I'm left with just one - I saw you briefly touched on alpaca wool in the article. Do you have any thoughts on/experience with the hoodies from brands like Paka or Arms of Andes? Those two have caught my attention recently. They kind of seem like they'd be more like sweaters than sun hoodies to me, but they both market themselves as wide-temperature range hiking apparel that performs better than merino wool. I own The Mirage so I'm really curious how they'd compare
Thanks SO much for saying, really appreciate the positive feedback. Yes, we love alpaca wool, believe it to be a smidge better than merino, but options are limited on the marketplace for sun hoodies specifically. We tested the app gear co 8020 but the company went out of business right as we finished the article, so that's one a gonner - RIP. The Paka Sol was also tested, but it was one of the thickest/heaviest/warmest/slowest drying options, so despite the pros of it being very breathable/soft/stretchy/comfy, we don't recommend it. It's also only 14% alpaca wool, majority Tencel, which is why it's so slow drying, and kind of unfair to even call it an alpaca wool product. Mainly, it's a Tencel sun hoodie. Lastly, we also have the Arms of Andes lightweight 250 hoodie, which is definitely mid-layer/sweater level warmth and not a base layer. They make a 160gsm ultralight fabric, but have not yet applied to a hoodie chassis, nor is it UPF rated, so that's also out. In summary, we want to see more alpaca sun hoodies, but there just aren't any good options currently available.
Patagonia Airshed is by far the best. Zipper for ventilation, different materials used in different locations based on the need. Stretch fabric for the lower arms to push up the sleeves, slightly warmer fabric on the hood for warmth, torso, wind blocking, and breathability. Patagonia just has more expertise and experience designing outdoor garments.
Patagonia Airshed is a nice piece! But it's also a windbreaker, not a sun hoodie. The majority of its fabric would be the least breathable in our entire round-up, since it's designed to block wind.
Zippers do increase ventilation, but at the cost of having a structurally stiff component of the base layer rubbing against your chest/chin/neck. Mechanical venting is welcome, but buttons are highly preferable to zippers.
@adventure_alan_co fair point but I haven't experienced any rubbing issues from the zip before. Overheating is a bigger concern for me. Problem with the full zip versions is they all have pockets, which are just extra weight if you use a hip belt
It’s incredibly how thoroughly you tested, I‘m extremely impressed! It’s too bad most of these options are US/Canada based so they end up costing pretty much double over here in Europe due to shipping/tax/toll :( not sure what to go for here
Very similar to our top pick Outdoor Research Echo in theory, though we did not test it. Both 100% polyester. Montbells claim its fabric blocks 90% UV, which means it would score UPF10, but 10 is below the ratings threshold for the UPF system so it doesn't get a rating. That's the main difference. But the downgrade from 93.3% to 90% UV blockage is starting to get substantial - same delta as the difference between UPF 15 and UPF 30. If you prefer a quarter zip, the Montbell might be preferable. I (Jaeger) personally dislike quarter zips because I find they irritate my neck/chin when zipped up, and when open, make the hood too loose and susceptible to blowing off in gusts of wind. Those disadvantages, for me, outweighs the added comfort of mechanical venting.
@@adventure_alan_co thanks. I wondered about the lower SPF rating. It’s so light you can feel a slight breeze go thru it. Really great on hot days. I’ll try the echo next summer. It looks like a loose fit which I like unlike some of the others
@@pgreenx For sure! The Echo fit is actually pretty standard leaning trim, but looked looser on me here because I like a relaxed sun hoodie so sized up. I'm in between men's L and XL, Closer to L in general, but very glad to have gone up to XL here. I wish I did the same for all four sun hoodies in the video. A loose fit just improves airy-ness and is much comfier.
Very thorough testing and really interesting data! Personally though I have to disagree with the recommendations and on the features tested. For example, over thousands of miles wearing sun hoodies, how long the hoodie takes to dry from being completely soaked has played zero role for me. What are more crucial for me are things not tested at all here: fit (drop tail or longer body so it doesn't ride up while hiking), proper sun hood (none of the recommended hoodies had a hood which a) protects the users face properly, and b) allows for proper air circulation inside the hood), mechanical ventilation (having a full or half zip allows you to dump so much heat on a hot day but all of the recommended hoodies had the worst possible hood design which traps heat around your neck), and "stinkability" (how fast will it start stinking on trail). For example: the recommended Echo has one of the worst hood design. As seen on the video and in personal use, it doesn't protect users cheeks and face at all. The hood is also so tight fitting that it literally traps heat around your head as air can't properly circulate around it. To have it fit well while wearing a backpack, you have to size up for it to not ride up your back. And lastly, it's one of the worst smelling hoodies I've ever used after 3-4 days on the trail. For me, the perfect sun hoodie would have: drop tail or longer body design to not ride up, large airy hood which both protects the sides of your face and allows air to circulate (with a clamp to close up in high winds), with half-zip to open up on long climbs to dump heat, and build from well breathing thin fabric. Sadly there currently isn't a hoodie on the market which would fit all of these but one can hope...
Thanks for the feedback and for the many zesty hot takes! Agreed that dry time is not the most important characteristic and that dry time from soaked is an extreme exaggeration of real world use. But as a statistic, it's very predictive of which hoody will go from moderately sweaty to dry first, which always increases comfort at baseline, and drastically increases comfort in cold temps. The faster your shirt dries, the faster you will be comfy in it. If comfort matters, then dry time matters. All four of the hoodies featured in this video have drop tail hems. Next, fit is largely a matter of choosing the correct size to achieve a pleasantly relaxed fit (for comfort/airy-ness, and so as not to over-stretch the garment which degrades UPF) - which to be fair, in this video, was not always modeled perfectly. If any of the hoodies in the video looked short on me (Jaeger here), that's because I'm in between sizes and chose incorrectly when ordering. Also in regard to features, quarter-zips are not all upside. Depending on wearer preferences (such as mine, and it's my content 😉), the structural nature of a zipper on a base layer rubbing against your upper chest/neck/chin can create more net discomfort and outweigh the benefits of mechanical venting. They also add cost and additional failure points to the garment. We would gladly take a quarter button up, like if the Voormi River Run had 3 more buttons down its henley. That hood, btw, might be closest to your dream hood. Agreed that good hoods matter, and love the concept you're describing. If you find one just like that, do let us know. That said, the Echo hood works great for us, always stays on in wind and provides more coverage than most. If it could be a bit more open, we would take that so long as it doesn't sacrifice much wind performance. Specifically, the intro to this video was shot in wind and the Echo hood performed perfectly.
@@adventure_alan_co I personally wouldn't call the drop tail on these a proper drop tail. For reference, I think the Mirage sun hoodie from ZPacks has a proper drop tail and body design. But this is highly personal and I should've made it more clear the comment was for "my preferences"! And I was saying this as someone who owns or has owned almost all the hoodies you tested here (plus several others). And you're correct, the zipper can be done wrong. I have owned few where it digs into my chin and it's not fun, but done correctly it's a gods send on hot days! Regarding the Vormi hood, it's still too small (but I like the button) and the design is poor (doesn't properly wrap around). For a well designed hood (in my opinion), check out the now discontinued Patagonia Sunshade Technical Hoody. I wish they'd make it with a thinner fabric and a longer, less boxy body design, but the hood is amazing. Also, forgot to mention, the part about breathability vs UPF rating was really gold! I think I might have stupidly overlooked some really good hoodies while looking for that UPF 50 rating. I don't burn easily but run hot so getting more breathability is always welcome!
Interesting the Free Fly bamboo scored so high, I have a couple of them and find them to be on the warm side and not really dry that quickly. The Acrteryx Cormac is my current favorite for warm days and it drys really fast. Another great brand for hot weather is Himali, there sun hoodies is extremly breathable and quick drying.
Thanks for the feedback! Free Fly Bamboo scored in the lower middle of the pack of 27 - not very high, and in our testing was one of the very slowest drying. Though it performed quite well in breathability testing, which buoyed the combined score since that metric is weighted 3x. Arc'teryx Cormac and Himali both have our attention for the next round and both look great in theory, just haven't tried them yet.
@@adventure_alan_co certainly give the Cormac and the Himali a look, Ive use the Himali for a year now and have no complaints. The Cormac Ive been using since June and wore it for a few hundred miles on trail and love it. Both have held up well and are great in warm conditions.
Thanks for saying! Yes, some colors do attract mosquitos more than others. Unfortunately, it's not just darker colors, but we've also read warm colors do (likely because flowers and mammal flesh are often warm colored). Nothing a fresh permethrin treatment can't fix though ;) Will have to look into this more for future updates. Thanks for the feedback!
Comment on the effectiveness of UPF 50 vs. 15: 50 actually is about 3 times better than 15 because it allows 3x less UV to get through to your skin. UPF 15 allows 100/15=6.7% of the UV to hit your skin, whereas UPF 50 allows 100/50=2% of the UV to hit your skin. This means you have more than three times as much UV exposure with UPF 15 than UPF 50, which for some people is the difference between getting burned or not.
Framed that way, yes, you are correct! But framed relative to how much UV it blocks in total - 93.3% vs 98%, that's only 5%, or 1.05 times better. It's a matter of perspective, and we would argue that the percent of total blockage paints a more holistic picture of the protection offered. What if instead of UPF 15, it was UPF93, and what if instead of UPF50, it was UPF98. But you are correct that some people and situations warrant greater than UPF15, and what's best for most people isn't best for everyone.
