Do Sun Hoodies (a.k.a. sweatshirts) really keep you cool?

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

I don't know how serious I am about buying something if you all say that they work. But in my last trip (Superstitions, mid-March, Sunny, high 80's) I saw a backpacker all bundled up in a sweatshirt looking outfit - with a hood. I.e., a "Sun hoodie."

Wearing a sweatshirt in the summer seems counter-intuitive to me.

The shirt that I currently wear is a button-down Columbia product (from 2019) for backpackers. I usually wear it unbuttoned, with my 32 Degree Cool tee-shirt underneath. It works. But no pit vents. And the fabric doesn't breathe well - probably because it's a tight knit fabric that catclaw can't grab. (It's proved very rugged. The only cut/tear in it is when I palsied with the scissors trying to trim a flying thread.)

The only problem with it is that when it's sunny out (99% of the time) I find myself rolling up the sleeves (they have a tie) so that my arms don't become hot. (Even when the OAT is only 70.)

That's worked okay until this last trip, when I blistered one arm. (My dermatologist calls it "Sun Damage.")

I don't want to wear a sweatshirt type thing because, if nothing else, no button down/way to open the front.

I don't need a hood because I wear a broad brim hat. (I took the brain off my pack. So the back of my hat doesn't constantly hit it.)

I would rather have a more breathable shirt, that can still resist cat's claw. Is there such a thing?

As a compromise, if these sun hoodie things work and don't make you hotter, then I could use some "leggings" for my arms. Some fancy fabric that will keep the sun off my arm, keep my arms cool, and not become caught in catclaw.

I'm guessing that no such fabric/product exists. But thought that I would ask.

[garyc57]

@TooOld2Hike_EP
I have three "sun-hoodies". All from OR (Outdoor Research). The fabric is VERY light and breathable. I purposely got the long sleeve, to protect my arms from sunburn. The hoodie helps block sun on my neck and ears. It's so light, when I'm wearing it, I can hardly feel it. It keeps me very cool and comfortable.

Thankfully, so far, I haven't had to go thru cat-claw, so I can't say how well the fabric would hold up. Hope this helps!

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@garyc57
Thanks. I don't know if sun-hoodies are a fad now in backpacking (like that Brynje stuff that's making a reappearance).

You said OR - but I read OV (Outdoor Vitals), the latter who seem to be pushing sun-hoodies through the Influencers.

I'll wait on a report about cat's claw and if positive, I'll see if they have a button down version. Or maybe I can cut it to make a half-upper so that I have the sleeves.

[Pivo]

I use one frequently while hiking, snowshoeing, and when on the water.

[LindaAnn]

Just wear whatever YOU like, and don’t waste time worrying anout what other other hikers are wearing. Wardrobe choices are not worth more than a few minutes of thought, beyond that, you are wasting time.

If you shred a shirt, of any kind, on thorns or catclaw, just throw it away and buy a new one. Nothing lasts forever if you’re using it. Tons of hikers wear sun hoodies, and most are very cool/breathable while offering plenty of sun protection, that’s the point.

[chumley]

As somebody who hikes off-trail in Arizona as a regular habit, I can say that a side effect is unavoidable damage to lightweight fabrics. More durable fabrics are heavier and hotter and I don't find wearing them to be comfortable.

One particularly effective solution is to stick to more maintained trails. Even among those that don't get the regular trimming they need, it is exceedingly rare that catclaw is high enough to tear a shirt. If you're shredding clothing above your waist, and this is not something that you desire, you're hiking in the wrong places.

[xsproutx]

Sun hoodie with shorts, every hike, every season. I'm a fan of the cotopaxi ones as they seem to hold up better against catclaw than some others and I go off trail somewhat frequently.
I'm a big fan of the rei sahara one as well, super soft and pretty durable but it's a bit warmer so I tend to use that one when it's a little cooler weather.
The question of, "Is it really cooler?", though? Just look at people like the bedouins or emirates. There's a reason for the way they dress.

[Alston_Neal]

and all this time I thought gangbangers had discovered the joys of hiking. Anyhow I have never thought of better protection for neck and ears and them being so light.

[CannondaleKid]

Just look at people like the bedouins or emirates. There's a reason for the way they dress.

Absolutely!
The human body simply cannot shed the amount of heat that direct sunlight causes on bare skin... it TRIES to with sweat, but can't quite keep up.
Desert dwellers figured this out LONG AGO (probably a thousand plus years) and the 'secret' is pretty much down to thin, flowing, WHITE garments, which can wick moisture... and as it is doing that, it reduces the temperature of the garment and whatever part of your body it is in contact with.

@TooOld2Hike_EP
Personally, since I do a lot of off-trail (hiking and biking) thorny vegetation is somewhat of a concern, but after 3500 miles biking and 1200+ hiking wearing the last four hoodies I purchased (2 for biking, 2 for biking), not one has torn enough to even think of discarding... and even it was warranted, I only paid $17.49 each for the first two and $19.98 for the other two.

FWIW, I too used to like shirts I could unbutton, but since I got into wearing these white long-sleeve hoodies I've never given it any more thought. If I get warm, I spritz water across the chest, along the sleeves and the back of the hood, and if there is any breeze (always when biking) I feel the cooling effect immediately, which is why I wear them even (especially) in 100-110+ temps.

