Other Shirts For Fun in the Sun

Best Sun Shirts Comparison Table

How We Tested the Best Sun Shirts

Our Expert Testers

This list of sun shirt recommendations didn’t come easy. The best sun shirts crush it during active pursuits and take what you dish out with ease. For the first version of this guide, editor Austin Beck-Doss gathered dozens of sun shirts from the leading brands and some smaller upstarts and headed to the crag, the trail, and everywhere in between. 

In 2024, Rob Simpson and Ryan Kempfer took over this guide. As a college student in Southern California, Rob got his first outdoor job as a camp counselor and backpacking guide just outside Yosemite National Park. Off and on for the next 25+ years, Rob led backpacking, rock climbing, and winter camping trips all over the Sierra Nevada range.

Now Rob lives in Salida, Colo., where he loves hiking countless 14ers and exploring all the Continental Divide and the Rockies have to offer. He’s currently on a 9-month journey exploring Baja and Europe, where he’s putting a ton of gear to the test. Ryan is an avid outdoorsman who loves skiing and hiking and combining both for backcountry pursuits. He lives and works as a guide in the Tetons, where he puts gear through the wringer on a daily basis, both for fun and work.

Our Testing Grounds & Process

Our meticulous testing is based on our experience wearing the product. We pay attention to the general attributes but also hone in on the meticulous details that can make an article of clothing stand out. We looked for the combination of quality and function, hoping we’d experience the sensation unique to sun hoodies: you forget you even have it on.

We paid particular attention to breathability, durability, and overall comfort. We wore these shirts in the environments and conditions they were designed for. In the peak of summer, with temperatures pushing triple digits, we hiked, fished, climbed, hunted, and biked in all kinds of sunshirts.

All of the sun shirts on this list received high marks in their namesake department. An optimal sun shirt provides ample coverage of the arms, neck, and head. We tested the protective ability of hoods with and without helmets. We sought hems and sleeves that are long enough to do their job even during active use.

We primarily wore sun shirts as base layers, in direct contact with the skin. This allowed us to gauge both the comfort and breathability of the material. To evaluate durability and anti-odor properties, we made sure to wear each shirt multiple times while recreating in rugged terrain. We took these on spring backcountry ski tours in Colorado and Wyoming. We fished the Arkansas River and went paddleboarding in Baja. We hiked, biked, and ran year-round in all of these locales to truly test the efficacy of these sun shirts.

To gather accurate specs, we weighed each shirt on our own scale when possible and communicated directly with brands regarding UPF rating, materials, and anti-odor treatments. After hundreds of hours of testing, we’re confident this list represents the best of the best.

Our Sun Shirt Rating System

We scored each sun shirt in four categories on a 1–10 scale. Comfort/Fit considers fabric feel, cut, stretch, and how easily it moves with you. Sun Protection measures coverage, UPF rating, and how well the shirt shields against direct rays. Breathability looks at how effectively it manages heat and moisture during activity. Versatility/Features reflects design extras and adaptability, including hood performance, pocket placement, style crossover, and how well the shirt transitions between activities and conditions.

Note: The overall score is our complete impression after extensive wear and testing, not an average of the category scores.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Sun Shirt

Every shirt on this list offers sun protection, but each has a unique set of features, pros, and cons. Sun shirts come in a variety of materials and styles. Some excel at certain activities, such as climbing or hunting, while others are designed to do-it-all.

The popularity of sunshirts has recently ballooned, and there are more options to choose from than ever before. To help inform your decision, this buyer’s guide includes every relevant topic under the sun. If you’ve found yourself here in search of shirts designed for specific activities, we’ve got guides to the best running shirts, recommendations for fishing, and even flannel shirts.

Types of Sun Shirts: Button-Up vs. Hooded Pullover

There are multiple kinds of sun shirts on the market, but the baggy button-up and hooded pullover are the most popular by far.

Hooded Pullover

Climbers, trail runners, and mountain bikers generally prefer hooded pullover sun shirts typically made from 70-80% polyester and 10-20% elastane or spandex.

Not all sun shirt hoods are created equal, but the best ones fit comfortably and won’t blow off in the wind. Hoods offer immense sun protection benefits. We like hoods that cover the neck, ears, and forehead. If your activity of choice requires a helmet, choose a hooded polyester sun shirt. Well-designed hoods stretch easily over climbing and cycling helmets and stay put during active use.

Other key features of many hooded pullover sun shirts are thumb loops (which are great for back-of-the-hand sun protection), and high-cut collars that protect the chest and neck. Some of our favorites on this list, include the KUIU Gila Pro LS and the REI Sahara Shade.

