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In Search of the Perfect Sun Hoodie
- Lea Appleton
- 20 hours ago
- 4 min read
My skin is very light and I dread the prospect of slathering on sunscreen and the amount I'd have to carry into the backcountry would weigh more than all my other toiletries combined. So the search for the perfect sun hoodie was an important quest for my backpacking and hiking kit. You won't believe how many sun hoodies I've tried this spring to get just the right one for hiking the JMT/Nüümü Poyo this summer!
My initial requirements for the perfect sun hoodie included the following:
• wicking fabric for less sweaty experience
•anti-microbial for less stinky experience
•ponytail opening for less itchy experience (for those of you who hike with long hair, you know that uncomfortable feeling of hair scratching the back of your neck...)
•lightweight fabric for less hot experience
•thumb holes for sun coverage
After trying out about half a dozen I've landed on the ones I like best. And in doing so, I realized that I needed to adjust my requirements for what I want and need in a sun hoodie. I read my body's terrain in order to know what I need and ultimately decide to wear.
First of all, I recognize that my post-menopausal body does not regulate heat very well. I noticed on one of my section hikes last summer when I had to stop and change my clothes mid-hike because I was just too hot and was getting heat rash on my calves. Who gets heat rash on their calves? My pants were too close to my legs so wearing shorts solved that. My short-sleeved Arc'teryx Lana merino shirt was perfect for that trail. But, when I wear my wool hoodies (I have two: the lightweight Smartwool Merino Sun Hoodie and the even lighter Arc'teryx Lana Merino Wool Hoodie—not technically a sun hoodie and now discontinued...) I get super warm when I hike unless it's pretty cool outside. I'm wearing it in the photo here in Joshua Tree National Park in February and even then it was almost too warm for me. Wool is naturally anti-microbial so it is resistant to body odor in ways that polyester isn't. But it's too hot for the summer JMT/Nüümü Poyo for my body. So, lightweight became more important and anti-stink would have to come other ways.
Wool is naturally anti-microbial so it is resistant to body odor in ways that polyester isn't.
Which leads me to the surprising discovery that smell was worse than hair on my neck for me. A stinky shirt was no good even if it had a ponytail opening. I love the feel of the new REI flash sun hoodie, but since it has no anti-microbial added, it just is too much for me. Honestly, I didn't even end up buying it though it felt great trying it on. When they update it and if they add anti-micorbial, it's quite possible it will become my new favorite, but until then, nope. I skipped purchasing the Outdoor Research Echo hoodie for the same reason—the reviews claim it stinks after a few days on the trail.
So what do I like? I wasn't convinced that I would like the Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie, but surprisingly I love it! I have to create my own ponytail opening for my hair, but it meets every other requirement for the perfect backpacking top. It's very cool and comfortable, even in the Southern California warm weather. And since I like DIY, the alterations are doable.
I also like the Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie. I was afraid I would be disappointed since I was introduced to this brand on Instagram, but reviews that I read in ultralight facebook groups convinved me to order this sun hoodie in the first place, and it doesn't disappoint. It's not my favorite fit, but the super lightweight feel on a hot summer day is worth it.
Right behind these two is Mountain Hardwear's Crater Lake Hoody. This was one of the first sun hoodies I purchased a number of years ago. It holds up to regular wear and even though the old version didn't have any additional anti-microbial the smell is tolerable in the backcountry. The new version has anti-microbial added to it so it's likely to be even better. It is very soft but a bit warmer than either of my two top choices.
One that I didn't try but I might for next year, is Jolly Gear's shirt. Well, actually, I dream of the dress! It seems like it could offer all sorts of things I like and would appreciate on a longer backpacking trip. But that one will have to wait until next summer.
There's a couple of things I learned in the search for the perfect sun hoodie: 1) I care a lot about my comfort in both apparel and gear and I am willing to try many things in order to find what works best for me; 2) I realize now why there are so many different types of sun hoodies—there are so many different types of hikers out there and we each want what is "perfect" for us.
Hopefully, my search will give you a headstart on your own exploration for your sun hoodie of choice. Check out my other gear recs here.
Lea Appleton, PCC, NBC-HWC, is a Wayfinding Guide whose outdoor job is leading Wayfinding Days, Labyrinth Walks, and Team-Building Experiences and whose indoor job is coaching, writing, and speaking. She works with people who sense the path calling—and are learning to trust that it is worth following. Learn more at www.wildwayfinding.com.