Pretty much as @LindAnn suggested... don't obsess so much about things that you find yourself unable to make a rational decision. Just go out and buy one and see how it works for YOU.

BTW, I trust you didn't spend a lot of time as a pilot hemming and hawing what to do in fast-changing conditions, especially when a bad decision could have resulted in tragedy.

[RedRoxx44]

Most of my clothing eventually gets shredded. Don't care. Want to get where I want to go. Just got an old soft pair of wranglers with brush guard. Can't wait to see how they do in catclaw central. Also given up on UL packs. The thin little side pockets get torn and the bottom usually gets a hole or two. Over patching them with duct tape.
Oh yeah I have several sun hoodies. They are ok. Really hot prefer the expensive unless second hand Jamie Sadock crop long sleeves in white. Cut above the boobs and shade the chest and arms while being very light weight. I have several and while have some holes and dingy looking still functional for hiking.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@CannondaleKid
Thanks for the info about durability in spikey conditions.

As to making decisions in fast changing conditions - I've never been good at that. ("Paralysis by analysis.") I find it best - and it's why we do Sim training - to think about these things in advance and always have a Plan B.

But here, there's no rush. I'm simply Gathering Data, the second step in Problem Solving.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

I found Jolly Gear sunsleeves, which I didn't know existed and satisfy my initial search criteria. (Apparently they cinch around your biceps. Don't know if that will be comfortable.)

The color/pattern is terrible (IMO). But per LindaAnn, it's not a wardrobe/fashion statement.

The website says that there's a 30% discount if I buy the sun short-sleeve shirt too. (Which has a detachable hood. So the best of all worlds.) But the link for the discount doesn't work. (Have emailed a request.)

I also found OR sunsleeves for a bit less money.

[xsproutx]

I don't find sun sleeves to be good for hiking, personally. They're too tight and end up being too hot. I did like them when I was still doing long distance running for the flexibility and slight constriction along with the ability to easily shed/put on as needed through a race. Sun hoodies work best when air can flow and those types of sleeves just don't allow for that but do work nicely in the winter here when we still have a strong sun but it's cooler.

One positive thing I don't think I've seen mentioned here is UPF protection. I'm a white dude but with a good bit of turkish blood so on the darker side. It makes me harder to burn which, over the years, has made me very complacent with sunscreen. I had to have a bit of skin removed a few years back that the doc thought had the potential to be cancer (it wasn't in the end) so I've tried to improve things when it comes to sun exposure and sun hoodies are good with that. Some state a UPF rating but that's it's own rabbit hole of what to trust/not to trust/etc.

edit: realized you're talking about short sleeve things with an undershirt... you'll always be hotter in that. long sleeve sun hoodie is the way to go. Everyone is different, of course, but I find it's the most comfortable here. Everything is situational. When I hiked the AT, I started with a sun hoodie and ditched that quick for something very different (that was also 20 years ago, fabric tech has changed) because the humidity made that suck. When I did the PCT, I started with what I had adopted on the AT but the sun baked me so I wore something akin to a sun hoodie. These days I'm not doing thru hikes but I do travel for work a lot and take extra days to fit backpacking trips in where it's interesting and adjust my clothing accordingly.

[azbackpackr]

I tried one on at the river rafting company where I work--they sell them. Instantly disliked the slimy feeling to the fabric. All the river guides wear them now. So, instead of looking very dashing and handsome or beautiful in a cowboy shirt and big straw hat, they all look like a bunch of teenage hoods. Very unattractive. Brand they sell is Chuckwalla Bamboo. Plus they are "unisex" which means they don't fit me, because I am very womanish, not at all "unisex" in shape or size. So, the sleeves were too long, and they were too tight around the hips and didn't fit around the chest, either. But the main thing is I dislike the feeling of that techno fabric. It's slinky and slimy, and feels hot. I have several shirts given to me of the Under Armour brand, which I never wear, because they have the same feel. Polyester. Blech!!

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Yes, while I'm sure that the Bedouins have figured it out, I bet that they're using God-given animal hair, as opposed to man-made synthetic fibers. So, for example, I don't know how OR's product, which features "proprietary Activeice sun protection," and is made "with recycled materials for eco-friendly design" will feel. Will it be like Tyvek on my arms? The down-side of online shopping.

So that's steering me to cotopaxi. But I don't see button downs. And for now, I would like the option of opening up the front.

As in my OP, my main requirement is to keep the sun off my arms, which bled after my last outing. (Of a day and a half of sometimes rolled up sleeves.)

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Thanks all for your input.

The search is over. (For now.) I just ordered two KETL brand Nofry Sun Hoodies.

Color: Cloud. (As opposed to pure white. (Our aircraft had white painted wings. The reflection of the sun was crippling sometimes.))

I ordered a M and a L. (A gear review website suggested going larger because normal size was a "tapered" fit.) Although from their sizing chart, even a Medium seems big.

Not button down, but four snaps at the top. (Figure that I can cut one open all the way if that's what I want.)

Free lifetime repairs. Should assuage my concern over damage from the occasional encounter with catclaw.

"Free" shipping. Found a 15% discount code. $120 total.

I'll plan to post a revew after trying them out.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

I received my two KETL sunhoodies just now.

I bought a M and a L. Their website says "Don’t overthink your sizing! If you wear a medium normally, order a medium!" But I like the Large better. (Only an inch larger in most dimensions.)

I went on a training hike this morning. So next opportunity to test will be Saturday.