Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Hoody - Women's Review

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is a technical sun shirt with a 40+ UPF rating and a button closure on the hood, along with ample coverage on the front (and back) of the hands. Unlike other featherweight sun shirts, we love the thicker fabric that keeps us warm in cooler, breezier conditions and allows for extended use throughout the seasons.

Comfort and Fit

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody features a 100% recycled polyester jersey knit fabric with a wicking finish, thanks to a waffle pattern that keeps the hoody off the skin and further increases airflow within the design. Unlike its predecessor, which featured a silkier fabric for everyday comfort, the newest iteration uses a thicker material that we think will have you reaching for it all year round, for those early spring hikes, late fall climbs, and maybe even winter runs in milder climates.

Our testers love the regular fit, which is just roomy enough to be comfortable, and found it true to size with enough length in the sleeves and torso to layer with a climbing harness without limiting range of motion. We also love that Patagonia reduced the seams on this design to further prevent chafing. The sleeves have traditional thumb holes and an additional loop for the middle finger that provides more coverage for the backs of the hands without causing chafing or discomfort. The fabric is super comfortable, but it's not as buttery-soft next to the skin. However, we think the additional thickness increases durability and makes it a great layer for summer hikes that take you high in the alpine or for year-round use at lower altitudes.

Sun Protection

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody includes many sun-protective features, such as a large hood with a secure button closure, long sleeves with thumb holes and an additional loop for the middle finger, and a long torso that's easy to layer beneath a climbing harness. Our testers love the generous hood sizing, which easily fits over a ball cap, and the secure button closure that provides more coverage for the neck and chest when needed and can be unbuttoned when you don't need the hood. Not many sun hoodies include a middle-finger loop on the back of the hands, but we dig this one, along with a longer-fitting sleeve; these are great for keeping your sleeves down during bike rides when your hands get the most sun exposure.

While the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody includes many sun-protective features to increase overall skin coverage, the lighter colors only offer ~40 UPF protection. To be fair, this is still not far behind the UPF ratings of other shirts that we tested (most of which are 50+ UPF), and we still gave the shirt relatively high marks in this metric due to the additional coverage provided by all the features, escpecially since it's a big step up from the simple, stripped-down design of the last version of hte Capilene that we tested.

The thumb holes include a unique design feature that locks in coverage for the entire hand.   Credit: Trish Matheny

The elastic loop for the middle finger allows coverage for the front and back of the hand.   Credit: Trish Matheny

The hood is large enough to layer with a ball cap or helmet and provides great sun protection for the neck and ears.   Credit: Trish Matheny

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Breathability

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody features a lightweight fabric that pairs with a subtle, waffle-like pattern to keep the hoody from sticking to skin, increasing its breathability. The material is definitely thicker than other sun shirts we've tested and perhaps less breathable overall, but we think this makes it versatile enough for year-round use.

The former iteration of this design used a silkier fabric that offered better breathability; however, we think the latest version still provides enough breathability to keep you comfortable in a wide range of conditions, especially when combined with the fast-drying wicking finish.

Versatility

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is definitely a very sporty-looking sun shirt, so it might not be an everyday shirt for everyone; however, its versatility comes from its thicker fabric, which allows year-round use for a variety of outdoor pursuits. Whether you're climbing high in the alpine or out for a trail run during those cool mornings at the change of season, or simply taking a walk on the beach a little too early for beach season, the Cool Sun Hoody provides great performance.

If your style leans sporty, the Cool Sun Hoody is a great choice for those seeking a laid-back look with tons of sun protection for casual use around town during the summer. We almost consider it as versatile as a normal shirt, with the bonus of UPF-rated fabric. The hoody includes a small zippered pocket below the right arm that's great for securing a car key or credit card while you hit the farmers market or head out for a run.

Durability

The thick polyester blend in the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody provides durable, lasting construction. Unlike other thinner sun hoodies with a baggier fit, we were confident rock climbing, trail running, hiking, and scrambling in this sun shirt without concerns of snagging any delicate fabric or tearing seams. The thick elastic loop for the middle finger and button closure are bomber, while the zipper on the side pocket is corrosion-resistant.

As with other sun shirts that we've tested, the lighter color options are typically best for use when the sun is high in the sky, but they also hold onto and show off dirt and mud from your latest adventure. That said, most of these stains washed out easily. This shirt doesn't include an odor treatment, and like all versions of the Capilene top, if you sweat in it, it will hold onto smell even after running it through the washer. For this, we recommend you run your next load of laundry with some distilled white vinegar.

Features

We consider the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody a feature-rich design that maximizes sun protection, even though its UPF rating isn't the highest we tested. We love the button closure at the neck that not only secures the hood in place during high winds (High Sierra, Patagonia, we're looking at you) but also provides better neck coverage in general. The thumb holes and longer sleeves fully cover your hands, and the middle-finger loop provides coverage past the knuckle. We especially appreciated this feature during spring desert romps as we slowly revealed skin that had been dormant through the long winter and was prone to burning in the sun.

While the sun shirt does include a zippered pocket, the underarm location is tricky to reach. While we think Patagonia chose this location to avoid interference with a climbing harness, it can cause discomfort on trail runs and be distracting during longer climbing objectives. We found the best use of this secure pocket for casual use around town when you just wanna stash a key or a credit card.

Should You Buy the Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Hoody?

Although the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is a little pricier than other sun shirts, the thicker material will have you reaching for it year-round, and you may get more use out of the durable top in the long run. It's not the lightest or most breathable for those blistering summer days at the lake, but if you're after sun protection for your next alpine adventure or cruising the first farmers' market of the season, the Capilene will keep you happy and your skin protected.

What Other Women's Sun Shirts Should You Consider?

The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is our favorite design for year-round use thanks to a thicker fabric and subtle waffle patterning that increases airflow while effectively wicking sweat, but if you want a sun shirt that features a thinner, more cooling design with an even higher UPF rating, check out the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoody. It's more affordable, and its fabric feels buttery on the skin. If you're on a budget and want a more affordable hooded design that still includes ample sun protection, take a look at the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie.