13 Best Hooded Sun Protection Shirts

Despite our love for the sun and our appreciation for the Vitamin D that it provides us with, we all know that too much exposure to the sun can cause serious damage to our skin. Hooded sun protection shirts can offer acceptable coverage to protect our skin and let us enjoy our outings on sunny days. These shirts are usually lightweight, breathable, and made with proper UPF ratings to guarantee this protection. There are different features and criteria for choosing the right shirt if you’re a morning person who always goes out when the sun is still glowing. We summed up those features and picked a lot of shirts to test for these features. Finally, we prepared a list of the 13 best products we found online to limit your choices and help you decide what suits you the most.

Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody

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Sun shirts are useful for runners, hikers, climbers, and all sorts of outdoor activities. While there are a lot of sun shirts available everywhere, not all of them have these thoughtful details as Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoody. Think of the tight hood that fits under running sun hats. Also, the cooling effect in the fabrics not only blocks sun rays but also cools down your body after an intensive workout.

All of these features urged us to give this shirt a try and see how it comes. While it’s made from 100% polyester, similar to most sun shirts, we felt some stretch in the fabrics here for uncontrolled movements. Further, we knew that the shirt has a Polygiene odor control feature, which prevents the accumulation of moisture, and by extension, we didn’t smell any sweat or nasty odors. No one is better than the brand itself to talk about the hoodie and show you all the features of the shirt, so watch this YouTube video from Black Diamond Equipment.

Outdoor Research Men’s ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie

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If you’re looking for a sun shirt that doubles as a nice cooling shirt for running, Outdoor Research Men’s ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie is a top recommended option. This shirt will be our go-to shirt whenever we think of outdoor running or outdoor activities in general. When we wore the shirt, we were eager to know whether it was all polyester or has some other materials in the fabric, and as we expected, it was a polyester-spandex blend.
This composition offers moisture-wicking effects in addition to some stretchability. Also, breathability is guaranteed in this relaxed-fit shirt. This shirt is actually designed for activewear. We immediately noticed this from the fabrics, the side slits, and the thumb holes. All of these small features add to the comfort of the runner, offering unrestrictive movements as we have experienced while running with the shirt.

Voormi Men’s River Run Hoodie

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Voormi Men’s River Run Hoodie is a popular choice for those looking for a bit heavyweight hooded shirt. We believe this shirt will be a suitable option for fall and those in-between seasons when it starts to get a bit chilly. The fabric is a blend of wool and polyester, but we didn’t feel hot while trying this shirt. It was breathable, moisture-wicking, and very protective. On the other side, there are options for both men and women. Plus, there are different colors as well, and most of them are fall colors. As for the fit, the shirt fitted loose when we tried it on, and this was perfect because activewear has to be a bit loose. Overall, we found this shirt a comfy option for cooler weather with all the protection features we needed.

Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie

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This might be your first time hearing about Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie, but we would like to introduce this amazing shirt for some reason. It’s a double-shelled shirt offering maximum sun protection. One of the two shells is 100% polyester, while the other one has some spandex in the fabric for a bit of stretch. This composition provides UPF 50 rating and a neat look while wearing the shirt. In fact, we wore this shirt on different occasions rather than active wear. It looked so elegant, so we thought it would be a good outfit for some of our outings. Another thing we noticed about this shirt is the odor-control feature, usually found in most sun shirts. However, for this one, it was superior. We didn’t smell any scent, although we had been wearing the shirt for a whole day.

Free Fly Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie

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Opposite to the previous two options, Free Fly Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie is a very soft and lightweight sun shirt for the hottest days. It’s a bamboo shirt which is a material similar to cotton garments but of the finest structure. While bamboo won’t dry out as quickly as polyester, it’s breathable and doesn’t cause foul odors. Plus, the shirt also has some viscose in the fabrics for the sun protection feature. We wanted to try new colors since we were looking for functional but different shirts. We found that this shirt is offered in untraditional colors, so this was another pick-up point. Finally, we noticed that the seller recommends sizing up because cotton materials usually shrink after washing. We did so, and the size fitted well after the first wash, so don’t forget this important point.