The downside of a hooded sun shirt is the same as any pullover — they’re a bit of a pain to put on and take off. Plus, while many hooded sun shirts are light and breathable, most of them do not come with vents. A few exceptions include quarter-zip hooded pullovers with mesh side panels like the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro and the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie.

Still, for the most part, sun shirts in this style are usually ventless. One final downside of hooded pullover sun shirts — they get stinky. Elastane and spandex, in particular, develop unpleasant odors more quickly than natural fibers like merino wool.

Pro tip: if you want a hooded sun shirt without the stink, buy something made from natural fibers and minimal elastane. Solid choices include the Free Fly Lightweight Hoodie, partly made from bamboo-derived fibers, and the Ridge Merino Solstice made mostly from merino wool.

Baggy Button-Up

For activities like fishing, hunting, and bird watching, choose a baggy button-up sun shirt. Button-up sun shirts typically come with a collar instead of a hood, which means you’ll need to also wear a protective sun hat if you want to protect your face, neck, and ears. Some models of button-ups, like our overall best pick, the Anetik Ultraguide come with a hood, giving you the best of both worlds.

Unlike the active-wear appearance of hooded pullover sun shirts, button-ups have a more traditional look. Most button-up sun shirts look perfectly at home at the bar or a backyard barbeque. Plus, they’re easy to put on and take off.

Anglers, in particular, tend to prefer button-up sun shirts for a few reasons, First, button-ups often come with pockets — a handy place to keep bits of spare tackle such as lures and tip-its. Also, many button-up sun shirts have vented panels, which increase airflow and breathability in warm conditions.

On this list, the KUIU Mesa and the Mountain Hardwear Canyon are our favorite button-up sun shirts.

UPF Rating Explained

Ultraviolet Protection Factor, or UPF, is the rating system that gauges a fabric’s effectiveness at filtering ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. For example, a fabric rated to UPF 30 allows roughly 3% or 1/30th of available UV to pass through it.

UPF ratings always fall between 15 and 50+. Garments below UPF 15 do not meet sun protection standards. Any fabric that allows less than 2% of UV to pass through rates UPF 50+.

Multiple factors can affect a fabric’s UPF rating. Darker colors tend to filter out more UV than lighter colors. Thicker fabric usually offers more protection than thinner fabric. A tighter weave may have reduced UV transmission compared to a loose and porous weave.

Brands work to solve the complicated problem of creating a light, breathable, and highly protective sun shirt. The recommended products on this list possess a fine balance of breathability, comfort, and performance, with impressive UPF ratings.

Brands conduct UPF tests on their own products. Just last year, Patagonia issued a voluntary recall on a series of sun shirts that failed to live up to their advertised UPF rating after independent testing.

In any case, reputable brands make all of the sun shirts on our list. As a general rule, we recommend purchasing a sun shirt with a UPF rating of at least 30 — especially if you have a fair complexion or recreate at high elevations.

Materials

Polyester is the most common base material for sun shirts for various reasons. Polyester offers far more protection than bleached cotton, which has a natural UPF rating of around 5. Plus, it dries much faster.

In recent years, many brands have incorporated 10-20% elastane or spandex into their sun shirt’s polyester weave. Integrating stretchy material is great for airflow and mobility but has some downsides. First, elastane can lose its springy quality over time. A shirt with lots of elastane or spandex probably won’t retain its original shape and fit in the long term.

Also, synthetic fibers like elastane develop odors faster than natural fibers like cotton or wool. Sun shirts are known for their gnarly stench, which can develop after a single day of sweaty outdoor recreation. Anecdotally, we noticed that shirts with a high elastane count did, in fact, seem to smell pretty bad after a workout.

Our research and testing found that most hooded pullover sun shirts are made from 80-90% polyester and 10-20% elastane or spandex. The NRS Silkweight Hoodie is an exceptionally soft version of this combination, winning it our most comfortable award. Of course, there are some exceptions to this. The Free Fly Lightweight Hoodie is made from 70% bamboo viscose, and the Ridge Merino Solstice is made from merino wool.

Button-up collared sun shirts tend to be made without spandex or elastane, so they aren’t as stretchy.

Breathability

Designed to protect against sunshine, sun shirts naturally need to be comfortable in warm conditions. A fabric’s breathability is defined by its ability to let air pass through. Breathability decreases drying time and also helps to minimize odor.

On this list, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake is the perfect choice for those looking for a sun shirt for active use in warm weather. It is important to note that increased breathability can sometimes lead to a decreased UPF rating like we see in the Anetik Ultraguide, which is extremely breathable and has a soft touch feel to its fabric. A looser weave that allows airflow will let more UV reach the sun underneath.

