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We put the top 19 sun shirts to the test under the blazing sun, wearing options from Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, Janji, REI Co-op to find the most protective options
Credit: Trish Matheny
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated October 12, 2026
In the heat of summer, keeping your skin protected from UV damage can feel like a full-time job. While it's always a good idea to keep a bottle of SPF on hand, a UPF rated sun shirt can provide more consistent coverage on days when sunscreen alone isn't enough.
The Crater Lake Hoody is the best sun shirt for most women. Its next-to-skin softness and lightweight feel of the fabric make it an easy choice to pull on when you want to be comfy, while the impressive stretch gives you full range of motion when paddling or biking.
The REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie is a great option for women who are ok with a simple design in exchange for saving a few bucks. The fabric is not as breathable, but the oversized fit allows more airflow through the torso.
If you live in an area where summer means triple-digit days and high humidity, check out the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie. The structured lightweight fabric sits off the skin to create a microclimate of shade, helping to keep you cooler and less soggy feeling.
We've tested more than 75 shirts designed specifically to block UV rays. We spent months wearing them on weekend hikes, mountain bike rides, backyard gardening, and lazy lakeside days.
What exactly is UPF, you ask? It's like SPF for clothing. Read about it here.
Editor's Note: We updated this article on October 7, 2026, with test updated versions of a few shirts from REI Co-op and Columbia, and added a few new options to the lineup from Marmot and Janji.
Extra large hood, draw string at waist, hip pocket (zippered)
We've tested a few different versions of the Crater Lake Hoody over the years, and with each round of testing, we fall in love with this soft, comfortable sun hoody all over again. It has everything you could ask for in a sun shirt: 50+ UPF fabric (the maximum achievable rating), a lightweight, stretchy hood, and sleeves that extend down to the knuckles, even on longer-armed folks. Made from a particularly soft polyester-elastane blend, the Crater Lake offers a more comfortable skin feel than any other shirt we tested. It's soft, but doesn't feel smothering in the heat; our lead tester mentioned, “It's one of the few options I happily wore under the blazing sun without pushing up my sleeves.”
The newest iteration of the Crater Lake Hoody runs slightly slim. “I'm usually between small and medium in tops, and I would consider sizing up for this one,” said one of our testers. The material is also pretty thin, and you can see sports bra or swimsuit lines right through it, which is another reason you may want to size up. Shortcomings aside, we love the Crater Lake Hoody, and it quickly became one of our go-to layers for summer heat. If you want something with an even lighter feel, check out the Outdoor Research Echo, which has a more structured (less revealing) fabric that is still very breathable.
The Crater Lake Hoody is a great choice for a variety of outdoor pursuits. This layer performs best in super warm climates and features a buttery soft fit that feels great next to your skin. Credit: Trish Matheny
Ponytail hole in hood, flat-seams, thumb holes, strategic seams to eliminate chafing
If you want to save a few bucks, but still want a quality sun shirt that will last through more than one season, the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie is our recommendation. The soft and stretchy fabric feels great next to the skin, and fits with sweatshirt-like comfort, which is great for ladies who don't love a slim fit. Though our testers noted it borders on baggy, so you might consider sizing down in this one. Like the rest of the shirt, the hood is very roomy, but has a hidden drawstring to cinch it down so it doesn't fall off. The latest iteration features a straight hemline rather than a scoop, and has a new ponytail hole in the hood, but otherwise the design remains the same as in past seasons.
The Sahara Shade has a tightly woven fabric that blocks sun well, but feels heavier and thicker on the skin, and takes longer to dry if it gets sweaty. We really felt the difference while testing during a heatwave in Yosemite Valley; we often found ourselves pushing up the sleeves on the hottest days. If you're often out in warm and muggy weather, or want a sunshirt to wear while trail running or mountain biking, this may not be the best choice for you. We'd go for something like the Janji Sunchaser or the OR Echo, both of which feel better when you start to push the pace. However, if you're just after an affordable layer to protect you from the sun during casual days at the beach or the lake, or for backyard hangs, the Sahara Shade Hoodie has got you covered (literally).
