Here are some recommendations for our favorite sun hoodies for hiking. They can be a great type of protective gear for shoulders and arms.
One of my go-to pieces of outdoor clothing has become a sun hoodie.
I love that I can protect my skin with fabric instead of needing to apply and reapply sun screen. I’ve also found that by covering my shoulders and arms I get fewer bug bites. (Win and win.)
That said, I also tend to overheat fairly easily, and I’ve definitely developed some opinions about the sun hoodies I’ve tried for hiking. Below are some of the best sun hoodies and shirts that I’ve tried, along with what I liked (and didn’t).
When Should I Shop for Sun Hoodies?
We’ve found that sun hoodies are often only available in summer, and after that the products vanish from the brand websites.
In view of that, in some cases below we may link to the brand page instead of the specific product.
Favorite Sun Hoodies
Below is a collection of our favorite sun hoodies for hiking, as well as some pros and cons for the various picks.
Overall Favorite: Kuhl Eclipser
The Kuhl Eclipser has been my personal favorite sun hoodie for two summers in a row (so far). Here's why it's become my top pick:
- Most breathable sun hoodie I tried. It’s my go-to for trail running and day hiking.
- Some odor protection from graphene thread, although not quite as odor resistant as the Ridge Merino hoodie
- Thumb holes
- Ponytail hole. This really does help keep the hood in place, and I like this feature more than I expected.
- Relaxed fit that doesn’t cling
- 50 UPF sun protection
Cons:
- Likely wouldn’t choose for a multi-day hike since it’s less odor resistant than the natural fiber options we tried
- Seems to only be available seasonally
Favorite Budget Sun Hoodie: REI Sahara Shade
I wore REI's Sahara Shade hoodie regularly for several years, and still recommend it. Here's why it's great:
- Fairly affordable and regularly goes on sale
- Lots of color options
- Thumb holes
- 50+ UPF sun protection
Cons:
- Less breathable than some others we tried
- No ponytail hole
Favorite Natural Fiber: Ridge Merino Solstice Pro
Ridge Merino's Solstice Pro hoodie has a lot going for it! I've been using one for over a year and it's been in heavy rotation, though I rarely wear it if I know there will be photos taken because (as mentioned below), it shows sweat easily.
That said, it's still a favorite and has a lot to recommend it! Here's what I love:
- Natural fibers, odor protection for multi-day use
- Quarter zip, allowing for temperature regulation
- Thumb holes to keep hands protected from sun
- Chest-height pocket
- Relaxed fit that doesn’t cling
- 35 UPF sun protection
- Holds up well over many washes (but I always air-dry)
Cons:
- I've tried two colors of this hoodie, and both show sweat so badly. If you tend to sweat heavily, beware that this hoodie will show it! (This might be a worse issue in humid climates than in drier climates.)
- No ponytail opening
Here's a shopping guide for more merino wool clothes from a variety of brands.
Favorite for Multi-Day Hikes: Arms of Andes Alpaca Sun Hoodie
I absolutely love the Arms of Andes sun hoodie, but with a few reservations. It will likely continue to be my go-to hoodie for multi-day hikes.
Here's what I love:
- Extremely breathable, and is a great choice when you’ll be transitioning through both hot and cold weather (like in the mountains)
- Relaxed fit that doesn’t cling (but do size up)
- Extreme odor protection, perfect for multi-day backpacking
- Not UPF rated, but it kept me from getting sunburnt in the Alps with lots of sun exposure (I burn easily.)
Cons:
- Highly delicate, may develop holes from backpack. I ruined my first Arms of Andes sun hoodie while hiking 100 miles in the Alps.
- No thumb holes, so hands not as protected. I find I have to use sun screen on my hands when wearing this hoodie.
- No ponytail hole, but the fabric is a bit rougher and doesn't fall off my hat as easily as some other hoodies. It would still be better with a ponytail hole.
- Some find the fabric itchy
Arms of Andes has a lot of options with alpaca wool, which tends to be excellent for temperature regulation and odor control.
More Sun Hoodies We Liked
We tried other hoodies that have not gone into regular rotation, but we'd still recommend them. Read on to see what we loved or didn't love about them.
Paka Sol Hoodie
Paka's Sol Hoodie is the absolute softest sun hoodie we tried, and I wanted it to be my favorite. Here are some things I loved about it:
- So incredibly soft
- Natural fibers, very odor resistant (good for multi-day use)
- Thumb holes
- 30 UPF Sun Protection
Possible Cons:
- I found it a little warm on hot days. I prefer it for chilly but sunny days.
- The fit is a little clingier through the stomach and hips than the other sun hoodies we tried. I tried both the men's and women's fits but found they were both a bit clingy (on me).
- The fabric did show sweat.
- Only available seasonally
Oiselle Flyout Chill Hoodie and Shirt
Oiselle makes their Flyout Chill line in both a hoodie and a shirt, and I enjoyed wearing both. Despite liking them, they didn't make it into regular rotation for a couple of reasons. Here's what I liked:
- Breathable (I like for trail running)
- Thumb holes
- Ponytail hole (on the hoodie version)
- Relaxed fit that doesn’t cling
- 50 UPF Sun Protection
Possible Cons:
- Not very odor resistant (in my opinion)
- Fabric snags fairly easily
I hope this helps you narrow down some of the best sun hoodies for hiking. Have you found additional brands I should try? Let me know in the comments!
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