Best Sun Hoodies and Sun Shirts for Hiking, Backpacking, and Thru-Hiking
Wearing the Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie on my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail
Sun protection is so important when hiking, backpacking, and thru-hiking because you’re out in the sun all day. I take my sun protection seriously to keep my skin safe. One of the ways I try to protect my skin is by wearing sun hoodies or long-sleeve sun shirts while hiking and backpacking. In this post, I’ll go over the features to look for when choosing a sun hoodie or shirt and share my experiences with the best sun hoodies and long-sleeve sun shirts I’ve tried over the past 6+ years.
There are a lot (and I mean a lot) of different sun hoodies and long-sleeve sun shirts available, so I want to help you narrow down your search! This post doesn’t include every single sun hoodie or sun shirt out there, just the best ones I’ve tested and recommend. At the end of the day, they all are intended to do the same thing – protect your skin from the sun – and it really comes down to your personal preferences when choosing the perfect sun hoodie or sun shirt for your next hiking or backpacking trip.
There are some variations to consider, like whether you prefer a form-fitting style or a looser, more relaxed fit, and the type of fabric used. Some sun hoodies are softer, others are more durable, or made from merino vs. synthetic materials. I’ll go into all of this, so you can decide which sun hoodie or sun shirt might work best for you.
I’m 5'4" with a short torso, so I personally prefer sun shirts/hoodies that are not too baggy, a bit shorter in length, and usually avoid ones that are too long on me. I also prefer lightweight and breathable sun hoodies for thru-hiking and backpacking because they help me stay cooler when it’s super hot outside. However, in this post, I’ll be sharing a variety of sun hoodies and sun shirts – ranging in shapes, materials, and lengths – so you can find the best options for your own preferences and needs.
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Key Features of Sun Hoodies & Sun Shirts
When choosing a sun hoodie or sun shirt, there are lots of different feature to consider:
UPF Rating: Many sun hoodies and sun shirts come with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating, which blocks harmful UV rays. The higher the UPF rating, the higher the protection from the sun.
Moisture-Wicking Fabric: I look for breathable materials that wick sweat away from your skin, which will help keep you cool and dry.
Synthetic vs. Wool Material: This is personal preference. Lightweight merino wool it is sweat-wicking and has wonderful natural anti-odor properties and won’t smell bad in the long run, but merino wool is less durable. Synthetic can be more durable, but will be more smelly.
Fabric Weight: I personally prefer sun shirts that are lightweight because I find I stay cooler in them when hiking in hot temperatures.
Hood: A hood offers additional sun protection for your neck and ears. I like to wear a ball cap and put the hood up over my hat when the sun is super intense. I also like that sun hoodies usually have a higher neckline, which protects my neck from sun even when I’m not wearing the hood.
Thumbholes: Thumbholes help keep your sleeves in place and protect the backs of your hands.
Sleeve Length: I personally prefer long sleeves for hiking shirts because it offers more protection and I don’t have to worry about reapplying sunscreen to my arms. This post only includes long-sleeved shirts and sun hoodies.
Best Sun Hoodies I’ve Used & Tried
Synthetic Sun Hoodies:
Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie
Wearing the Sombra Sun Hoodie on my Continental Divide Trail thru-hike
Wearing the Sombra Sun Hoodie on my Arizona Trail thru-hike
Wearing the Sombra Sun Hoodie on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike
Features: UPF 50+, thumbholes, invisible stash pocket, scuba hood for extra protection, anti-odor and wicking finish, durable fabric
Fit: Regular fit, women’s version is shorter in length (but not cropped)
My Review: The Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie (Women’s / Men’s) has been my favorite and go-to sun hoodie for thru-hiking and backpacking since 2022. I wore this sun hoodie for the last 600 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, the entire Arizona Trail, the entire Continental Divide Trail, and the Wonderland Trail. It is super durable and I’ve never gotten holes in it despite heavy use.
I wore the same exact Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie for my entire thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail (2,700+ miles and 110 days in a row!). While my sun hoodie was a bit sun faded by the end, it was still in great condition, didn’t have any holes, and still protected me from the sun.
This sun hoodie’s women’s version is a bit shorter in length than other brands, which works perfectly for me because I have a short torso and most other sun hoodies are too long on me.