The Sahara Shade Hoodie features a relaxed, sweatshirt-like fit, along with hole for the pony tail as well as a thicker fabric that performs best during spring and fall. Credit: Trish Matheny
Scuba hood and extended sleeves for maximum coverage
CONS
Pricey
Fabric retains body odor and stains
SPECIFICATIONS
Sun Protection Level (UPF)
50
Fit
Relaxed fit
Odor Control Tech
No
Hood
Yes
Other Features
Scuba hood, watch windows, thumb holes, perforated underarms, pony tail hole in hood
The Janji Sunchaser 50 Hooded provides some of the most complete sun protection we have seen in a sun hoodie. Like all our other favorites, it has a UPF rating of 50, which combines with a scuba-style hood that fits comfortably around the face and fully covers your neck, ears, and head. The only thing it doesn't cover is your face, and for that, the hood is still loose enough to fit a ball cap underneath. It has a slimmer, athletic fit that moves with your body during long runs and hikes, and we're not sure how, but the fabric feels cooling when you have it on, a detail we appreciated when testing this layer during a heatwave in Yosemite Valley, (the mesh-like underarm fabric also helped). We also think the “watch windows” are a cool trick, and we appreciate them when we don't want to slow down to fiddle with pulling up our sleeves to check our pace.
We took the Janji with us on a nine-day climbing trip that took us deep into the backcountry of the High Sierra, and without access to a washing machine, we found that the fabric held onto body odor. The white layer we tested also got dirty rather easily, and not all of the dust and dirt washed out of the design after we got back home. That said, it did hold up to a demanding High Sierra trip in the ways that matter. Another popular shirt for warm days and fast paces is the Outdoor Research Echo, but with a relatively low 15 UPF rating, it's better for shorter stints outside.
The Janji Sunchaser 50 is a great choice for women who want the maximum amount of sun protection through a thin and breathable design that's perfect for a variety of outdoor activities. Credit: Trish Matheny
Best for Hot and Humid Climates
Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie - Women's
3 panel hood, perforated holes for ventilation, zippered side pocket
The Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie is the perfect sun shirt for those planning their next adventure in a hot and humid climate. On the surface, this top looks heavier, almost like a windbreaker, but it has a looser fit and perforated sections of fabric for strategic breathability. A central half-zip enhances airflow during the dog days of summer. If the shirt is trapped beneath a backpack and gathers some sweat on your hike, the ultralight fabric dries incredibly fast after being exposed to the fresh air. The shirt also includes a 3-panel hood and a high neckline that fits snug under the chin when fully zipped, providing full neck and head coverage. Just don't forget to sunscreen your face. The shirt also includes a small zippered pocket that's great for stashing a car key or a small protein bar while you're out.
The cuffs of the Astroman Air cinch tight to the wrists with an elastic hem, and while this keeps them in place very well, our tester noted, “I found the elastic cuffs to be distracting while climbing”. We could see them being annoying when riding a bike as well, and we wish the design had opted for thumb holes, which would be more comfortable and provide better hand coverage. Other than the lack of thumb loops, this shirt offers ample coverage, with a high 50+ UPF rating if you purchase the darker color option; however, light colorways only have a UPF rating of 30, which can be limiting if you don't want to give up UV protection. If you want an even more comfortable design that also provides great performance in the heat, check out the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoody. But if you plan to put in the miles during the heat of summer, we think you'll love the Astroman Air design, especially in hot, muggy conditions, since the fabric doesn't cling to your skin.
The Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie is among the top performing sun shirts that we tested thanks to ample sun protection, a central zipper, and perforated panels that make this a great choice for warmer climates. Credit: Trish Matheny
Covertible sleeves, back vent, 2 chest pockets, side zipper pocket, sunglasse keeper
The REI Sahara is a great option if you want a more traditional “buttoned-up look” that provides 50+ UPF coverage compared to the ~5 UPF rating of a standard cotton shirt. We loved wearing this top while hiking, but would just as readily throw it on to run around town. Vented back panels keep air moving, and the design has pockets large enough to store car keys, energy bars, or credit cards for lunch on top of the gondola. The cut is relaxed yet flattering, and the fabric has a bit of stretch to it that keeps things comfortable. In terms of versatility, the Sahara Solid took the lead. This shirt seems to work for just about everything under the sun. “I love that it's fully functional during a full day on the trail or on the water, but looks nice enough to head straight to the brewery to meet up with friends,” one tester remarked. Unlike other sun shirts that we've tested which often have sheer, thin, and nearly see-through fabrics, the Sahara Solid has more structure.
If you prefer, the sleeves can be rolled up and held in place with button tabs, however, the location of the buttons holds the fabric in an uncomfortable position above the elbows. If you don't like the positioning, we found it easy enough to roll the sleeves up without utilizing the button tab to hold them in place. Even though the shirt features a high collar, we missed having a hood to hide beneath, so you'll have to BYO sun hat to protect your ears and neck. Nonetheless, we like this option and think it's more versatile than any other button-up sun shirt we tested. If you want a looser, more flowy button-up that you can stylishly layer over another shirt, the Columbia Silver Ridge Utility II Long Sleeve is another great option, and it's more affordable.
When you've seen too much sun and it's time to cover up, we love the versatility of the Sahara Solid that's perfect for everything from the trail to the brewery. Credit: Trish Matheny
Ponytail hole in hood, sunglass keeper, reflective logo, perforated panels, right side pocket
The Baleaf UPF 50 Hoody is an ultra budget sun shirt that honestly surprised us with how well it performed. While not necessarily the cream of the crop, it has a 50 UPF rating, and in our experience, it works as advertised. The hoody offers a sporty look that's perfect for everything from day hikes to paddleboarding, and the perforated paneling that extends below the arms and on the back helps this hoody shed moisture and sweat that builds during the heat of the day. The fit runs true to size, but it is slim and designed to hug your curves, so we recommend sizing up if you prefer a looser fit.
While the Baleaf UPF 50 Hoody does include extra sun protection features like a hood and thumb loops we weren't always satisfied with their functionality. We wish that the thumb holes were more comfortable and that the sleeves were long enough to provide more protection for the backs of our hands. Our tester, who has a lot of long curly hair, also wished that the hood was larger. If you plan to only use the hood and thumb loops every once in a while, they're probably fine. If you want features that actually help you stay covered, check out the Janji Sunchaser, though it will cost you a lot more. However, we think it's a great option for everyday casual wear and lakeside hangs in places where it gets hot on the daily, thanks to the moisture-wicking design with perforated paneling. While it isn't the most “bombproof” shirt we tested, it's an incredible value for everyday sun protection.
The Baleaf UPF 50 Hoody features one of the highest UPF ratings that we tested, along with perforated paneling on the back and beneath the arms to keep you cool on hot summer days. Credit: Trish Matheny
Middle finger loops on sleeves for back of hand coverage, button closure on hood, zippered side pocket
The Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is the sun shirt we'd recommend if you're looking for a durable layer that you can wear for more than just the summer season. It has a slightly thicker construction, but our testers loved that this made it appropriate for spring and fall use (when sun protection is often overlooked, but just as important) or summer hikes that take you to high altitudes. It features a subtle waffle pattern, and while it sacrifices some points in next-to-skin comfort, it helps the shirt to maintain decent airflow despite its thicker weight. The design includes an oversized hood that fits well under (or on top of) a ball cap, along with a chin button to secure it when the winds pick up. The sleeves feature a longer fit and thumb holes, as well as a middle finger loop that secures the sleeve for great coverage on the back of the hand. The shirt also includes a zippered pocket beneath the right arm that's great for securely stowing a credit card or car key while you make your way around town post-hike.