Outdoor Research Men’s Echo Hoodie

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As you might know, one of the most popular options for sun shirts is Outdoor Research shirts. Outdoor Research Men’s Echo Hoodie is our choice this time, and it also turned out to be one of our favorites. Generally, this brand has a lot of options that are all characterized by the sun protection features they have. However, we were a bit disappointed when we found this shirt with UPF 15 rating. So, putting it to the test, we found the following.
The shirt could protect us from harmful sun rays; the fabrics were lightweight but still protective. We can find other options in the market with higher protection features, but this one was more comfortable. The material is also so breathable and offers a nice cooling effect. Hence, we loved this shirt a lot for hot sunny days. The colors are also bright to suit the summer season. You can know more about this shirt from this comprehensive Sage to Summit review.

Mountain Hardwear Men’s Crater Lake Hoody

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Most stretchable. Nothing beats a comfortable hooded sun protection shirt, and Mountain Hardwear Men’s Crater Lake Hoody takes it up to a whole new level. This shirt has a combination of features we were eager to have in one shirt. On top of all was the stretchability we felt before even wearing the shirt. We knew that it would be a perfect choice for all our next adventures we plan to do under the direct sun. Yet, another best thing we loved about the shirt was the very soft material. It touches buttery soft and feels relaxing on the skin. We think it’s a good option for people with sensitive skin. But we also needed performance, and this shirt is, again, a top pick regarding performance. The material dries out quickly, and even more if it’s windy; this shirt will also act as a windbreaker.

Outdoor Research Men’s Astroman Sun Hoodie

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Another Outdoor Research sun hoodie to show you today with some differences that are worth trying. Outdoor Research Men’s Astroman Sun Hoodie sticks to the same breathable, ultra-lightweight fabric. It’s one of the comfiest shirts we have ever owned, and one of the best-looking ones as well. This shirt differs from the others in the 1/4 zipper design that allows for controlling how much air you want to feel on your body. Also, the elastic cuffs are something we didn’t usually find in other sun shirts, but it wasn’t annoying at all. Another difference was the front pocket which holds our mobile perfectly, and we think it’s enough for a sun shirt. Since it’s all about differences, take a look at the tropical-naval blue colored shirt.

TBMPOY Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt

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Best value for money. Now, let’s go to some fashionable options without missing the main feature we’re after, sun protection. TBMPOY Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt sticks to a standard-styled shirt for women with a hood, thumb holes, and a relaxed fit. It just misses the pockets, but it’s still a practical option to go for. We picked a bright color for our test as we know those act better against harmful sun rays. The seller says it offers UPF 50 sun protection, and it’s most probably true because the sun didn’t annoy us at all.

Let’s get back to the colors and style. This shirt satisfied our need of having a colorful shirt that fits perfectly and could be easily paired with sporty spring leggings to look cool. The last thing we have to mention here is the price. This shirt is one of the cheapest you’ll find of all, offering most of the features you need at a competitive price.

MAGCOMSEN Men’s Sun Protection T-Shirt

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Best colors. We found a sun shirt with lots of color options and color block options as well to satisfy all tastes. MAGCOMSEN Men’s Sun Protection T-Shirt is the shirt we would pick if we want to block the sun rays from reaching our skin, but we don’t want to dress sportive. This shirt can be styled easily with a pair of jeans, especially the color block options.
We found all the features we were looking for in this shirt. In addition, we didn’t pay that much considering all these features. Starting with the UPF rating, then the breathable material, and finally, the quick-dry material. This shirt checked all the boxes that we’re actually thinking of buying more than one color to keep for different uses.

“We couldn’t really resist the price for the offered quality. We got the mint green shirt, it breathes well and feels very soft and lightweight. The best purchase in a while.”