@@adventure_alan_co Sorry to say, but it's *not* a matter of perspective. The entire point is, how many UV rays reach your skin and can potentially damage them, and that is determined by 100% minus your percentages, i.e. 2% for UPS50 and 6.7% for UPS15, and that makes a *huge* difference for the damage done to your skin or the time you can stay in the sun without taking damage. @liamcalder6237 is exactly right here.
@@adventure_alan_cothat’s no quite how math works. The difference between 54% and 60% is 6 % points, but 60% protection is 11% better than 54% . As 0.54*1.111111 is 0.6. In the case of protection Liam is right that is should be from the us perspective as 90% and 95% protection is double the amount of us protection. To say that it’s only a 5% difference is mathematically incorrect as protection will exponentially increase the close it gets to 100% in terms of uv pass through. Ie 0.1/200% is 0.05. The uv explanation in this video is kinda misleading, not intentional of course. You said in your reply it’s a matter of perspective but it’s not really, your perspective is wrong as it is mathematically flawed
Wish I found this before I bought my FreeFly sun hoodie. Took it on a 9 day backpacking trip. It was fine, but I definitely noticed how long it took to dry. Only other one I have is Eddie Bauer's Solarfoil which is 100% poly 50UPF which is super dense and heavy but I like how long it is (I have a long torso). Will definitely pick up an Echo for next summer! Thanks for the vid! /sub /like
Hey thanks so much for watching and subscribing! Hope you dig the Echo, and we're glad to have our experience validated with the FreeFly. It's a really nice concept piece, but not ideal for technical backcountry wear, and given the slow dry, shocking that it's designed for fishing??? The Amazon brand model we tested from Willet is also 100% poly and UPF 50 and was very dense and low breathability, so that checks out with the EB Solarfoil.
It seems like it would be better to isolate absorbency from dry time. Dry time could be measured with 100mL of water added to the shirt, for example, rather than letting the amount vary between shirts. Thanks for the data!
Thanks for the suggestion! We did measure absorbency by weighing each hoodie, dunking it in water, letting it drip dry until it mostly stopped dripping, then measured again for how much water it absorbed to saturation. There was a very significant correlation between the least absorbent being the fasting drying and vice versa.
Did you weigh all of them? Which are the lightest? (Ps I didn't see the mountain hardware Crater lake in there, it's a 50 rated 120g in a M. I've done about 6000km in 2 of them, I think they're one of the lightest around and with a high uv rating. Thanks for the video! Greg
Hey thanks for the question - We did weigh each sun hoodie in the test group of 27, and the lightest two were the Outdoor Vitals Altitude (4.1 oz men's XL [sized up runs small]), and the Outdoor Research Echo (4.6 oz, men's L). You can see the weight table in our data spreadsheet embedded in the article on our website. Since others have asked about the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake, I'll copy/paste the response here: As it's a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and all of them perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model.
Thanks for the review. Lots of work for a video like that. A couple of comments though: Breathability: I think you put too much emphasize in that. It's certainly important in some environments, but sunny doesn't mean necessarily mean warm and/or calm weather. I'll admit I never used a sun hoody, but I hiked he AT and PCT in a long sleeve polypro top which is close in functionality except for the hood. It was also the only shirt I brought and to me it's more important that it'll work well in most situations than handle one extremely well. Too warm was only a handful of days on each five months trail. Those days a light and super breathable shirt would have been nice, but 99% of the time I'd prefer a dark shirt with a little more wind resistance. On drying fast: I think we can all agree that's important, but to me it's important it dries fast while wearing it and preferably feels somewhat comfortable while wet. Then a question: I did my thruhikes before sun hoodies and SPF-ratings. I've always thought that almost any garment gives enough sun protection, but SPF suddenly became important in the ads. As long as my skin only get slightly darker even after five months outside I thought I had enough protection but maybe not. Any clarification or comments from the experts?
Thanks for saying and for the feedback! And yes, tons of work went into it. Regarding breathability - In our experience, any of these sun hoodies, even the thinnest and most breathable, are comfortable to wear while hiking/generating your own heat in temps down to the low 40s, with some of the thicker merino wool ones (which are also more breathable) sufficient down to freezing. We're willing to bet that at least 90% of hikers spend 90% of their time hiking in moderate to warm temps from May-September, and that staying cool while moving in the heat is of much greater value than staying warm while moving in the cold. If you're expecting cool temps, choose a merino model. If it's cold, add a layer. Regarding your last question, this is edging into "ask your doctor" territory and youtube comments aren't qualified to answer. That being said, it's our understanding that you can still cause UV radiation damage to your skin via prolonged repeated exposure, even if you never actually get burned.
i really liked the or echo, but it tore in less than a month of use....switched to the rei sahara which is not quite as comfy or light as the echo, but much tougher and has lasted over a year of tough use with no signs of quitting. I think durability is one of the most important features for me. Flaws are the hood isnt the best and retains smell a little more, but overall its quite the performer. those with the echo, have you put it thru the ringer on the trail and how has it performed? maybe i got a dud...
Appreciate your shared experience! Admittedly, the Echo is not the most durable, but we've always found it sufficiently durable enough for 99% of hiking and backpacking. Our team has been using Echo hoodies as our primary hiking base layer for over a decade now, and find that each hoodie lasts 2-3 hiking seasons of relatively heavy trail use.
Larger sizes definitely improve air flow and comfort, but won't fully compensate for the low breathability of UPF 50. I (Jaeger from the video) have taken to sizing up most of my sun hoodies from my usual L to XL, unless the fit is already quite loose to begin with.
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Wow, thanks for doing this. Some surprises there. Looking at you Alpenglow. 👀
Thanks you for watching! Lots of surprises. Out of curiosity, were you expecting Alpenglow to perform better or worse?
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@@adventure_alan_co I’ve used a pair for three seasons now and I think the mineral treatment has worn off. I got a little burned on the shoulders this summer. Desert mountains. I went back to buff and classic Columbia Silver Ridge.
Interesting, interesting! Would not at all shock us to learn that the mineral treatment wears off after three seasons. But burning through UPF50 fabric is surprising. Perhaps the fabric wore thin under pack straps after three seasons? And/or it's quite stretchy, and your shoulders stretched the fabric out, opening up the knit structure and letting more UV passage through, or some combination of both.
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@@adventure_alan_co Quite so. If we consider that UPF50 means only 1/50th or 2% of ultraviolet radiation passing through. Then again, I was just checking field notes and the UV index was at 12-Extreme. I’m not sure how they correlate.
Boring answer, but for all sun hoodies, especially merino wool, we recommend following the manufacturer's care label. That said, we've never had any issue washing it as part of the normal laundry cycle. The UPF protection does not wash away because it is not a fabric treat, rather, a characteristic of fabric composition. Long term wear and tear will degrade the UPF. If it feels or looks "threadbare", the UPF has decreased.
Thank you, thank you! It didn't make it into the video, but we did score each hoody for anti-microbialness based on fabric composition. Those made of majority natural fibers a la merino wool scored highest, followed by synthetic fibers with anti-microbial treatments, followed by those with Spandex. It's not a true smell test, which as you point out would be very hard to conduct objectively. But if that's a high priority for you, definitely choose a merino model.
@@adventure_alan_co Oh, thank you for responding, I appreciate it! My experience indeed says the merino (or alpaca) fibres tend to smell less after many day use, but I don't have much experience with synthetics. I own Zpacks Mirage that works pretty well, although I find it quite warm and less breathable during really warm days. I will check out the OV Tern you recommended. Also, thank you for coining the term "anti-microbialness", which is awesome :)
For me, a loose neck is important. I hate the sensation of being choked that I get with a lot of sun hoodies. Combine that with the itchiness of the fabric rubbing up against stubble after a week of no shaving and I can't even fathom trying the one recommended by this test. Still trying to find a really good one in this regard.
If you click thru to the written guide in video description you'll see our favorite hood which is on the Voormi River Run. It is a hooded Henley design, and can be very very loose around the neck if you want, opened up fully for venting, or buttoned up for max UV coverage/cozy/staying on in the wind. And all without the issue of a structural quarter zip rubbing against your neck or chin. Downside to that one is that it's warmer/thicker than average, though has its place in moderate/cool temps. We hope to see more hoods like it in the future.
@@adventure_alan_co thanks for the response. I wasn't aware of any hoodies with a design like that. I looked it up and Google also happened to show a result for a Ketl Nofry Sun Hoodie with a similar hood design. Polyester so the stench might not be great, but cheaper and looks more breathable.
Enough people have asked about Crater Lake that we're going to run it through the lab test gauntlet retroactively. But here is the copy/paste answer: As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane, UPF 50. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature or chassis. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is the baseline, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex), Kuiu Gila (92/8), or Town Shirt (88/12) for example. We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50), and in terms of overall performance is mid-tier, not exceptional. From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex sun hoodie.
Nothing from Columbia PFG / Mountain Hardware (Crater Lake)/ Prana (they are all under the same company umbrella)??? HOW?!?!?! To me this is like the most popular outdoor company that exists! How in the world did you miss them? Both PFG and the Crater Lake Hoody should've been on here! I see you did some results on Jolly Gear's button down, nice to see that! I'm not a big fan of hoodies so it is nice to see this included in your tests. I think it would've been nice to also include a first result off of amazon in this test as a cheap knockoff options even though sun hoodies are relatively cheap in terms of clothing prices.
Hey there! Thanks for the feedback. The most common question we've had so far was why no MH Crater Lake. In hindsight, it was a miss to not include that one given its prevalence, however, you can read more about our reasoning in this copy/paste response: As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that are made with approximately the same exact 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model. The PFG hoodie would have been a good include too, as we generally prefer 100% polyester to 90/10 poly/spandex. Don't fret, my friend. We'll get both in there for next time. We did test a $20 Amazon knock off from the brand Willet, and it underperformed big time in terms of breathability/wasn't worth the savings.