Patagonia's Capilene fabric is treated with an anti-odor finish, but we found that the Cool Sun Hoody does hold onto body odor, especially if worn for several days between washes. It's also not as soft on the skin, especially compared to buttery-soft options like the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoody, but we don't think twice about wearing this durable shirt for more aggressive activities like rock climbing or trail runs through dense sagebrush. And while it's definitely one of the more expensive sun shirts we tested, we think you'll get more use out of it year-round, whether on a long bike ride, at the park on a spring sunny day, or trying to balance your body temp in ever-changing alpine conditions. But if the price tag is a turn-off, check out a more affordable option like the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie.
Our testers love the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody for its unique features that maximize sun protection for a variety of athletic pursuits. The thicker fabric and unique waffle patterning increase its versatility without sacrificing breathability, making it a great sun shirt for use in all the seasons. Credit: Trish Matheny
Boardshort connector, security pocket with key loop
If your summer plans include long days on the beach playing in and out of the water, maybe trying to catch a wave or just noodling around on your new stand-up paddleboard, the Patagonia R0 Surf Top is the perfect sun shirt for you. The slim and compressive performance fit is great for swimming laps, paddleboarding, and extra sun protection while you're hanging out on the beach. The raglan sleeves and well-placed seams feel secure, and the high-quality recycled polyester and four-way stretch spandex construction help reduce any chafing you might experience during repetitive motion. The 40+ UPF rating kept our testers from having to reapply sunscreen on their upper body, while the sleeves provide the perfect fit that stays in place during a variety of water sports, even without thumb loops. The shirt features a unique board short connector that lets you attach the back hem to your favorite bottoms to keep it from riding up, a problem that tends to happen with tighter-fitting tops.
Be aware that the tight, compressive fit is meant to deliver the best performance when wet, effectively holding the layer in place as waves and currents tug at your clothing. However, the performance fit limits the top's overall versatility, and it is not our top choice for dry-land activities. There are other sun shirts that offer more coverage through hoods, longer hemlines, and thumb loops. If you're after a layer that you can wear more casually, check out the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoody, which provides better coverage, a high UPF rating, and a fit that feels more appropriate to wear around town. But if you're looking for a comfortable and flattering long-sleeve crew that you can rock all day, lake or beachside, we highly recommend checking out the Patagonia R0 Surf Top.
The R0 Surf Top only offers a 40 UPF rating but does a great job of blocking UV rays while you're near the water. Credit: Trish Matheny
Product Comparison Table
Soaking up the sun while staying protected! Testing sun shirts on a bluebird day alpine mountain bike ride in southwest Colorado. Credit: Kaylee Walden
How We Tested
We purchase every shirt to wear side-by-side through several months of testing and adventuring. We wear them for casual, everyday activities like gardening, walking the dog, and grabbing coffee with a friend. We also hand them off to professional adventurers to test the limits of these shirts in more extreme environments, like high-altitude mountaineering, alpine mountain biking, multi-pitch climbing, snorkeling at the equator, and running desert trails. We wash, wear, and repeat, and we've been wearing some of these shirts for years now, assessing factors like fit, comfort, breathability, and durability.
Our testing of women's sun shirts is divided across five rating metrics:
Comfort and Fit (30% of overall score weight)
Sun Protection (25% weight)
Breathability (20% weight)
Versatility (15% weight)
Durability (10% weight)
We wore these shirts on runs, hikes, traveling, and paddling, to learn which ones are best for what. Credit: Maggie Nichols
Why Trust GearLab
To take these shirts to their sunny limits outdoors, we enlisted nature buffs and wilderness enthusiasts Kaylee Walden and Trish Matheny. These women strive to spend every possible moment outside. With so much outdoor work and play, and consideration for skin cancer risk, none of these ladies takes chances when it comes to staying protected from the sun. A sun shirt is a non-negotiable part of the daily uniform.
Kaylee resides in the high mountains of Southwest Colorado, with frequent Utah and New Mexico desert trips on the menu, where sun protection is paramount. She works as an outdoor guide, taking people hiking and climbing in the summer, backcountry skiing in the winter, and high-altitude mountaineering in the spring.