This sun hoodie is made from synthetic material, which can get a bit smelly over a long thru-hike. However, it has an anti-odor finish and I find it gets less smelly than other sun hoodies I've worn. The fabric is lightweight, durable, and keeps me cool on hot days. I also like that the neck is slightly higher, which helps me feel more protected from the sun.
The only downside is the small, zippered stash pocket, which I personally find unnecessary. However, it hasn’t caused any discomfort under a backpack’s hip belt in my experience.
Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie
Features: UPF 15, thumbholes, ponytail hole (women’s version), very lightweight, quick-drying, sweat-wicking
Fit: Slim fit
My Review: I wore the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie (Women’s / Men’s) for 2,000 miles of my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and it’s great for super-hot days. It’s the lightest and thinnest sun hoodie on this list, but has the lowest UPF rating (UPF 15).
While it’s breathable and dries quickly, the fabric isn’t very durable and tends to get thread pulls. Additionally, it gets smelly fast despite its anti-odor technology. This sun hoodie is more fitted than all of the other options, but it’s not skin tight.
My partner, Tim, wore the men’s OR Echo Hoodie for most of his Appalachian Trail thru-hike in 2024 and loved the lightweight and breathable design, which was perfect for the hot East Coast summer.
I really like this sun hoodie, but for long thru-hikes, I now prefer more sun protection than UPF 15 (though it worked fine when I thru-hiked the PCT). The lighter colors are slightly see-through and tend to get dirty quickly. This sun hoodie is super lightweight, breathable, and feels amazing on really hot days –it keeps you cool while still offering sun protection. It also dries very quickly if it gets wet and it usually comes in lots of fun colors.
Backcountry Tahoe Sun Hoodie
Features: UPF 50+, thumbholes, soft and stretchy fabric
Fit: Regular/active fit
My Review: The Backcountry Tahoe Sun Hoodie (women’s / men’s) is another excellent option for hiking and backpacking. I’ve worn this sun hoodie on several overnight backpacking trips and day hikes. The material is soft and stretchy but thicker than the first two sun hoodies I mentioned, so I generally wear it in cooler conditions. I appreciate its high UPF rating and find the fit very flattering. I haven’t worn this sun hoodie for an entire thru-hike, so I can’t speak to how smelly it might get over time.
Columbia Summit Valley Sun Hoodie
Wearing the Columbia Summit Valley Hoodie hiking along the Pacific Northwest Trail
Wearing the Columbia Summit Valley Hoodie hiking in Washington State
Features: UPF 50+, thumbholes, Omni-Wick sweat-wicking technology, anti-odor fabric, lightweight
Fit: Active/slim fit (but not skin tight)
My Review: The Columbia Summit Valley Hoodie (women’s / men’s) is one of the newer sun hoodies I’ve tried and I really like it. The fit is flattering and the length is perfect. The fabric is incredibly lightweight and breathable, but it does snag easily. Even on a very hot and sunny day, I found that I didn’t overheat while hiking in this sun shirt.
Arc’teryx Women’s Taema Hoodie & Men’s Cormac Hoodie
Features: UPF 40+, thumb loops, anti-odor fabric, moisture-wicking, breathable, lightweight, quick-drying
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: Arc’teryx offers the Taema Hoodie for women and the Cormac Hoodie for men. Both are made from Arc’teryx Phasic LT fabric, which is very moisture-wicking, breathable, odor-resistant, and provides UPF 40+ sun protection. I really like this sun hoodie. It fits a bit looser in the torso compared to some of the other sun hoodies I’ve listed here, but I think sizing down would make it too tight in the shoulders. The material is lightweight and breathable, but I find it slightly more durable than some of the other options in this post. I now have a couple of these hoodies and they’ve become a favorite of mine.
REI Sahara Shade Sun Hoodie
Features: UPF 50+, soft/stretchy material, thumbholes, moisture-wicking, curved drop hem on women’s version
Fit: Regular/relaxed fit, long hem
My Review: The REI Sahara Shade Hoodie (Women’s / Men’s) is a very popular sun hoodie for hiking and backpacking. It has a high UPF rating of 50+, comes in a variety of fun colors, and the fabric is super soft and comfortable without feeling fragile. This is one of the thicker sun hoodies I’ve listed in this post. It’s also probably the longest (at least for women), featuring a long length with a drop and curved hem. If you’re looking for additional coverage, this could be a great sun hoodie to try. It’s a looser-fitting hoodie overall, so it’s great if you’re looking for a more relaxed fit.