White colored 100% polyester button up shirt with roll up sleeves and a wide brim hat over any sun hoodie....Black color for cold weather clothing for faster drying time when there is sun & white tops for hot weather where drying fast isn't of the same importance.
Thanks for the feedback! In the long form written version of this content, (this video being an abridged version of that), we do address all three of those factors. Antimicrobial properties and weight are both factored in to the weighted combined scoring totals. Natural fiber-based models scored higher on "stink resistance" while polyester spandex blends scored lowest, with anti-microbial treated models scoring in the middle. Odor, of course, is extremely subjective, so we did not evaluate based on sniff testing, rather, objectively score based on material compositions that contribute most or least to smell. Each model was weighed in men's size large, and scored based on that. Price is also listed in the article for each sun hoodie, though in general, this category of item has a much flatter price range than say tents, which can range from $100-$1000. Sun hoodies range from $50-$140, with low performance budgets options on amazon available for $20. We did not factor price into the weighted performance scoring because this price does not affect performance, instead allowing readers to choose how much or little priority they want to place on value.
Odor resistance, by way of anti-microbial properties, was factored into the weighted combined scoring calculation that lead to our top four choices featured in this video. But it was not addressed directly in this video as smell itself is subjective and difficult to test for, and the video is merely am abridged version of the greater written content, linked in the description. But quick answer is that each hoodie was scored for anti-microbialness based on its materials composition, with merino wool scoring highest while polyester+spandex scored lowest, and anti-microbial treated polyesters getting a middling score.
Yes! In the expanded, written version of this content, we do factor that into their combined scoring, and feature a number of merino options. We completely agree that low stink is beneficial, and that despite topical antimicrobial coatings on most polyester options, merino easily wins out. Any of the merinos featured in the article would be great in that regard.
It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, wet fabric against the body would keep it cooler than dry fabric. But based on our testing, even the fastest drying models will still maintain dampness while you're sweating and hiking. The advantage is that they dry faster once you've stopped and are more comfortable to continue wearing. Also of note, wet fabrics don't breath as well. If it's so hot that you require damp fabric to stay cool while at rest, it's likely too hot to be hiking anyway.
We've also had very positive experiences and zero burning through the Echo fabric. But others have reported light tanning and even burning through it, and we honor that experience, even if it's not our own. It would likely have to be a stack of exact conditions, such as high UV exposure at base, fabric is a lighter UPF 15 colorway rather than darker UPF 20 colorway, fabric is stretched tight over the most sun exposed flank of the shoulder, etc etc.
@@adventure_alan_coUpf often decreases when the fabric is wet which may play into it if the wearer is sweaty and fair skinned. I wear an echo quarter zip many days on trail and on the water fishing with no issues but have olive skin
I've been on exposed ridge traverses above 12,000ft from sunrise to sunset, multiple times and have never burned through the Echo, and I burn really easily and badly. I would imagine doing this for multiple days is where you could get burned. Something like Justin Simoni's Sangre De Cristo Traverse, where he did wear an Echo and claims to have gotten burned, but he was out there above 12,000ft for days. But how many people are doing that? lol
@@higler. From talking to a lot of people about Echo, it seems like a super overwhelming majority never burned through it, but there are stories out there like you mentioned. My (Jaeger) working theory is that it can happen if you (1) burn easily at base line (2) are at high altitude and/or on a glacier (3) stretch the fabric taut over the shoulder due to tight fit/pulled by pack straps and/or have a worn out garment that is somewhat thread bear in that area.
I've worn the Echo many days without issue as well. But I've read that UPF decreases when a garment is wet. I wonder if fair skinned heavy sweaters might be at higher risk of burning through a low UPF garment?
Great question! Not as part of this performance test. But we generally prefer permethrin treated knit sun hoodies (preference on factory treated) over traditionally woven button up bug shirts.
Thanks so much! If MH Crater Lake works well for you, by all means keep rockin' it! As it's a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and all of them perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model. But again, comfort is ultimately in the eyes of the beholder/wearer. Happy hiking!
@@adventure_alan_co I also have the REI Sahara Sun hoodie, and the fabric thickness and cut are VERY different. The Sahara wears much hotter than the Crater Lake, and the fit is less flattering (of high importance to me LOL). But thank you for the explanation, it and your video were both very interesting. 👍
@@RedSonya4 A good flattering fit is definitely important. If you look good in it, it will feel better no matter what. We'll keep an eye out for Crater Lake and see how it compares to other UPF 50s in future editions
I could be wrong because I don't recognize some of those brands but it seems like you focused only on more premium brands without any more budget friendly options for comparison.
Thanks for the feedback! With more expensive items, like tents and backpacks, we put a higher emphasis on budget/value picks. But for sun hoodies, the overall price range is flatter so we didn't focus on that as much. We did test a $20 Amazon sun hoodie (which was featured in the black/white heat absorption section) from the brand Willet, and found it to be low breathability and not very comfortable. In the full guide on our website, the REI Sahara Shade gets a shout out as a good value option, but we disliked its hood. The Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun hoodie is like a budget Echo, but wasn't UPF rated and sored lower breathability and slower dry times, so we figured it was just worth upgrading to the superior option for $20. If we had found something killer in the $20-40 range, we would have tried to feature it.
We tested the App Gear Co 80-20, which is 80% alpaca. It was the single most breathable model of all 27 (though also one of the thickest/warmest)! Unfortunately, App Gear Co went out of business during the course of our testing. The only other alpaca wool sun hoodie on the market we found is the Paka Sol, which is only 14% alpaca and majority Tencel, and was too slow drying/heavy/thick/warm to make the top recommendations. If you like alpaca, merino is the next closest option and is nearly as good, albeit - yes alpaca is the superior wool.
Great testing process. Perhaps I overlooked one in your test list. Why no hoodies using Polartec Alpha Direct 60 or 90 such as the Senchi Designs hoodies? From initial reservations that the material would be hot to one of the top pieces of kit I have. Super breathable, drys quickly, lightweight, & provides insulation with a wind shell over it. Even mosquito resistance was great even with the material’s open weave.
@@MrHamish54 We're big fans of Polartec AD as you can see in this article www.adventurealan.com/best-alpha-direct-hoodie/ But it's definitely not a base layer fabric, nor is it UPF rated, nor would it make for a great sun hoodie. But you can be sure we're using overtop of a sun hoodie as a midlayer.
Mmm, that does look like a nice sun hoodie with a nice hood! Though let's not jump to conclusions that it's better than the best of 27. The Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie appeared almost identical to Echo, but wound up being far less breathable and slower drying in tests. We've used and liked a puffy jacket from Himali before though, so the quality is there for sure. Will make sure this gets into the next test set. Also, unclear what the fabric composition is, bummer they don't tell you on the product detail page.
The OR is so baggie and droopy. The fit is bad. I don’t use thumb wholes and just wear OR gloves if needed. I like the OV Altitude. The sun hoodie I grab the most is my KETL No Fry sun hoodie. I like it because it has mini buttons so on a hot day I can just un button down to my chest. It’s light like the OV Altitude. The cons are that the hoodie blows off. I told them they need one more button at the chin to help against that. It also gets stinky pretty quick. You gave the OV Altitude a 0 for UV because they do not list a UV. That doesn’t make it a zero, just inconclusive.
Thanks for the feedback! However, the fit of the Echo is not bad, I (Jaeger) am in between sizes, and intentionally sized up to have it like that, and wish I did the same with the other three featured models. Loose and relaxed fitting sun hoodies are beneficial for multiple reasons. For starters, loose clothing is generally comfier and cooler to wear in heat in that it encourages both air flow, and range of motion. Conversely a more trim fitting sun hoodie is likely to stretch the fabric out, especially around your shoulders, and when pulled taut, it degrades the UV blockage capability. The Ketl looks pretty nice, love that Henley style, same as our favorite hood configuration on the Voormi (which can button all the way up to stay on in wind). We'll try that out for the next round of testing. We love Outdoor Vitals, they make really great gear and sell it for reasonable prices! But we're fairly certain of what happened with the Altitude. OV is savvy and they would know to test all of their base layers for UPF rating. The fact that Altitude remains without rating leads us to assume they did have it tested, and it scored below the UPF 15 threshold, which is the minimum UV blockage level the system allows in order for a fabric to be rated. So while inconclusive, it's safe to assume it would have scored something like a UPF10 if that were an option, but it's not. But regardless, we feel you shouldn't have to settle for an unrated garment when there are plenty of great options out there that are rated - thus the zero score in our data sheet. Also rhetorical question here, but what else could we/should have scored it at? As gear recommenders, it's hard to recommend a sun protection garment that does not offer quantifiable sun protection, when quantifiability is industry standard. In rating sun hoodies it absolutely makes sense to ding them for being unrated.
Thanks! You are the first reviewers I have seen who understand that UPF 15 is adequate; color reflectivity is important; and breathability is critical. Please keep up the high quality work!
Thanks so much for saying, and glad you agree. The more we've talked about it, the more we think that the UPF rating system is poorly designed and misleading. It's natural to assume UPF 45 would be 300% more protective than UPF 15, but is actually only 4.8% more protective, at the cost of being half as breathable.
@a-oc1wl For sure - UPF 15 is not adequate for everyone all of the time. But the data shows it's much more breathable than UPF 50, ergo more comfortable, and we feel it is the better option for most people most of the time when extreme UV exposure or sensitivity is not a factor.