Trish spends the majority of the year living outdoors in her tent cabin on Yosemite's Search and Rescue team based just outside of the infamous Camp Four. When she's not nerding out on gear reviews, she scales Yosemite's Big walls, often hiding from the sun on the side of El Capitan. When she's not on the site, she's traveling to international rock-climbing destinations and is happy to test the latest and greatest designs as she moves between objectives, big and small.
We've taken these sun shirts across the world to test them in all kinds of environments where harsh sunlight can damage your skin.
If you want to save a few bucks without sacrificing performance, the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie offers excellent protection for daily use and comes in on the lower end of the price scale. It's soft and smooth, with great protective features and a generous fit through the torso that increases airflow around the body, although the fabric itself might be a bit thick for highly active wearers.
The REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie sticks to the basics in order to keep costs down, but we can't complain about the 50+ UPF rating here. Credit: Trish Matheny
Though the best of the best in any category can be the most expensive, in this instance, that's not the case. Our favorite shirt of the bunch, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody, sits right in the middle of the pack in terms of price and is really the shirt that comes closest to having it all. Though it's not the cheapest, we do consider it a great value since it easily outperforms other, more expensive shirts.
Whether you're trail running, bouldering, or out for a day hike, this sun shirt provides great protection. Credit: Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht
Comfort and Fit
We asked a variety of women with different body shapes to test the comfort of each model. We looked at how the cut works for different body types, and assessed how well each one moves when we reach our arms or twist our torsos. Stretch helps a lot with this, but so do things like the length of the sleeves and hem. We judged the fabric's skin feel and noted whether the seams rode on the ridge of the shoulder or if they were offset to prevent chafing under backpack straps.
The impressively soft and stretchy Crater Lake Hoody stands out for being comfortable to wear, no matter what your body type or the activity you are getting into. It's silky smooth, with seams tucked away so they're never in the wrong place, and provides an almost ridiculous amount of stretch, keeping you comfortable all day long. The bottom has a drawstring that you can cinch around your waist, and the sleeves are actually long enough (and elastic enough) for long-armed women to feel comfortable. It also features a hood that protects without impeding vision or movement, and again, the stretchy fabric doesn't feel like it's smashing your ponytail. For straight-up comfort that you can paddle, hike, get groceries, or even nap in, the Crater Lake Hoody has been our favorite for years.
The Crater Lake features a buttery-soft and stretchy fabric that fits true to size. Credit: Trish Matheny
The Janji Sunchaser 50 is a close second, featuring a fit that's slim but not overly tight. We selected this sun hoody for extended climbing trips in the alpine thanks to its thin, lightweight, and perforated design that kept us cool on the side of a mountain for days on end. The Marmot AirExchange hoody is another comfortable design that we selected for alpine missions thanks to the lightweight and breathable fabric that features flat-felled seams that are comfortable beneath a heavy pack.
The lightweight and breathable designs from Janji and Marmot were our among our top choices for staying comfortable in the alpine.
We also like the soft and comfy OR Echo Hoodie. Though the fabric doesn't have much stretch, it still provides exceptional comfort for everyday wear or heading out for a run or hike. The Echo Hoodie's thumbholes are unique in that they're horizontal rather than vertical, which keeps them closer to the end of the sleeve and reduces pull when you're moving. The cut is also significantly more comfortable and less awkward when you need to push your sleeves up.
Even when hanging onto mountain bike handlebars for a jostling downhill, the OR Echo's sleeves stay perfectly in place. Credit: Kaylee Walden
The REI Sahara Solid is our favorite among the collared options we tested. The fabric of the REI Sahara Solid might seem a tad crinkly at first, but it shakes out after a few wears. And though it doesn't look stretchy, a small amount of spandex blended into the fabric provides impressive freedom of movement in the shoulders, even for our broad-shouldered testers.
The Sahara Solid features a stretchy and comfortable fabric along with a fit that's true to size. Credit: Trish Matheny
The Patagonia Capilene Cool Sun Hoody is comfortable, fits true to size, and offers an excellent range of motion. That said, the buttery-soft next-to-skin feel you'll find in some other tops is sacrificed for the subtle waffle patterning on the interior, which helps with breathability.
