Gear Review: Patagonia Lightweight Sun Hoody
This polyester jersey is loose and meshy while still being a great sun barrier.
Verdict
Mountaineering isn’t just about avoiding frostbite long enough to summit. All that snow also acts as a mirror, blasting you with a double dose of face-baking UV rays. I’ve had the burns to prove it. Sunscreen? Sweats
off. Long sleeves? Too hot. Just right: This UPF 30 hoody. The polyester jersey is loose and meshy, enhancing breathability and comfort range. Even on 80°F days at Rainier’s Camp Muir, it was pleasantly cool with sleeves down and hood up. Bonus: repels odor. Bummer: too airy for deep winter. patagonia.com
Best For
Mountaineers, canoe campers, desert rats, and beach bums
Tester Data
> Shannon Davis
> Duration Aug. to May
> Locales/conditions WA, CO, Iceland; sunny and snowy; 40°F to 80°F
> “A sun-protection shirt that works—and doesn’t make you look like you’re at a birding convention.”