@@adventure_alan_co I'm sorry but I don't see how this makes sense at all. The way I see it it's designed exactly the way that makes sense, and it's looking at the percentages of how many of the sun's rays are blocked that seems misleading to me.
Between UPF 15 and 45 you're blocking 93.3% vs 97.8% of the sun's rays. This means that both are a lot better than nothing, that's true.
But you're not interested in how many sun rays you're not getting, you're interested how many more you are getting, which is 6.6% vs 2.2%, because that's what translates to real world consequences: *You get 3x, meaning 300% the cancer risk, not 5% more, if you wear UPF 15 vs 45.* Or alternatively you can wear UPF45 3x as long to get the same amount of risk. So three is the factor you're interested in and the numbers 6.6% vs 2.2% are much more representative for that (or 1/15 vs. 1/45, exactly how it's designated).
It's kinda like if you wanted to show how bad smoking is but compared it to an unreasonably high baseline, say people that did cleanup at Chernobyl. Yeah compared to the cancer risk of the latter both smoking and not smoking are like infinitely better and not smoking will seem to yield an absolutely insignificant improvement.
@@adventure_alan_coif you see it from the other way, Upf15 literally lets 3 times the amount of uv rays pass compared to upf 45. 6,7 to 2,2 so you can last in the sun 3 times as Long until you get the same uv esposure
Thank you so much for putting this together! Such a solid test regimen, and such a valuable piece of work for all of us backpackers/hikers
Thanks so much for saying!
Combined with the article and charts on your website, this was outstanding, relevant info and delivered some surprising data. Very helpful. Btw, I wore my OR Echo for 16 straight days at altitude in the High Sierra this summer and was never sunburned through it.
Thanks SO much for saying, that really means a lot! We're with you on Echo and find it more than sufficiently protective - but there are dissenters out there who will tell you they've tanned/burned through it. Just want to make sure we're acknowledging both sides.
Great work! I read the article and looked at your data and was very impressed. This is beyond Outdoor Gear Lab levels of research and testing and makes for super interesting and valuable content! The transparency for testing methods and judging criteria is also awesome!
Thanks so much, really appreciate that feedback! Glad you dig it.
Yep! The right balance of context and consistent pace. I'm impressed! Thank you Alan & Co
You spent a lot of time planning and executing this video - and it shows. This is hands-down the best sun hoodie review that I have seen on UA-cam. 10/10. Keep up the amazing work. We appreciate it!
Thanks so much, we really appreciate you saying!!
Love the details! I will say, for those sensitive to UV, upf 15 clothing, which is 15 when new, likely less when used for some time, may not be enough. If you are doing higher elevation, exposed, long days-I often do-with upf 15 you could be getting the equivalent of 48 minutes of UV exposure unclothed. Doing a 3-7 day trip, this could add up to a substantial amount of UV. Conversely a 50 upf shirt would allow 14 minutes of UV, all other things being equal. For those who hike often, this can add up. One way to test is just put a band-aid under the sun shirt and see how much darker the skin is around that after a long day and judge from there.
Love the bandaid test! That's a clever idea. And vtrue that threadbare fabrics are less protective. It's true that UPF 15 not be sufficient for everyone in prolonged heavy UV exposure. But for an overwhelming majority of people on across an overwhelming majority of trips, UPF 15 is sufficient.
This summer at high elevation I had a 15 buff and a 50 shirt. After a full day of exposure, it was clear that 50 makes a big difference. Might not matter in some situations, but if you're doing long day hikes at high elevation along ridgelines... go for the 50 and accept the loss of breathability
@@seattlegrrlie Thanks for the feedback! We very much acknowledge that UPF 15 is not sufficient for all people and all environments, but again - it is sufficient for most people in most environments. That said, a buff may not be a good example for what is/is not sufficient. If not pooled loosely around the neck, a Buff is generally designed to be worn stretched over your head in various configurations. But the very stretch that keeps it tightly in place around your head pulls its knit structure apart, opening it up and decreasing its UV protection level. Ergo, UPF15 likely is not sufficient for a Buff-style garment due to how its designed to be worn - a UPF 15 Buff may perform more like UPF 5-10, if those existed as ratings.
One way to counter balance this, is to wear a very thin, very breathable underlayer of black colored (something like the thirty two degrees nylon undershirts would be perfect for this) and a very breathable, thin, and very light colored over shirt over that. It will run a bit warmer of course, but have MUCH higher UV protection while still being quite breathable if both fabrics are highly breathable. Color of the fabric not only affects how well a material absorbs Solar visible light and converts into IR/heat (or reflects more visible light), but also strongly affects how well it absorbs or lets UV pass through. Very light colored fabrics allow more UV to pass through. Very dark color fabrics absorb more UV. (This also relates to why very dark colored synthetics last significantly longer under intense UV exposure than very light colored synthetics).
But of course, very dark black _thin_ fabrics are very hot in the sun. Hence why you wear dark black underneath and white or the like on top.
You all do some of the best (top 2!) backpacking / hiking content anywhere. Your reviews are thorough and it's clear you actually have used/tried the gear. Keep up the awesome work, I learn so much.
Thanks SO much for saying. Your kindness is appreciated!
NIce! Great to find a fact based and accessible video about a subject I was researching. Excellent work thank you!
Thanks so much!!
What an awesome and thorough review! I will save this for the next time I need to refresh my sun hoodie. Currently using the Capilene Daily and it's going strong!
I love tests like this, I wish you did something like this with membrane jackets!
Appreciate that and thanks for the suggestion!
This must be what it’s like for people when I information dump on them. Thank you for your thorough study.
Thanks for saying, glad you dig it! Nothing quite like the joy of a taking an information dump ;)
@@adventure_alan_co there really isn’t. Maybe I should try your approach..you know, consensual
I searched high & low this summer for a sun hoodie for a kayak expedition. I also came to the conclusion that the Outdoor Research Echo was the best choice. Good to know that I have an eye for these things without needing to do all the fancy experiments like you guys.
Good choice! Your gear instincts serve you well.
WOW- well done! 👏 I really enjoyed nerding out on this topic! Thank you so much- I know a great deal of effort went into this from start to finish and it's greatly appreciated 😊 I immediately subscribed at the end of the video and now I'm about to go check out your other videos!
Thanks so much for saying, we're glad you liked it. Happy trails!!
I love gearheads and gear obsessed people! Thanks for the hardwork and effort you put into this ☆
Thanks so much for enjoying!
Interesting watch. There are some other factors you may not have considered. For example, thickness vs thinness is probably the primary factor in relation to insulation, but not completely. The fabrics thermal conductivity matters some (nylon being the most thermally conductive of common materials), the fiber size, fiber shape, and fiber arrangement. Air porosity (what you called breathability) also affects it strongly (and relates to fiber arrangement as mentioned). Generally, the more convection that is allowed, the more thermal transfer that can happen. Also, whether or not it holds onto moisture (absorbs it directly into the material itself) affects it. Materials that directly absorb significant water, whether natural fibers or nylon to some extent for synthetics, will tend to be more cooling in nature. (Part of the reason of why people often advise against wearing cotton baselayers and mid layers in winter or in cold, and especially cold and wet conditions).
But humidity + temps are a big factor in all this. If I'm hiking in relatively dry (35% rh or less) and warm to hot conditions, I actually want the fabric to hold onto moisture some to help cool. I don't want 100% polyester in such conditions. Meanwhile, natural fibers (especially plant ones, though I prefer linen to tencel some) and nylon-natural fiber blends are acceptable.
Fabric color not only affects how much it converts solar visible light into IR (i.e. "heat/warmth"), but also how it handles UV degradation. Intense UV is hard on very light colored synthetics, especially nylon. All other factors being equal (same color), the materials which handle UV exposure the best are natural and semi natural fibers (tencel, modal, rayon, etc), then acrylic, then polyester, then nylon. White, pure nylon can get degraded and weakened by intense UV pretty quickly. There are coatings and the like that can help with that though.
So in durability considerations, this needs to be considered. Thankfully nylon starts off with the highest tensile strength of all the above, and so it can still last a decent time. Oh, and out of natural and semi natural fibers, I believe hemp has the highest UV resistance/durability. I like hemp-polyester blends. Hemp definitely absorbs moisture, but as the fibers are quite hollow, they dry in reasonable time since there is less solid material to absorb moisture. Very similar to linen, and like linen, its quite cooling when wetted out with sweat and in relatively dry conditions.
(For every humid conditions, I prefer extremely breathable, very thin 100% polyester some over others, though 100% nylon and highly breathable nylon [hard to find though] is ok).
6 Stars out of 5. Excellent content.
Thanks so much! Really appreciate that!
such a thorough review! thanks!!
I couldnt help but notice my preferred sun hoody was not reviewed. The past three years I've worn the Arcteryx Cormac in 3 season weather (ranging from 20 degree to 110 degree days) and it has performed outstandingly. My wife wears the OR Echo and it seems like mine provides more warmth and dries faster in the evening after sweating in it all day. And little-to-no smell even by day 6 of wearing it non-stop.
I don't like Arcteryx as a brand overall, it's the only item I own from them, but it's definitely worth checking out. Somehow it didn't make the list of 27 options 😳
Thanks so much for saying! We had to draw the line somewhere, and some relevant sun hoodies were missed. That Arc Cormac looks compelling though, we'll add it into the next round of testing. Don't think we've tried a 100% poly UPF40.
Wow I've been looking for sun hoodies for the last week and you just posted thanks!
What good timing!
I’ve had them ALL here in phx. Milwaukee hoodie from Home Depot #1 by a mile. No joke.
Awesome video!! Learned so much about Sun hoodies and the material used in them. Definite subscriber now.
So glad to hear it, and stoked to earn that subscription!! Thanks for watching.
oooooh I'm gonna get baked as hell for this one! Love me a good sun hoodie (aka the OR Echo 😋)
Enjoy!
Nice to know my two favorites scored high - OR and the Patagonia. I practically live in them during the summer
Wow such good tests. What a great video - I thought it would have 400k views turns out you were a small channel. Keep up the good work
Hey, thanks so much for saying, really appreciate the kind words!
Thank you for the video.
Lots of great work!!
Thanks so much!
Awesome video, thanks. Always looking for great sun hoodies and this info will keep me from spending a small fortune.
Thanks, very happy to shortcut you!
Very thorough test. Anti-microbialness and texture are probably the most important elements I look for so I’ll be taking a look at your chart for that.
Thanks!! We went really deep into trying to identify the best textures by having testers conduct a first impression hand feel test on each sun hoodie, and then stack ranking them or cluster ranking them. But preferences were so varied and so disparate that we scrapped that test for lack of adequate sample size and because personal preferences matter more than averages. Ultimately, it's up to the end user to determine which texture feels best. Regarding anti-microbialness/anti-smelliness, we scored them based on fabric composition, rather than lab testing. Those with high parentages of natural fibers like merino scored highest, followed by those with anti microbial treatments, and those with Spandex getting last place. It sounds like you'd prefer a merino wool sun hoodie - unless you dislike the texture.
Thanks for this, I don't know why this was recommended to me but I have subscribed and thank you for the video!
Thank you for watching!
This was very informative and well done, thanks for sharing and explaining the process of your testing and final results. Much appreciated and greatly appreciated 🤙🏽
Thanks so much for saying! Appreciate you taking the time to watch!
Thank you so much for your efforts and informative testing. That being said, fastest drying isn't necessarily better than slower drying that dries fast enough. A wetted fabric can enhance coolness where as wetted, super-fast drying, is uncomfortably cold for a short time until it is completely dry and no longer providing evaporative cooling. And, as you noted thin and less breathable can be warmer than thicker, better wicking, and more breathable.
You're welcome and thanks for the feedback! There's definitely truth to what you're saying about wet fabrics being cooler. But for the most part, we find that even the fastest drying model, the OR Echo, still holds onto enough sweat while you're moving to provide evaporative cooling while generating heat and sweating, and that the biggest quick dry pay off is that its dries faster once you've stopped moving/stopped generating heat and sweat, or no longer want it to be wet in the first place.
Thank you so much for this! This thorough, scientific approach definitely holds its ground. I love my echo hoodie and would agree with you completely. My second favorite is the capilene as well for the texture of the shirt and the feel. My only question is what happened to the mountain hardwear Crater Lake hoodie?
Really appreciate you saying, and glad you agree. Enough folks have asked about MH Crater Lake that it should have been tested and that was an oversight. However, we did have a reason to pass on it. See the copy/paste answer below:
As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane, UPF 50. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature or chassis. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is the baseline, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex), Kuiu Gila (92/8), or Town Shirt (88/12) for example. We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50), and is overall medium, but never exceptional. From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model.
Awesome resource. Thank you. Love seeing stuff like this.
Thanks for saying! Always happy when others want to obsess over gear performance as much as we do.
Great study!
🙏
I stay in high humid climates in asia and I always stay with merino clothing. The breathability is first on my list.
I have only tried one "sun hoodie" so far -- something my mom bought me on Amazon so I have no idea what the specs are. I used to just use a white cotton shirt for sun protection. Anyway, this thing was so unbreathable that I got a heat rash on my neck. Now I understand why! Thanks for the fantastic info!
In the group of 27 test hoodies, we did try a $20 amazon brand cheapo. It performed very poorly in the breathability department. Also, as an interesting context piece, a white cotton tee shirt allows one in five UV rays through, and if it were an option would score UPF 5
Many thanks for the extended study and sharing, really interesting!
However I must comment on the UPF rating comparison, which is misleading. You say the difference between for example UPF50 and 15 is very small because the absolute difference in blocking is just few percent. But that is exactly what makes a huge difference, because we dont really care about whats blocked, but whats coming through to burn our skin. And this number is exactly linear in the UPF scale. In other words UPF50 indeed passes less than a third of UV compared to UPF 15, which makes it three times more effective.
Not saying 50 is necessary, I just don't have experience on that, but its certainly not the same as 15.
amazing work, thank you!!
🙏
My favorite from the dozen I've tested has been my Paka Sol in the High Sierra despite the slower dry time & heavier fabric. Alpaca is more useful in a layering system from my experience.
We tested the Paka Sol and it's included in the sample set. It was one of the most breathable and very luxurious feeling and comfy! But didn't make the cut because as you point out, also one of the heaviest, warmest, and slowest drying. Our biggest complaint is that it's actually majority Tencel, and only a small minority of the fabric is alpaca wool.
I have 2 of the Free Flys, the ZPacks Darwin version an OR and a Leve. I'll allow my purchases to speak for themselves. Many of the fishing companies (which is where I believe these originated) have good, cheaper versions IMHO.
Good assort! We're big fans of the Leve brand, OR Echo (obviously), and the Zpacks. We tested the Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight and found it to be aggravatingly slow drying, one of the very slowest in our group of 27. Interesting, considering that it was designed to be worn while participating in water sports.
Great comparison. I didn't catch it but did any of the sun hoodies have a quarter zip for ventilation? I think that could be very beneficial.
Thanks! If you click through to the website article, we link to a top quarter zip pick. But in general the author takes an anti-quarter zip stance, because the discomfort of a structural zipper rubbing against chin/neck offsets the added comfort of mechanical venting. However, if you replace the zipper with buttons, we're 100% in. That's just very rare, but the Voormi River Run is an example.
Wow great info. The hoodie is my favorite backpacking shirt type in and out of the sun.
I really like the Montbell sun hoodie. Too bad you didn't test that. I think it would rate close to the Echo. It also has a 1/4 chest zipper - an essential sun hoodie feature for me, so it beats the Echo
Hey thanks for saying! We really appreciate it, and also wear sun hoodies for everything! Haven't tested the Montbell Cool Hoodie, but just peeped the product page. Looks like it would perform similarly to our top pick the OR Echo in that's it ultralight and 100% polyester. They're claiming it blocks 90% UV, which means it probably would have scored a UPF 10, only the UPF rating system starts at UPF 15, and anything less cannot claim a rating. Don't love that this is how the system works, but it is what it is.
@@adventure_alan_co It certainly prevents sunburn in all-day sun for me!
Fabulous job. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for watching!
My ADHD is perfect for these nerdy, in-depth reviews. I enjoyed this far more than I probably should have xD well done lads!
Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed.
Very informative video. Thank u.
Thanks for watching!
This video and your article are incredibly helpful, thank you so much for putting all this together.
This answered so many questions I've had that I'm left with just one - I saw you briefly touched on alpaca wool in the article. Do you have any thoughts on/experience with the hoodies from brands like Paka or Arms of Andes? Those two have caught my attention recently. They kind of seem like they'd be more like sweaters than sun hoodies to me, but they both market themselves as wide-temperature range hiking apparel that performs better than merino wool. I own The Mirage so I'm really curious how they'd compare
Thanks SO much for saying, really appreciate the positive feedback. Yes, we love alpaca wool, believe it to be a smidge better than merino, but options are limited on the marketplace for sun hoodies specifically. We tested the app gear co 8020 but the company went out of business right as we finished the article, so that's one a gonner - RIP. The Paka Sol was also tested, but it was one of the thickest/heaviest/warmest/slowest drying options, so despite the pros of it being very breathable/soft/stretchy/comfy, we don't recommend it. It's also only 14% alpaca wool, majority Tencel, which is why it's so slow drying, and kind of unfair to even call it an alpaca wool product. Mainly, it's a Tencel sun hoodie. Lastly, we also have the Arms of Andes lightweight 250 hoodie, which is definitely mid-layer/sweater level warmth and not a base layer. They make a 160gsm ultralight fabric, but have not yet applied to a hoodie chassis, nor is it UPF rated, so that's also out. In summary, we want to see more alpaca sun hoodies, but there just aren't any good options currently available.
Patagonia Airshed is by far the best. Zipper for ventilation, different materials used in different locations based on the need. Stretch fabric for the lower arms to push up the sleeves, slightly warmer fabric on the hood for warmth, torso, wind blocking, and breathability. Patagonia just has more expertise and experience designing outdoor garments.
Patagonia Airshed is a nice piece! But it's also a windbreaker, not a sun hoodie. The majority of its fabric would be the least breathable in our entire round-up, since it's designed to block wind.
I decided to get one with a full front zipper - so much cooler in the heat. No zip versions are only good for cold weather imo
Zippers do increase ventilation, but at the cost of having a structurally stiff component of the base layer rubbing against your chest/chin/neck. Mechanical venting is welcome, but buttons are highly preferable to zippers.
@adventure_alan_co fair point but I haven't experienced any rubbing issues from the zip before. Overheating is a bigger concern for me. Problem with the full zip versions is they all have pockets, which are just extra weight if you use a hip belt
It’s incredibly how thoroughly you tested, I‘m extremely impressed!
It’s too bad most of these options are US/Canada based so they end up costing pretty much double over here in Europe due to shipping/tax/toll :( not sure what to go for here
Thank you so much for saying!! If you do find one at a reasonable rate, let us know so we can recommend to others asking from Europe.
Love if you could test the Florence Marine X airtex hoodie next time.
Appreciate the suggestion!
Thank you....very helpful.
Great video, Jaeger!
👋 Thanks!