The Cool Sun Hoody features a fit that's true to size although a little shorter in the torso. It's waffle-like patterning is great for increased breathability but does sacrifice a bit of comfort next to skin. Credit: Trish Matheny
Sun Protection
UPF rating is the main thing that factors into our sun protection scores, and we do a rough check with our own UV intensity card. If you're not sure what UPF is, it's a value that represents the percentage of UV rays blocked by fabric. Any UPF is better than none, but experts recommend aiming for at least 30.
After checking the UPF rating of a fabric, we look at the physical coverage offered by way of hoods, collars, and sleeves that extend down to the knuckles (and have handy thumb loops to keep them there) are additional features that improve skin coverage. And it's one thing to be covered while standing unmoving in your yard and a whole other beast to cover up while you bike to work, boulder up a sunny route, or push the kids on the swings. We like shirts that stay put and keep up with our day.
When it comes to maximal coverage, the Baleaf Hoodie with Face Cover is the cream of the crop. You might look a little unconventional with the gaiter pulled up over your mouth and nose, but the UPF 50+ fabric covering so much of your torso, hands, and face provides an impressive level of protection.
Perhaps not winning any style contests, the Baleaf Hoodie with Face Cover does provide an impressive level of coverage, with UPF 50+ fabric. Credit: Maggie Nichols
If you're interested in maximum coverage without the full face mask, we love the Janji Sunchaser 50. The scuba-style hood creates a peep-hole like opening for your face, while keeping your neck, ears and head fully covered. Extra-long sleeves come down to the knuckles and include nifty watch windows, which allowed us to check the time, our mileage, or our pace without pulling sleeves up and exposing our arms to the sun.
The Sunchaser features maximum coverage through the hood, the longer hemline, as well as the extra long sleeves with thumb holes to cover the entire palm. Credit: Trish Matheny
The Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody follows close behind. It offers top-notch protection with a hood that stays on decently even without ties, protecting your ears and neck, though the criss-cross opening leaves the neck more exposed than a scuba-style. Its sleeves extend past the knuckles (even on taller testers), and large thumbholes keep them in place. The Crater Lake Hoody is a great option for dynamic movement, as it is able to stretch farther than you'd think possible, making it an excellent companion no matter how you move.
The Crater Lake sun hoody protected us from the sun while climbing at 13,000 feet. Credit: Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht
Patagonia's new Capilene Cool Sun Hoody provides excellent sun protection for all types of adventure. The 40+ UPF rating is not the highest, but it features a large protective hood and a button closure that secures under the chin to keep the hood in place on windy days and better shade the neck. The shirt also features long sleeves with thumb holes, plus an extra piece of elastic that loops around the middle finger to keep your hands covered past the knuckles.
The Cool Sun Hoody features great sun protection through 40+ UPF, a large hoody with button closure, and thumb holes with elastic for the middle finger for extra hand coverage. Credit: Trish Matheny
The Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 is another great shirt that helps you hide from the sun. We tested this hoody while developing a new climbing route deep in the High Sierra at 13,000 feet. We spent weeks of the summer in this hoody and never burned beneath the UPF 50 fabric. The tight-fitting hood stayed in place and the thumb holes helped protect our hands at belays.
The Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 Hoody design includes a great hood for sun protection even in high elevation. Credit: Trish Matheny
The hood on the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie features a cross-front top that adds neck coverage without making the neck hole smaller, and a hidden drawstring to keep your hood on no matter how windy it gets. It also has longer-than-average sleeves, making it easy and comfortable to use the thumb holes.
The Sahara Shade Hoodie features stretchy fabric and a loose fit that combines with a large hood and solid coverage for the hands. Credit: Trish Matheny
The OR Echo Hoodielooks like it should offer some solid coverage; however, we were disappointed by its super low 15 UPF rating. We wish it was higher, because we loved wearing this lightweight shirt on wicked hot days. Still, it's better than nothing, and its impressively light feel makes it easier to keep on when days start to heat up, which is its main perk in our opinion. We just wouldn't wear it for all-day exposure, like on a desert hike. It's better saved for sweaty runs or bike rides that last a half-day or less.