I love the feel of its material, but the overall fit isn’t quite right for me – it’s too long for my personal preference. When I wear the Sahara Shade Hoodie, I usually tuck the front into my pants or shorts. That said, I really like the material and I’m glad it also comes in a non-hooded version (the Sahara Long T-Sleeve Shirt, which I’ll talk about below!)
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Features: UPF 17–45 (average 34), quick-drying, durable, soft fabric
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody (women’s / men’s) is another favorite for hiking and backpacking. A few years ago, this was one of my top sun hoodies. It’s soft, sun-protective, and fits comfortably, but I’ve found the fabric isn’t as breathable as some of the other sun hoodies listed here. It also gets smelly quickly and holds onto odors. That said, it does help you feel cool in hot temperatures. However, it lacks thumbholes. It is still a favorite among hikers and backpackers and is great for sun protection.
Outdoor Research Astroman Air Hoodie
Features: UPF 30-50+, stretchy and breathable material, half-zip, quick-drying, hidden zip pocket, laser perforated holes for breathability, durable, lightweight
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: I really love the material of the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Hoodie (women’s / men’s) – it’s incredibly lightweight, cooling, stretchy, and durable. The lighter colors are rated UPF 30, while the darker colors are rated UPF 50. This sun hoodie doesn’t have thumbholes, but I like that it features a half-zip design, which allows for extra ventilation when needed.
One downside is the hidden zip pocket, which feels unnecessary and might be uncomfortable when wearing a backpacking pack with hip belts. Another personal preference is the fit – this sun hoodie is a bit too long for me, but it may fit someone taller or with a longer torso better. I had planned to wear this on the Wonderland Trail, but the length didn’t quite work for me. However, the material is so nice that it might still be a great choice for you.
Merino Wool Sun Hoodies:
Ridge Merino Solstice Lightweight Pullover Hoodie
Features: UPF 30+, large hood, merino wool, thumbholes
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: Lightweight merino wool is an amazing material for hiking and backpacking shirts because it’s sweat-wicking and odor-resistant. The Ridge Merino Solstice Lightweight Pullover Hoodie (women’s / men’s) is a popular merino wool sun hoodie. I’ve tried it out and it seems like a great option if you're looking for a merino wool sun hoodie! The hood is larger than those on other sun hoodies, which could be a plus if that’s something you prefer.
Hoodless Long Sleeve Sun Shirts
REI Sahara Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Features: UPF 30-50+, soft and stretchy material, moisture-wicking, thumbholes
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: The REI Sahara Long Sleeve T-Shirt (Women’s / Men’s) is the hoodless version of the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie I mentioned above. If you like the material of the Sahara Shade Hoodie but don’t want a hood, this is a great option. I also like that the women’s Sahara Long Sleeve has a slightly different cut compared to the women’s hoodie version. The hoodless version features a straight hem and a shorter length than the hoodie version. Plus, the women’s hoodless long sleeve sun shirt still has thumbholes (the men’s version doesn’t), which is a nice feature that most non-hooded shirts don’t offer.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Long-Sleeve Shirt
Features: UPF 17–45 (average UPF 34), quick drying, durable, soft
Fit: Regular Fit
My Review: The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Long-Sleeve Shirt (women’s / men’s) was the sun shirt I originally planned to wear on when I was going to thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail in 2020 (which I delayed to 2022), before I became a fan of sun hoodies. It’s made from the same material as the Patagonia Capilene Daily Hoody listed above, just without a hood. It’s soft, comfortable, durable, and effective at protecting you from the sun.
Button-Down Long Sleeve Sun Shirts
REI Sahara Long Sleeve Button-Down Shirt
Features: UPF 50, button-up, durable, moisture-wicking, convertible sleeves, back vent, two chest pockets
Fit: Regular fit
My Review: If you’re looking for a sun-protective button-down shirt for hiking and backpacking, REI’s Sahara Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt (women’s / men’s) is a great option. I have a couple of these and it’s one of my partner’s favorite backpacking sun shirts. The men’s version also comes in a patterned style. It’s super durable, protective, and breathable. I personally don’t love the way button-downs look on me, but if I did, I’d wear this one. Maybe this is the year I try to embrace button-down shirts, haha…
Sun Hoodies & Sun Shirts I Haven't Tried but I’m Interested in Trying and Have Heard Good Things About:
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