Would love to see how the Montbell cool hoody holds up against these. Been wearing it for years. I like that it has a zipper and pocket.
Very similar to our top pick Outdoor Research Echo in theory, though we did not test it. Both 100% polyester. Montbells claim its fabric blocks 90% UV, which means it would score UPF10, but 10 is below the ratings threshold for the UPF system so it doesn't get a rating. That's the main difference. But the downgrade from 93.3% to 90% UV blockage is starting to get substantial - same delta as the difference between UPF 15 and UPF 30.
If you prefer a quarter zip, the Montbell might be preferable. I (Jaeger) personally dislike quarter zips because I find they irritate my neck/chin when zipped up, and when open, make the hood too loose and susceptible to blowing off in gusts of wind. Those disadvantages, for me, outweighs the added comfort of mechanical venting.
@@adventure_alan_co thanks. I wondered about the lower SPF rating. It’s so light you can feel a slight breeze go thru it. Really great on hot days.
I’ll try the echo next summer. It looks like a loose fit which I like unlike some of the others
@@pgreenx For sure! The Echo fit is actually pretty standard leaning trim, but looked looser on me here because I like a relaxed sun hoodie so sized up. I'm in between men's L and XL, Closer to L in general, but very glad to have gone up to XL here. I wish I did the same for all four sun hoodies in the video. A loose fit just improves airy-ness and is much comfier.
Very thorough testing and really interesting data! Personally though I have to disagree with the recommendations and on the features tested. For example, over thousands of miles wearing sun hoodies, how long the hoodie takes to dry from being completely soaked has played zero role for me.
What are more crucial for me are things not tested at all here: fit (drop tail or longer body so it doesn't ride up while hiking), proper sun hood (none of the recommended hoodies had a hood which a) protects the users face properly, and b) allows for proper air circulation inside the hood), mechanical ventilation (having a full or half zip allows you to dump so much heat on a hot day but all of the recommended hoodies had the worst possible hood design which traps heat around your neck), and "stinkability" (how fast will it start stinking on trail).
For example: the recommended Echo has one of the worst hood design. As seen on the video and in personal use, it doesn't protect users cheeks and face at all. The hood is also so tight fitting that it literally traps heat around your head as air can't properly circulate around it. To have it fit well while wearing a backpack, you have to size up for it to not ride up your back. And lastly, it's one of the worst smelling hoodies I've ever used after 3-4 days on the trail.
For me, the perfect sun hoodie would have: drop tail or longer body design to not ride up, large airy hood which both protects the sides of your face and allows air to circulate (with a clamp to close up in high winds), with half-zip to open up on long climbs to dump heat, and build from well breathing thin fabric. Sadly there currently isn't a hoodie on the market which would fit all of these but one can hope...
Thanks for the feedback and for the many zesty hot takes!
Agreed that dry time is not the most important characteristic and that dry time from soaked is an extreme exaggeration of real world use. But as a statistic, it's very predictive of which hoody will go from moderately sweaty to dry first, which always increases comfort at baseline, and drastically increases comfort in cold temps. The faster your shirt dries, the faster you will be comfy in it. If comfort matters, then dry time matters.
All four of the hoodies featured in this video have drop tail hems. Next, fit is largely a matter of choosing the correct size to achieve a pleasantly relaxed fit (for comfort/airy-ness, and so as not to over-stretch the garment which degrades UPF) - which to be fair, in this video, was not always modeled perfectly. If any of the hoodies in the video looked short on me (Jaeger here), that's because I'm in between sizes and chose incorrectly when ordering. Also in regard to features, quarter-zips are not all upside. Depending on wearer preferences (such as mine, and it's my content 😉), the structural nature of a zipper on a base layer rubbing against your upper chest/neck/chin can create more net discomfort and outweigh the benefits of mechanical venting. They also add cost and additional failure points to the garment. We would gladly take a quarter button up, like if the Voormi River Run had 3 more buttons down its henley. That hood, btw, might be closest to your dream hood.
Agreed that good hoods matter, and love the concept you're describing. If you find one just like that, do let us know. That said, the Echo hood works great for us, always stays on in wind and provides more coverage than most. If it could be a bit more open, we would take that so long as it doesn't sacrifice much wind performance. Specifically, the intro to this video was shot in wind and the Echo hood performed perfectly.
@@adventure_alan_co I personally wouldn't call the drop tail on these a proper drop tail. For reference, I think the Mirage sun hoodie from ZPacks has a proper drop tail and body design. But this is highly personal and I should've made it more clear the comment was for "my preferences"! And I was saying this as someone who owns or has owned almost all the hoodies you tested here (plus several others).
And you're correct, the zipper can be done wrong. I have owned few where it digs into my chin and it's not fun, but done correctly it's a gods send on hot days!
Regarding the Vormi hood, it's still too small (but I like the button) and the design is poor (doesn't properly wrap around). For a well designed hood (in my opinion), check out the now discontinued Patagonia Sunshade Technical Hoody. I wish they'd make it with a thinner fabric and a longer, less boxy body design, but the hood is amazing.
Also, forgot to mention, the part about breathability vs UPF rating was really gold! I think I might have stupidly overlooked some really good hoodies while looking for that UPF 50 rating. I don't burn easily but run hot so getting more breathability is always welcome!
Interesting the Free Fly bamboo scored so high, I have a couple of them and find them to be on the warm side and not really dry that quickly. The Acrteryx Cormac is my current favorite for warm days and it drys really fast. Another great brand for hot weather is Himali, there sun hoodies is extremly breathable and quick drying.
Thanks for the feedback! Free Fly Bamboo scored in the lower middle of the pack of 27 - not very high, and in our testing was one of the very slowest drying. Though it performed quite well in breathability testing, which buoyed the combined score since that metric is weighted 3x. Arc'teryx Cormac and Himali both have our attention for the next round and both look great in theory, just haven't tried them yet.
@@adventure_alan_co certainly give the Cormac and the Himali a look, Ive use the Himali for a year now and have no complaints. The Cormac Ive been using since June and wore it for a few hundred miles on trail and love it. Both have held up well and are great in warm conditions.
Wow, a video I honestly didn't know I needed. Amazing.... its important to note that darker colors also attract mosquitos over lighter colors
Thanks for saying! Yes, some colors do attract mosquitos more than others. Unfortunately, it's not just darker colors, but we've also read warm colors do (likely because flowers and mammal flesh are often warm colored). Nothing a fresh permethrin treatment can't fix though ;) Will have to look into this more for future updates. Thanks for the feedback!
Comment on the effectiveness of UPF 50 vs. 15: 50 actually is about 3 times better than 15 because it allows 3x less UV to get through to your skin. UPF 15 allows 100/15=6.7% of the UV to hit your skin, whereas UPF 50 allows 100/50=2% of the UV to hit your skin. This means you have more than three times as much UV exposure with UPF 15 than UPF 50, which for some people is the difference between getting burned or not.
Framed that way, yes, you are correct! But framed relative to how much UV it blocks in total - 93.3% vs 98%, that's only 5%, or 1.05 times better. It's a matter of perspective, and we would argue that the percent of total blockage paints a more holistic picture of the protection offered. What if instead of UPF 15, it was UPF93, and what if instead of UPF50, it was UPF98.
But you are correct that some people and situations warrant greater than UPF15, and what's best for most people isn't best for everyone.
@@adventure_alan_co Sorry to say, but it's *not* a matter of perspective. The entire point is, how many UV rays reach your skin and can potentially damage them, and that is determined by 100% minus your percentages, i.e. 2% for UPS50 and 6.7% for UPS15, and that makes a *huge* difference for the damage done to your skin or the time you can stay in the sun without taking damage. @liamcalder6237 is exactly right here.
@@adventure_alan_cothat’s no quite how math works. The difference between 54% and 60% is 6 % points, but 60% protection is 11% better than 54% . As 0.54*1.111111 is 0.6. In the case of protection Liam is right that is should be from the us perspective as 90% and 95% protection is double the amount of us protection. To say that it’s only a 5% difference is mathematically incorrect as protection will exponentially increase the close it gets to 100% in terms of uv pass through. Ie 0.1/200% is 0.05. The uv explanation in this video is kinda misleading, not intentional of course. You said in your reply it’s a matter of perspective but it’s not really, your perspective is wrong as it is mathematically flawed
Wish I found this before I bought my FreeFly sun hoodie. Took it on a 9 day backpacking trip. It was fine, but I definitely noticed how long it took to dry. Only other one I have is Eddie Bauer's Solarfoil which is 100% poly 50UPF which is super dense and heavy but I like how long it is (I have a long torso). Will definitely pick up an Echo for next summer! Thanks for the vid! /sub /like
Hey thanks so much for watching and subscribing! Hope you dig the Echo, and we're glad to have our experience validated with the FreeFly. It's a really nice concept piece, but not ideal for technical backcountry wear, and given the slow dry, shocking that it's designed for fishing??? The Amazon brand model we tested from Willet is also 100% poly and UPF 50 and was very dense and low breathability, so that checks out with the EB Solarfoil.
It seems like it would be better to isolate absorbency from dry time. Dry time could be measured with 100mL of water added to the shirt, for example, rather than letting the amount vary between shirts. Thanks for the data!
Thanks for the suggestion! We did measure absorbency by weighing each hoodie, dunking it in water, letting it drip dry until it mostly stopped dripping, then measured again for how much water it absorbed to saturation. There was a very significant correlation between the least absorbent being the fasting drying and vice versa.
Did you weigh all of them? Which are the lightest?
(Ps I didn't see the mountain hardware Crater lake in there, it's a 50 rated 120g in a M. I've done about 6000km in 2 of them, I think they're one of the lightest around and with a high uv rating.