All of the sun shirts selected for this list are relatively breathable. Sun protection is essential even in cooler conditions, but naturally, a hot summer day calls for breathable clothing.

Odor Resistance

Sun shirts are known for being a bit stinky. There are a few reasons for this. First, sun shirts tend to be worn for active use in warm conditions. Strenuous activity plus heat equals sweat, and sweat leads to odor.

Secondly, sun shirts are usually made from synthetic materials like polyester and elastane. Synthetic fibers are made from petroleum products — polyester threads are essentially thin ropes of plastic. Unlike natural materials like cotton and wool, synthetics don’t absorb sweat.

Instead, the sweat combines with bacteria from your skin and becomes trapped in between the fibers. Elastane fibers in particular are highly effective at trapping bacteria. Over time, the bacteria builds up — and so does the odor.

If you’re looking for a sun shirt that won’t ever smell, your search may continue forever. Luckily, some sun shirts are more odor-resistant than others. If you want to minimize the stink, we recommend following these three tips:

• First, don’t buy a sun shirt with a high elastane/spandex count. Most sun shirts are made from 10-20% elastane/spandex.
• Second, look for a sun shirt made from natural fibers. Bamboo is an increasingly popular alternative to polyester that may be less prone to unwanted odor.
• Third, purchase a sun shirt that has an odor-resistant treatment.

On this list, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody and the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro are noticeably impressive in the odor-resistance category. They’re treated with Black Diamond’s HeiQ Pure Odor Control Treatment.

Hood

If maximum UV protection is your goal, you’re going to want a sun shirt with a well-fitted hood. The benefits of a hood are obvious: neck, face, and ear protection. However, not all hoods offer the same utility and value. For the most part, pullover sun shirts have hoods, and button-up sun shirts do not.

A hood that won’t stay on during active use is almost worse than no hood at all. During our testing, we wore sun shirts while hiking, climbing, and biking in windy conditions. The best hoods stayed on against the odds.

If your activity of choice requires a helmet, you’ll need a stretchy hood that can fit over it. One of our favorite hooded sun shirts is the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Hoody. The hood is well-fitted, helmet-compatible, and highly protective. We wore this sun shirt over a helmet for many months, and the material maintained its fit and elasticity.

Thumb Loops

The fingers and hands see a lot of sun exposure, making them susceptible to skin cancer. A sun shirt with well-placed thumb loops can help protect these vulnerable areas from excessive UV.

Most sun shirts with thumb loops are hooded pullovers like the NRS Silkweight Hoodie. In most cases, a thumb loop is a small opening that fits over the thumb and keeps the wrist and back of the hand covered by the sleeve.

Though most pullover sun shirts on this list come with thumb loops, surprisingly, a few styles do not.

We love the thumb loops on the REI Sahara Shade. They’re positioned comfortably, and keep the entire hand’s back protected.

Fit

The way a sun shirt fits will define its performance. As a general rule of thumb, sun shirts should have a semi-loose fit. We particularly appreciate the fit of the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody; it’s just right, not too loose and not too tight.

A loose-fitting sun shirt breathes better, and it’s less likely to limit your range of motion. However, if you usually wear a snug size medium at the office or out at the bar, we recommend sizing up to a large size when you purchase a sun shirt. One more reason to size up: for your sun shirt’s thumb loops to properly protect your hands, it needs to have full-length sleeves.

Price & Value

Budget

You can find a quality budget sun shirt for under $70. Many of our award winners, including the REI Sahara Shade Hoodie, Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie, and the Patagonia Capilene Cool Hoody, are reasonably priced. They’re durable, comfortable, lightweight, and have one or two additional features that make them stand out.

Mid-Tier

Sun shirts in this category run from $70 to $100. These will often be a little higher performance than those in the budget category and may have wicking abilities or odor control treatments, or may have greater UPF ratings. For example, the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie ($99) is a technical performance piece that is extremely stretchy and moves with you. Our most comfortable pick, the NRS Silkweight Hoodie ($75) is so soft and performs well in a variety of conditions.

Premium

Sun shirts with added versatility, storage, and durability will cost over $100. Our top overall pick, the ultra-versatile Anetik Ultraguide Hooded L/S ($120), can do it all and with style. It has five pockets and can seamlessly move from a hike to a fishing expedition to town.

Others in this category are technical pieces with unique features like large mesh underarm side vents found in the Black Diamond AlpenGlow Pro ($140), a high-performing sun shirt that’s ideal for climbing and high-output activities.

Frequently Asked Questions