The Echo Hoody has long sleeves that protect up to your knuckles.
Breathability
When it's truly hot outside, covering up with more fabric doesn't always sound appealing. Fabric that allows some airflow, wicks away sweat, and doesn't cling to your skin goes a long way toward your willingness to wear it on days when temps hit the triple digits. To test breathability, we checked fabric thickness and weight, venting options, and drying speed, and wore each shirt during fast-paced runs, long bike rides, and steep hikes to see how they performed when we got sweaty.
The thin and lightweight OR Echo Hoodie, Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie, and Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody stand out in this category for their breathability, especially during activities when you're moving enough to work up a sweat. They come in mostly light colors, which helps them to reflect more sun than they absorb.
The thin fabric of the Crater Lake design was perfect for long alpine approaches with heavy backpacks, often absorbing some sweat during the hike but drying quickly when we removed our packs. Credit: Felipe Tapia Nordenflycht
The OR Astroman offers a different take on breathability. It has more structured fabric that sits off the skin and leaves room for airflow under the garment. Unique perforated panels run on each side of the shirt from the armpit to the hip further maximizes airflow without reducing protection in high exposure areas like the shoulders and outer arms. It also features a 1/4 zipper meant to offload heat when needed, and while the fabric does retain a little sweat, especially under the arms, it dries super fast.
The Astroman is a unique sun shirt design that includes perforated side panels for additional breathability as well as a central zipper to offload body heat.
The Columbia Silver Ridge Utility II is another breathable option. With quick-drying, thin fabric, and large, strategically placed vents, this shirt is very wearable even on hot days. We loved that the loose cut allowed us to catch even the slightest breeze, and created a micro-climate of shade around our torso, helping us stay cooler.
The loose fit on the Columbia Silver Ridge Utility II creates excellent airflow, especially without a pack. Credit: Trish Matheny
The REI Sahara Long-Sleeve Solid button-down similarly has a structured fit that keeps the fabric off your skin and lets the breeze in. Well-placed back vents and buttons all the way down the front allow you to open up and dump some heat now and then.
The REI Co-op Sahara Long Sleeve features vents on the back that are now lined with mesh on the interior so that the layer can breathe without sticking to the skin. Credit: Trish Matheny
The Janji Sunchaser 50 design features perforated fabric beneath the arms that helps this cooling fabric release any heat built up during fast-paced activities. The Baleaf UPF 50 Hoody was another standout for breathability thanks to the perforated back panel that helps release moisture. We found it works best without a backpack since that's where most of the airflow comes from.
The Sunchaser and Baleaf hoody designs both include perforated panels to release body heat and moisture to maintain comfort during your activity.
And while it doesn't feature any special vents or perforated panels, the fabric of the Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 is super breathable and very fast-drying. We sweated it out a few times in this top while hiking through Yosemite National Park, and were always dry within a few minutes after dumping our pack.
The Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 Hoody was one of our top choices for breathability while we ran ahead on the trail. Credit: Brett Wines
While we love a lot of things about the Sahara Shade Hoodie, its breathability is not one of them. It is made of thicker fabric than most others we tested, and felt stuffier on super muggy days. The looser fit helps catch a breeze now and then, but we were more comfortable wearing this shirt in temps below 80°F.
This photo displays the lack of breathability within the thick fabric of the Sahara Shade Hoodie, we don't recommend this one for hot and humid climates like Yosemite Valley. Credit: Trish Matheny
Durability
We beat these shirts up during our testing to see if they could take it. From scrambling up rocks and scraping through twisted bushes to landscaping, we went beyond their “normal” scope of use.
Both the REI Sahara Solid and the Silver Ridge Utility II are constructed of sturdy material that withstood a lot of abuse from our testers. The Silver Ridge Utility II is even sewn with ripstop nylon that prevents small tears from spreading. Both of these shirts are well-made with reinforced seams and thoughtful features to help them last the years. They showed virtually no wear, stains, or snags throughout our intensive testing.