WOW Travel

Roadbox Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt

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The Roadbox Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt was one of the options we found for tight budgets without losing quality. This shirt is designed for fishing activities, which indicates how it performs under the sun. It offers the highest UPF rating you can find in sun shirts, more than UPF 50 rating. Also, the hood offers extra protection, whereas the long sleeves add to this full coverage. The shirt isn’t exclusive for fishing, we used it for hiking, and it performed in the best way ever. With the adjustable hood, we could tighten it so as not to let it fall off our heads while hiking or running. Overall, it’s a well-ventilated shirt with a comfy relaxed fit and flat seams for extra comfort. We think it’s a good bargain to consider at its price point.

Columbia Men’s Terminal Tackle Hoodie

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Best quality. Columbia Men’s Terminal Tackle Hoodie is your best choice if you’re looking for quality at the best price. We have tried so many high-quality options, but this one was the best overall. Before we tell you about our opinion, it’s good to know that there are men’s and women’s options for the same shirt. First of all, this was one of the most popular options we could ever find. We didn’t have any complaints about sun protection or the amount of coverage we got from this shirt.

As expected from the photos of the product, the shirt fits very large. It’s designed to be a relaxed-fit shirt but a bit larger, so we recommend sizing down if you want a tight-fit style. For sun shirts, it’s also important to look for moisture-wicking features. This Columbia shirt has a pioneering Omni-Wick feature that wicks away any moisture and speeds up the evaporation of sweat and water. We would also recommend this Elyse Stark review to learn more about this shirt.

BALEAF Men’s Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt

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When it comes to the best shirt on this list, it’s BALEAF Men’s Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt. This awesome Baleaf garment has all it takes for a comfortable value-for-money shirt. It came on top of our list because we found all the criteria we were looking for in this shirt. The material is thin and breathable enough for sunny days, whereas the UPF rating reaches 50. Furthermore, there are two thumbholes to provide more coverage in addition to the hood. We also loved the offered colors, including orange, yellow, and similar colors for the summer. Those bright colors will provide more sun reflection, so sun protection was the best thing we felt while wearing this shirt. Above all, the price is really unbeatable.

Our Verdict!

Based on our research and test, we found that some shirts are better than others in some features. So, this list sums up the four best options based on the most identifiable criteria.

• Most stretchable: Mountain Hardwear Men’s Crater Lake Hoody
• Best value for money: TBMPOY Sun Protection Hoodie Shirt
• Best colors: MAGCOMSEN Men’s Sun Protection T-Shirt
• Best quality: Columbia Men’s Terminal Tackle Hoodie

How To Choose The Best Hooded Sun Protection Shirts?

What is the most important thing to you in a sun shirt? There are a couple of features we could mention here. Hence, here are the three most important features we based our research on.

UPF rating

We know you have already expected this, as it makes sense that the most important thing in a sun shirt is the UPF (Ultra Violet Protection Factor) rating which says how this shirt will act against the harmful sun rays—no need to say that the better, the best. However, you don’t need more than a UPF 50 shirt for hikes or sunbathing. An acceptable UPF rating for the weather in the USA ranges from UPF 30 to UPF 50.

Weight

The second thing we thought of was the weight of the shirt. Usually, go for lightweight shirts or hoodies, as they’re more bearable on sunny days. Lightweight shirts aren’t necessarily lower quality than heavyweight ones. Plenty of shirts are so light to suit the weather and very good quality as well. Further, lightweight shirts are easier to pack when it comes to traveling.

Fabrics

The shirt’s material makes a great difference in breathability and moisture-wicking. We always go for breathable fabrics with mesh ventilation for the utmost breathability. Also, we insist on moisture-wicking fabrics that dry out quickly and don’t produce any odors, especially if you’re going hiking or doing a lot of activities under the sun.

How are sun shirts different from other shirts?

Sun shirts are made of special fabrics that don’t allow UV rays to pass and reach your skin. On the other side, traditional shirts aren’t tightly woven in the same way, so UV rays can reach your body.

Does the color of the sun shirt make a difference?

Generally, bright colors are better than dark colors. This is because bright colors reflect the sun’s rays, whereas dark colors absorb them.

Where should I wear sun shirts?

You should wear them whenever it’s sunny. There are special sun shirts for running, outdoor activities, hiking, and lounging on the beach.