Best New Sun Hoodies

Summer is Sun Hoodie time thanks to their full sun coverage which is a healthier alternative to sunscreen. Typically made with a moisture-wicking polypro or nylon fabric, sun hoodies are light, breath well and fast drying. The only issue with these synthetic fabrics is the speed at which they stink after only a few wears. Given you’re wearing the sun hoodie in the hot summer sun, sweating is inevitable and given the plastic-like nature of the fabrics, they trap bacteria and typically can’t be worn for more than one day before needing a wash. This is why I always source Merino or Merino blend fabrics for any sun hoodie I’d consider wearing. Last Summer I looked at the Ridge Merino Solstice Hoodie and the KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie—both made mainly from merino wool. You don’t want a 100% Merino wool sun hoody as the fabric would have to be so thick to work with that it would be too warm in the Summer heat and it would also be prohibitively expensive and also wear really fast. This is why a wool blend is ideal, you get the antimicrobial properties of wool and the structural integrity of a synthetic fabric.

This Summer I narrowed my search down to two of what I consider to be the best new sun hoodies on the market, the Outdoor Vitals Tern Sun Hoody and the Paka Sol Hoodie.

Outdoor Vitals Tern Sun Hoody
The Tern Ultralight Merino Wool Hoodie is engineered for optimal moisture-wicking, comfort, sun protection, and quick-drying performance while managing odour & bacteria buildup. Made with 115 GSM Nuyarn wool, this fabric consists of 63% merino wool, 29% polyester and 8% nylon. Nuyarn Merino Wool is the lightest and toughest Merino wool in the industry. It excels at thermoregulation and odour control which allows you to wear it in hot conditions for multiple days without washing it. Compared to traditional merino wool, Nuyarn wool dries five times faster and is eight times more durable all while being 85% more elastic which means a closer fit without becoming baggy over time. This merino blend fabric is designed to effectively draw moisture away from your body which means that you’ll stay drier and with the natural odour-resistant properties of merino wool you can wear it day after day without the need to wash in between. This makes the Tern ideal for travel, running, hiking, and everyday use in both bot weather as a single layer or in colder weather as a base layer. It has a 36+ UPF rating—meaning that it will block out 97% of harmful UV rays from the sun, so you get great sun protection from a truly ultralight layer, adding to its versatility.



Paka Sol Hoodie
The Sol Hoodie is Paka’s newest piece which is made from a combination of  16% Tencel, 14% Nylon, 14% Royal Apaca and 5%Spandex. This amazing fabric combines the best properties of each of these fabrics to create a light breathable layer that has natural anti-microbial properties while still being soft next to skin and durable over time. Tencel is a natural fibre that provides durability, breathability and softness, while nylon provides durability and excels at wicking away moisture. The Royal Alpaca is sustainable and traceable and is naturally anti-microbial so you can wear it for multiple days without worrying about stinking. All the alpaca fibre that Paka uses is fully traceable via a QR code included with each item. This QR code will show you exactly where the farm is that shorn the alpaca fibre. Royal Alpaca is also incredibly soft to the touch, breathable, and naturally temperature and moisture-regulating. A small amount of spandex is added to the fabric to provide stretch and a more athletic fit that will move with you and not droop over time. Paka has combined these natural and performance fibres to create a fabric that provides you with all the features and benefits you need for a warm weather layer. When the weather turns colder, however, you can wear the Paka Sol Hoodie as a base layer for snowshoeing, XC, resort and backcountry skiing as well.



Features:
Outdoor Vitals Tern Sun Hoody
True Flat-Lock Seams
Raglan Sleeves
Minimal Clean Collar Hood
Excellent Stretch
Moisture Wicking
Bacteria/Odor Resistant
Quick Drying
Athletic Fit for Baselayer or Stand-Alone Layer
Holds Shape (even when wet)
UPF Rating 36+
Farm to fabric RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) certified wool by NuYarn™
115 GSM Nuyarn wool
PFAS free

Paka Sol Hoodie
Cross-over hood for ultimate sun protection and hat compatibility
16% Tencel, 14% Nylon, 14% Traceable Royal Alpaca, 5% Spandex
39 UPF rating
181 gsm weight

Specs:
Outdoor Vitals Tern Sun Hoody
Price: $119CAN / $84.97US
Colours: Teal. Mahogany, Graphite, Blue, Rust, Grey
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL
Weight: 5.4oz (men’s L)

Paka Sol Hoodie
Price: $95CAN / $95US
Colours: Men’s Light Blue, Dark Okra; Women’s Light Blue, Rose
Sizes: Men’s S-XXL; Women’s XS-XXL