The REI Sahara Solid and Columbia Silver Ridge Utility II feature sturdy material and reinforced seams.
The Patagonia R0 Surf Top rashguard resisted wear throughout the test period. Although the fit did stretch a little bit, it still provided a slim-fitting construction that remained in place, providing excellent sun protection, even when wet. While it's not meant for trekking off trail through undergrowth, it's great for water activities, and held up to sandy and rocky beaches. The NRS Silkweight Hoodie also has flat seams perfectly placed for paddling and is similarly built to last (without being so tight).
We appreciated being able to check the time without exposing any skin in the NRS silkweight. Credit: Sara James
The OR Echo Hoodie is fairly durable, but scores a little lower on the list. It has flat-sewn seams; however, it picked up a few snags during previous rounds of testing. Luckily, the latest iteration of the Echo seems to have improved. Our main tester took a nasty fall on broken asphalt during a run while wearing the Echo and utilizing its thumbholes. While her palms were much worse for the wear, with several deep cuts and a significant chunk of missing skin, the cuff of the Echo had just a single minor rip. In the years since that accident, those small tears have failed to grow any larger, even after regular wear.
The aftermath (several months later) of a bad fall while running. On the left, a lingering scar from the accident is circled in red. On the right, the single tear in the OR Echo cuff is circled in yellow. Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 is another durable design, however, we did notice some snags from our chest strap after a long and arduous rock climbing approach with a heavy pack.
We did notice some snags in the AirExchange fabric due to our chest strap on our heavy backpack. Credit: Trish Matheny
FAQ's
Considering you wear a shirt every day (we assume), it's not a bad idea to have more than one UV-protective option in your closet. This gives you room to select 2-3 options that you reserve for specific activities. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the water, you may want a body-hugging rashguard, while folks who are hiking or doing yard work will probably want a looser-fitting shirt with more features like pockets and venting. If you don't slow down, even in the heat of summer, choose a shirt that feels like air on the skin to help you power up the last 100 ft of the climb on your mountain bike. Of course, if budget allows only one, many of our top recommendations are versatile enough to be worn for most activities.
UPF is similar to the SPF rating in sunscreen, but it is a value given to fabrics meant to protect your skin from UV rays. The value assigned to fabric represents the percentage of rays (UVA and UVB) blocked by the material. The average cotton t-shirt has a rating around 5 UPF, but dedicated sun protection shirts range from 15-50+ UPF, with higher numbers being better. A UPF of 15 blocks 93.3% of UV rays, while a 50+ UPF rating blocks 98% or more os UV rays.
UPF ratings increase or decrease depending on several factors. A tighter weave in the fabric of your shirts can increase UPF, although it also decreases breathability. Choosing darker or more vibrant colors can also help, while light pastels, or whites, offer less protection. Lastly, a UPF rating can also be obtained by embedding a chemical treatment into the fiber used to make the shirt, but this wears off over time.
The most important thing to look for in a sun shirt is its UPF rating, but some features help improve the coverage a shirt offers. These include thumb loops to keep the sleeves pulled down over your hands, hoods that are large enough to fit over a ball cap, or fitted enough to fit under a wide brimmed sun hat, and high collars that keep the front of your neck shaded. In button-down shirts, the lack of hood reduces coverage, but some still offer neck protection via a three-panel collar that can be popped as high as your hairline, and open venting in the back that allows even a gentle breeze in to cool your back and torso. Beyond that, differences come down largely to comfort and style preferences.
We hope this review has helped you narrow down your search for the perfect sun shirt! Credit: Kaylee Walden
Conclusion
There's a lot to consider to find the right sun shirt for your preferred activities and lifestyle. We hope our deep dive into the comparative testing process helps you identify the sun shirt that can, quite literally, help save your skin.
Looking for more ways to protect yourself? Staying protected from the sun is no easy feat. We've collected and tested a wide array of sun protection gear to help you get out there without suffering UV damage. From top-ranked sun hats to sunglasses, we want to help you keep you shaded from the strong summer sun.