Thanks for the video! Greg
Very nice review! I was going to mention that about he mountain hardware Crater lake too...
Hey thanks for the question - We did weigh each sun hoodie in the test group of 27, and the lightest two were the Outdoor Vitals Altitude (4.1 oz men's XL [sized up runs small]), and the Outdoor Research Echo (4.6 oz, men's L). You can see the weight table in our data spreadsheet embedded in the article on our website.
Since others have asked about the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake, I'll copy/paste the response here: As it's a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and all of them perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model.
Had to google "what is a colorway?" and then I learned it just means color... Great vid!
😆 We get caught up in industry jargon sometimes.
I'd like to see a properly tested and compared grid fleece, micro-grid fleece, and alpha direct fleece review.
Thanks for the suggestion! We're in agreement on that, and it's certainly possible.
Thanks for the review. Lots of work for a video like that. A couple of comments though:
Breathability: I think you put too much emphasize in that. It's certainly important in some environments, but sunny doesn't mean necessarily mean warm and/or calm weather. I'll admit I never used a sun hoody, but I hiked he AT and PCT in a long sleeve polypro top which is close in functionality except for the hood.
It was also the only shirt I brought and to me it's more important that it'll work well in most situations than handle one extremely well. Too warm was only a handful of days on each five months trail. Those days a light and super breathable shirt would have been nice, but 99% of the time I'd prefer a dark shirt with a little more wind resistance.
On drying fast: I think we can all agree that's important, but to me it's important it dries fast while wearing it and preferably feels somewhat comfortable while wet.
Then a question: I did my thruhikes before sun hoodies and SPF-ratings. I've always thought that almost any garment gives enough sun protection, but SPF suddenly became important in the ads. As long as my skin only get slightly darker even after five months outside I thought I had enough protection but maybe not. Any clarification or comments from the experts?
Thanks for saying and for the feedback! And yes, tons of work went into it.
Regarding breathability - In our experience, any of these sun hoodies, even the thinnest and most breathable, are comfortable to wear while hiking/generating your own heat in temps down to the low 40s, with some of the thicker merino wool ones (which are also more breathable) sufficient down to freezing. We're willing to bet that at least 90% of hikers spend 90% of their time hiking in moderate to warm temps from May-September, and that staying cool while moving in the heat is of much greater value than staying warm while moving in the cold. If you're expecting cool temps, choose a merino model. If it's cold, add a layer.
Regarding your last question, this is edging into "ask your doctor" territory and youtube comments aren't qualified to answer. That being said, it's our understanding that you can still cause UV radiation damage to your skin via prolonged repeated exposure, even if you never actually get burned.
@@adventure_alan_co Thanks for taking the time to answer my comment/question!
i really liked the or echo, but it tore in less than a month of use....switched to the rei sahara which is not quite as comfy or light as the echo, but much tougher and has lasted over a year of tough use with no signs of quitting. I think durability is one of the most important features for me. Flaws are the hood isnt the best and retains smell a little more, but overall its quite the performer.
those with the echo, have you put it thru the ringer on the trail and how has it performed? maybe i got a dud...
Appreciate your shared experience! Admittedly, the Echo is not the most durable, but we've always found it sufficiently durable enough for 99% of hiking and backpacking. Our team has been using Echo hoodies as our primary hiking base layer for over a decade now, and find that each hoodie lasts 2-3 hiking seasons of relatively heavy trail use.
I wonder if one could mitigate the unbreathability of the UPF 50 garments by buying a size larger? More space between skin and fabric
Larger sizes definitely improve air flow and comfort, but won't fully compensate for the low breathability of UPF 50. I (Jaeger from the video) have taken to sizing up most of my sun hoodies from my usual L to XL, unless the fit is already quite loose to begin with.
Wow, thanks for doing this. Some surprises there. Looking at you Alpenglow. 👀
Thanks you for watching! Lots of surprises. Out of curiosity, were you expecting Alpenglow to perform better or worse?
@@adventure_alan_co I’ve used a pair for three seasons now and I think the mineral treatment has worn off. I got a little burned on the shoulders this summer. Desert mountains. I went back to buff and classic Columbia Silver Ridge.
Interesting, interesting! Would not at all shock us to learn that the mineral treatment wears off after three seasons. But burning through UPF50 fabric is surprising. Perhaps the fabric wore thin under pack straps after three seasons? And/or it's quite stretchy, and your shoulders stretched the fabric out, opening up the knit structure and letting more UV passage through, or some combination of both.
@@adventure_alan_co Quite so. If we consider that UPF50 means only 1/50th or 2% of ultraviolet radiation passing through. Then again, I was just checking field notes and the UV index was at 12-Extreme. I’m not sure how they correlate.
No Mountain Hardware Models?
What is the best way to wash my Echo Sun hoodie? How long does the upf protection lasts after certain amount of washing?
Boring answer, but for all sun hoodies, especially merino wool, we recommend following the manufacturer's care label. That said, we've never had any issue washing it as part of the normal laundry cycle. The UPF protection does not wash away because it is not a fabric treat, rather, a characteristic of fabric composition. Long term wear and tear will degrade the UPF. If it feels or looks "threadbare", the UPF has decreased.
Great work guys! I only wish you could include "smell" factor into the comparison. I understand it is hard to test and highly subjective though .)
Thank you, thank you! It didn't make it into the video, but we did score each hoody for anti-microbialness based on fabric composition. Those made of majority natural fibers a la merino wool scored highest, followed by synthetic fibers with anti-microbial treatments, followed by those with Spandex. It's not a true smell test, which as you point out would be very hard to conduct objectively. But if that's a high priority for you, definitely choose a merino model.
@@adventure_alan_co Oh, thank you for responding, I appreciate it! My experience indeed says the merino (or alpaca) fibres tend to smell less after many day use, but I don't have much experience with synthetics. I own Zpacks Mirage that works pretty well, although I find it quite warm and less breathable during really warm days. I will check out the OV Tern you recommended. Also, thank you for coining the term "anti-microbialness", which is awesome :)
For me, a loose neck is important. I hate the sensation of being choked that I get with a lot of sun hoodies. Combine that with the itchiness of the fabric rubbing up against stubble after a week of no shaving and I can't even fathom trying the one recommended by this test. Still trying to find a really good one in this regard.
If you click thru to the written guide in video description you'll see our favorite hood which is on the Voormi River Run. It is a hooded Henley design, and can be very very loose around the neck if you want, opened up fully for venting, or buttoned up for max UV coverage/cozy/staying on in the wind. And all without the issue of a structural quarter zip rubbing against your neck or chin. Downside to that one is that it's warmer/thicker than average, though has its place in moderate/cool temps. We hope to see more hoods like it in the future.
@@adventure_alan_co thanks for the response. I wasn't aware of any hoodies with a design like that. I looked it up and Google also happened to show a result for a Ketl Nofry Sun Hoodie with a similar hood design. Polyester so the stench might not be great, but cheaper and looks more breathable.
Nice video! Any reason why you didn't test MH's Crater Lake?
Enough people have asked about Crater Lake that we're going to run it through the lab test gauntlet retroactively. But here is the copy/paste answer:
As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane, UPF 50. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature or chassis. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is the baseline, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex), Kuiu Gila (92/8), or Town Shirt (88/12) for example. We tested five models that are made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50), and in terms of overall performance is mid-tier, not exceptional. From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex sun hoodie.
Nothing from Columbia PFG / Mountain Hardware (Crater Lake)/ Prana (they are all under the same company umbrella)??? HOW?!?!?! To me this is like the most popular outdoor company that exists! How in the world did you miss them? Both PFG and the Crater Lake Hoody should've been on here!
I see you did some results on Jolly Gear's button down, nice to see that! I'm not a big fan of hoodies so it is nice to see this included in your tests.
I think it would've been nice to also include a first result off of amazon in this test as a cheap knockoff options even though sun hoodies are relatively cheap in terms of clothing prices.
Hey there! Thanks for the feedback. The most common question we've had so far was why no MH Crater Lake. In hindsight, it was a miss to not include that one given its prevalence, however, you can read more about our reasoning in this copy/paste response:
As Crater Lake is a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and based on our lab testing, all of those perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that are made with approximately the same exact 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style, so we stopped adding more into the test. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model.
The PFG hoodie would have been a good include too, as we generally prefer 100% polyester to 90/10 poly/spandex.
Don't fret, my friend. We'll get both in there for next time.
We did test a $20 Amazon knock off from the brand Willet, and it underperformed big time in terms of breathability/wasn't worth the savings.
White colored 100% polyester button up shirt with roll up sleeves and a wide brim hat over any sun hoodie....Black color for cold weather clothing for faster drying time when there is sun & white tops for hot weather where drying fast isn't of the same importance.
Definitely use what works best for you! Also, agreed with black for cold weather.
I think you missed a few categories that are important to us 1) stink factor 2) weight (separate from thickness) and 3) price
Thanks for the feedback! In the long form written version of this content, (this video being an abridged version of that), we do address all three of those factors. Antimicrobial properties and weight are both factored in to the weighted combined scoring totals. Natural fiber-based models scored higher on "stink resistance" while polyester spandex blends scored lowest, with anti-microbial treated models scoring in the middle. Odor, of course, is extremely subjective, so we did not evaluate based on sniff testing, rather, objectively score based on material compositions that contribute most or least to smell. Each model was weighed in men's size large, and scored based on that. Price is also listed in the article for each sun hoodie, though in general, this category of item has a much flatter price range than say tents, which can range from $100-$1000. Sun hoodies range from $50-$140, with low performance budgets options on amazon available for $20. We did not factor price into the weighted performance scoring because this price does not affect performance, instead allowing readers to choose how much or little priority they want to place on value.
