Why Desert Backpackers Wear Long Sleeves in the Heat
Five sun hoodies independent testers rate, who each one suits, and the catch with each.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pulling on long sleeves and a hood when it’s hot out feels wrong the first time. It looks a little like you packed for a different trip. But on a desert route or an exposed ridge, a good sun hoodie does a job sunscreen struggles with: as Treeline Review puts it, a shirt “protects you all day without reapplying, doesn’t wash off in sweat.”
The five picks below come from independent sun-shirt tests by Treeline Review, GearJunkie, OutdoorGearLab, Switchback Travel, CleverHiker and The Big Outside, named throughout. Prices change too often to list here, so check the current price before you buy. This is gear advice, not medical advice.
- Best for most backpackersMountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody: best overall at Treeline Review and Switchback Travel. Check the price on Amazon
- Best budget pickBaleaf UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie: OutdoorGearLab's best bang for your buck. Check the price on Amazon
- Best if you run hotMarmot AirExchange UPF 50 Hoody: GearJunkie's most breathable, with full UPF 50 coverage. Check the price on Amazon
- Best for heavy-pack desert daysOutdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie: The Big Outside calls it cool, comfortable and durable. Check the price on Amazon
- Best for buggy tripsRoyal Robbins Salathe Sun Hoodie: GearJunkie's bug-repellent pick, with no chemical treatment. Check the price on Amazon
What to look for in a sun hoodie
- UPF 30 or higher. OutdoorGearLab says experts recommend UPF 30 or higher, and CleverHiker uses the same floor. Most picks below are rated UPF 50 or 50+.
- A hood that stays put. Several testers dock shirts whose hoods blow off in wind or only fit well over a cap. Wearing a ball cap or brimmed hat under the hood helps.
- Thumb loops or long cuffs. They keep the backs of your hands covered. OutdoorGearLab also suggests flat seams away from the shoulders, where pack straps rub.
- Know the trade-off. OutdoorGearLab says better sun protection usually means less breathability, and darker colors generally block more UV but run warmer. CleverHiker adds that UPF can drop when fabric is stretched or wet.
- Keep the sunscreen. A hoodie doesn’t cover your face, and GearJunkie suggests sunscreen underneath any low-UPF shirt.
1. Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody
What testers found: The Crater Lake shows up near the top of almost every list. Treeline Review names it best overall, says it has “the thinnest fabric we tested,” and likes its thumbholes and a hood “generous enough to be helmet-compatible.” Switchback Travel also names it best overall for its “buttery-soft, stretchy fabric.” GearJunkie calls it its most comfortable pick and says it “feels like an extension of your body.” CleverHiker names it the softest, OutdoorGearLab names the women’s version best overall, and The Big Outside says it “kept me cool and comfortable even with the hood up much of the time.” It’s rated UPF 50+.
The catch: It runs close and athletic. GearJunkie says the cut “won’t suit everyone,” and OutdoorGearLab says the women’s version runs slim. There’s no chest pocket, per GearJunkie, and CleverHiker found the hood fit poorly without a hat underneath. Treeline worried about the thin fabric’s durability at first, then concluded its first shirt came from a bad batch. And Halfway Anywhere, which otherwise likes it, says it “gets incredibly, next-level stinky.” The women’s version is sold separately.
Best for: Most backpackers who want one soft, high-coverage hoodie for three seasons of sun.
2. Baleaf UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie
What testers found: You don’t need to spend much to get real sun coverage. OutdoorGearLab names the Baleaf its “Best Bang for Your Buck” in the men’s test and its pick for an ultra-tight budget in the women’s test, saying it “offers better UV protection than a standard t-shirt.” GearJunkie calls it “the budget champion of the group.” It’s rated UPF 50+.
The catch: You get what you pay for in comfort. GearJunkie found it heavier and less breathable than many picks, with no odor treatment. OutdoorGearLab’s women’s testers say it holds body odor and isn’t particularly durable, and its men’s testers found the fit runs small, so check the size chart.
Best for: First-time desert trips, and anyone who wants to try a sun hoodie before spending more.
3. Marmot AirExchange UPF 50 Hoody
What testers found: Usually you choose between breathability and protection. GearJunkie says the Marmot AirExchange manages both, “fusing standout breathability with top-of-the-line coverage.” It named the shirt its most breathable, saying it “consistently dumped heat faster than almost any other UPF 50 shirt we ran.” GearJunkie’s verdict: backpackers “who run hot but won’t compromise on coverage finally have a layer that works.”
The catch: The airy, mesh-like fabric snags more easily on sharp branches than heavier nylon, GearJunkie says. It also lists a slightly boxy fit, and it’s heavier than the ultralight options.
Best for: Backpackers who sweat through everything and still want UPF 50.
4. Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie
What testers found: The Big Outside calls it “cool, comfortable, fast-drying and durable, with a nice hood,” and one of the most comfortable sun shirts it has worn, even with the hood up on hot days under a heavy pack. It’s rated UPF 50+, with a deep hood and long sleeves. Treeline Review lists it in its comparison table with thumb loops and a relaxed fit.
The catch: Weight. The Big Outside says it’s “heavier than most” sun shirts, which matters more to ounce-counters than to most weekend backpackers.
Best for: Long, exposed days with a full pack, when coverage and comfort matter more than ounces.
5. Royal Robbins Salathe Sun Hoodie
What testers found: Sun isn’t the only thing biting on some trips. GearJunkie names the Salathe its best bug-repellent sun shirt and says the fabric itself acts as “a physical, chemical-free barrier against bugs.” During Alaska’s mosquito season, the tester reports that “while plenty of people around us were getting eaten alive, we stayed relatively unscathed.” It’s rated UPF 40+, and Treeline Review lists it as its best lightweight pick.
The catch: GearJunkie calls the roomy, boxy fit “the main catch” and suggests sizing down. There are no thumbholes.
Best for: Buggy summer trips in the North Woods, the mountains or Alaska, where long sleeves do double duty.
A few more names you’ll see
- REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie. It’s the budget pick at Treeline Review, CleverHiker and Switchback Travel, and OutdoorGearLab’s best value. Testers like the UPF 50+ rating and neck coverage, but Treeline calls the fabric “relatively thick.” It’s REI’s own brand, sold at REI.
- Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody. Best overall at OutdoorGearLab and GearJunkie, and one of the priciest shirts tested. Switchback calls it “pricey and overbuilt for most.”
- Cotopaxi Sombra. CleverHiker’s best overall. Switchback Travel dropped it from its list, saying the “fabric feels cheap, and it’s prone to snagging.” When testers disagree that much, try it on first.
The bottom line
For most backpackers, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody is the one to beat: soft, UPF 50+ and a top pick in most of the tests above. If you want to try a sun hoodie without spending much, the Baleaf UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie does the basic job. Run hot? Look at the Marmot. Whichever you choose, keep sunscreen for your face and hands, and check the rules and conditions for wherever you’re headed.