@@adventure_alan_co great - I’ll check out in full. Thx!!
What about the smell test?
Odor resistance, by way of anti-microbial properties, was factored into the weighted combined scoring calculation that lead to our top four choices featured in this video. But it was not addressed directly in this video as smell itself is subjective and difficult to test for, and the video is merely am abridged version of the greater written content, linked in the description. But quick answer is that each hoodie was scored for anti-microbialness based on its materials composition, with merino wool scoring highest while polyester+spandex scored lowest, and anti-microbial treated polyesters getting a middling score.
How about low stink Factor? I am not fond of synthetic fibers because they get so smelly when you hike. Not a fan.
Yes! In the expanded, written version of this content, we do factor that into their combined scoring, and feature a number of merino options. We completely agree that low stink is beneficial, and that despite topical antimicrobial coatings on most polyester options, merino easily wins out. Any of the merinos featured in the article would be great in that regard.
Quick drying would be a negative in high-sun/high-heat scenarios where having a layer of damp fabric on your body would, in fact help you keep cooler.
It's a bit more complicated than that. Yes, wet fabric against the body would keep it cooler than dry fabric. But based on our testing, even the fastest drying models will still maintain dampness while you're sweating and hiking. The advantage is that they dry faster once you've stopped and are more comfortable to continue wearing. Also of note, wet fabrics don't breath as well. If it's so hot that you require damp fabric to stay cool while at rest, it's likely too hot to be hiking anyway.
I wore an echo hoodie for the collegiate loop (162 mi) and got NO sunburn.
We've also had very positive experiences and zero burning through the Echo fabric. But others have reported light tanning and even burning through it, and we honor that experience, even if it's not our own. It would likely have to be a stack of exact conditions, such as high UV exposure at base, fabric is a lighter UPF 15 colorway rather than darker UPF 20 colorway, fabric is stretched tight over the most sun exposed flank of the shoulder, etc etc.
@@adventure_alan_coUpf often decreases when the fabric is wet which may play into it if the wearer is sweaty and fair skinned. I wear an echo quarter zip many days on trail and on the water fishing with no issues but have olive skin
I've been on exposed ridge traverses above 12,000ft from sunrise to sunset, multiple times and have never burned through the Echo, and I burn really easily and badly. I would imagine doing this for multiple days is where you could get burned. Something like Justin Simoni's Sangre De Cristo Traverse, where he did wear an Echo and claims to have gotten burned, but he was out there above 12,000ft for days. But how many people are doing that? lol
@@higler. From talking to a lot of people about Echo, it seems like a super overwhelming majority never burned through it, but there are stories out there like you mentioned. My (Jaeger) working theory is that it can happen if you (1) burn easily at base line (2) are at high altitude and/or on a glacier (3) stretch the fabric taut over the shoulder due to tight fit/pulled by pack straps and/or have a worn out garment that is somewhat thread bear in that area.
I've worn the Echo many days without issue as well. But I've read that UPF decreases when a garment is wet. I wonder if fair skinned heavy sweaters might be at higher risk of burning through a low UPF garment?
Did you test for mosquito penetration?
Great question! Not as part of this performance test. But we generally prefer permethrin treated knit sun hoodies (preference on factory treated) over traditionally woven button up bug shirts.
pfc/pfas free sun hoodies ….Outdoor viral merinos ?
Nice tests, but I won't wear anything but the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Sun hoodie.
Thanks so much! If MH Crater Lake works well for you, by all means keep rockin' it! As it's a highly regarded option, you might be wondering why it wasn't tested. So that model is the archetypal sun hoodie composition in that it's 88% polyester 12% elastane. From a very thorough marketplace audit, a majority of all sun hoodies are made with ~90% polyester, ~10% Spandex, and UPF 50, and all of them perform similarly unless they have some kind of unique feature. Ergo, from a fabric composition standpoint, Crater Lake is a basic, industry standard sun hoodie, and inferences can easily be made from testing similar models like the BD Alpenglow (87% poly, 13% spandex) or REI Sahara (92% poly 8% spandex). We tested five models that made with approximately the same 90/10 fabric composition as MH Crater Lake, and felt that it was enough to represent that style. In our testing we found that this archetype dries slower than average (because Spandex), and is less breathable than average (because UPF 50). From our experience, we're comfier in a lower UPF, non-spandex model. But again, comfort is ultimately in the eyes of the beholder/wearer. Happy hiking!
@@adventure_alan_co I also have the REI Sahara Sun hoodie, and the fabric thickness and cut are VERY different. The Sahara wears much hotter than the Crater Lake, and the fit is less flattering (of high importance to me LOL). But thank you for the explanation, it and your video were both very interesting. 👍
@@RedSonya4 A good flattering fit is definitely important. If you look good in it, it will feel better no matter what. We'll keep an eye out for Crater Lake and see how it compares to other UPF 50s in future editions
🤯🤯🤯🤯
I could be wrong because I don't recognize some of those brands but it seems like you focused only on more premium brands without any more budget friendly options for comparison.
Thanks for the feedback! With more expensive items, like tents and backpacks, we put a higher emphasis on budget/value picks. But for sun hoodies, the overall price range is flatter so we didn't focus on that as much. We did test a $20 Amazon sun hoodie (which was featured in the black/white heat absorption section) from the brand Willet, and found it to be low breathability and not very comfortable. In the full guide on our website, the REI Sahara Shade gets a shout out as a good value option, but we disliked its hood. The Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun hoodie is like a budget Echo, but wasn't UPF rated and sored lower breathability and slower dry times, so we figured it was just worth upgrading to the superior option for $20. If we had found something killer in the $20-40 range, we would have tried to feature it.
@@YoDawgUnleashed Agreed. If you look hard enough, there is always a premium sun hoodie on sale somewhere.
Kuiu is pronounced Koo-yoo 👍
No alpaca??
We tested the App Gear Co 80-20, which is 80% alpaca. It was the single most breathable model of all 27 (though also one of the thickest/warmest)! Unfortunately, App Gear Co went out of business during the course of our testing. The only other alpaca wool sun hoodie on the market we found is the Paka Sol, which is only 14% alpaca and majority Tencel, and was too slow drying/heavy/thick/warm to make the top recommendations. If you like alpaca, merino is the next closest option and is nearly as good, albeit - yes alpaca is the superior wool.
Great testing process.
Perhaps I overlooked one in your test list. Why no hoodies using Polartec Alpha Direct 60 or 90 such as the Senchi Designs hoodies?
From initial reservations that the material would be hot to one of the top pieces of kit I have. Super breathable, drys quickly, lightweight, & provides insulation with a wind shell over it. Even mosquito resistance was great even with the material’s open weave.
@@MrHamish54 We're big fans of Polartec AD as you can see in this article www.adventurealan.com/best-alpha-direct-hoodie/
But it's definitely not a base layer fabric, nor is it UPF rated, nor would it make for a great sun hoodie. But you can be sure we're using overtop of a sun hoodie as a midlayer.
Bummer Himali was not tested. Its better version of echo with much larger hood to easily go over the cap and cover sides of face from sun
Mmm, that does look like a nice sun hoodie with a nice hood! Though let's not jump to conclusions that it's better than the best of 27. The Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie appeared almost identical to Echo, but wound up being far less breathable and slower drying in tests. We've used and liked a puffy jacket from Himali before though, so the quality is there for sure. Will make sure this gets into the next test set. Also, unclear what the fabric composition is, bummer they don't tell you on the product detail page.
The OR is so baggie and droopy. The fit is bad. I don’t use thumb wholes and just wear OR gloves if needed. I like the OV Altitude. The sun hoodie I grab the most is my KETL No Fry sun hoodie. I like it because it has mini buttons so on a hot day I can just un button down to my chest. It’s light like the OV Altitude. The cons are that the hoodie blows off. I told them they need one more button at the chin to help against that. It also gets stinky pretty quick. You gave the OV Altitude a 0 for UV because they do not list a UV. That doesn’t make it a zero, just inconclusive.
Thanks for the feedback! However, the fit of the Echo is not bad, I (Jaeger) am in between sizes, and intentionally sized up to have it like that, and wish I did the same with the other three featured models. Loose and relaxed fitting sun hoodies are beneficial for multiple reasons. For starters, loose clothing is generally comfier and cooler to wear in heat in that it encourages both air flow, and range of motion. Conversely a more trim fitting sun hoodie is likely to stretch the fabric out, especially around your shoulders, and when pulled taut, it degrades the UV blockage capability.
The Ketl looks pretty nice, love that Henley style, same as our favorite hood configuration on the Voormi (which can button all the way up to stay on in wind). We'll try that out for the next round of testing.
We love Outdoor Vitals, they make really great gear and sell it for reasonable prices! But we're fairly certain of what happened with the Altitude. OV is savvy and they would know to test all of their base layers for UPF rating. The fact that Altitude remains without rating leads us to assume they did have it tested, and it scored below the UPF 15 threshold, which is the minimum UV blockage level the system allows in order for a fabric to be rated. So while inconclusive, it's safe to assume it would have scored something like a UPF10 if that were an option, but it's not. But regardless, we feel you shouldn't have to settle for an unrated garment when there are plenty of great options out there that are rated - thus the zero score in our data sheet.
Also rhetorical question here, but what else could we/should have scored it at? As gear recommenders, it's hard to recommend a sun protection garment that does not offer quantifiable sun protection, when quantifiability is industry standard. In rating sun hoodies it absolutely makes sense to ding them for being unrated.