Nice Climbs Sun Hoody?

I've got two sizes of this sun hoody shipping to me. We will see what "tech jersey" means, good chance it'll be partially cotton. UPF 30+ so I'm hoping that means very breathable. That's plenty of sun protection for my uses. If it does turn out to be cotton I may still keep it. My years in the desert have steadily chipped away at the "cotton kills" mantra of the PacNW. I love cotton in hot weather nowadays. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XMJZQR8/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_LPVhFb8FMMPZW

I also have a Nice Climbs on the way. I'm going to head to REI to check the name brand stuff. The MHW Crater Lake looks like the best cut so far and it's very light so I may end up biting the bullet and buying that one. The Pats tropic comfort seems ideal but I can't find a deal on one and I'm not wearing seafoam green (I still have some dignity).  

Permasmell? I've been wearing synthetic materials for 25 years. I sweat more than most. Sure they smell after a couple days. Who cares on trail? You wash them and voila, the smell is gone. Unless you refuse to wash your layers, or leave them in the hamper for a month, or you naturally create ultranasty bacteria you should not be getting "permastink" - ya'll are gross! 

Anyone use the NWAlpine dyneema hoody? It looks pretty decent.

Cotton has a particularly low UPF rating - especially when wet (around 5), so isn't used much alone in sun shirts. Most sun shirts are made of polyester for that reason and sun shirts are a thing since cotton is so bad at protection from the sun. I would think that a polycotton blend would be labeled as such. 

Evan Erwin wrote: Anyone use the NWAlpine dyneema hoody? It looks pretty decent.

NW Alpine this thing? 

12oz is actually pretty heavy. I can't see it breathing like the Echo or Pulse, which weigh about half that. Sure it'll be more durable, but that's not what we're looking for in a pure sun hoody. If I'm climbing cracks, I won't wear my Pulse, b/c I know it would get beat up. I'm hoping the OR Astroman (arrives today!) is the "just-right" for a sun hoody that still breathes well and is durable. 

I just checked Rab's site and their Pulse line is 30+ UPF. When I bought mine last year they didn't have the rating anywhere. It seems to be the lightest, thinnest (pretty much same as OR Echo) and still have a usable UPF. The Echo at 15 isn't up for all-day wear, IMO. 

Matt N wrote:

NW Alpine this thing? 

12oz is actually pretty heavy. I can't see it breathing like the Echo or Pulse, which weigh about half that. Sure it'll be more durable, but that's not what we're looking for in a pure sun hoody. If I'm climbing cracks, I won't wear my Pulse, b/c I know it would get beat up. I'm hoping the OR Astroman (arrives today!) is the "just-right" for a sun hoody that still breathes well and is durable. 

I just checked Rab's site and their Pulse line is 30+ UPF. When I bought mine last year they didn't have the rating anywhere. It seems to be the lightest, thinnest (pretty much same as OR Echo) and still have a usable UPF. The Echo at 15 isn't up for all-day wear, IMO. 

I honestly didn't even look at the weight, although that's probably something critical that I should look at first lol. Good to know though, as I climb in the south and the summer here gets oppressively hot, I'm willing to sacrifice some upf for breathability. I figure too that applying sunscreen underneath a sun hoody will do the trick if its a slightly lower upf.

Long Ranger wrote:

Cotton has a particularly low UPF rating - especially when wet (around 5), so isn't used much alone in sun shirts. Most sun shirts are made of polyester for that reason and sun shirts are a thing since cotton is so bad at protection from the sun. I would think that a polycotton blend would be labeled as such. 

Someone tell the middle east. I'm sure this is true for tight fitting cotton in a LAB test. There s a million farmer tans and entire swaths of the globe that would like you to look up from the book and do a quick reality check. 

Scott D wrote:

Someone tell the middle east. I'm sure this is true for tight fitting cotton in a LAB test. There s a million farmer tans and entire swaths of the globe that would like you to look up from the book and do a quick reality check. 

This is partly true. The industrialized cotton fabric we use in the west for say, a t-shirt is very different from what we used even ourselves decades ago, where the knit used to be tighter and the fabric heavier. But if you would like climb a massive offwidth in the middle of the day in the middle of the summer looking like Lawrence of the Arabia, I approve - just take some photos.

I would also assume that instead of only cotton, linen (not so good UPF) and wool (better) would also be utilized the world over.  When looking at UPF protection over weight, it's hard to beat polyester.

Matt N wrote:

The Echo at 15 isn't up for all-day wear, IMO. 

For what it's worth, a partner and I wore Echos in Peru last season and didn't get burned through them, and another partner has worn one on PNW glaciers and not had issues.  I'm sure experience can and will vary, but seemed worth mentioning that it seems to work in my limited sample size.

Kyle Tarry wrote:

For what it's worth, a partner and I wore Echos in Peru last season and didn't get burned through them, and another partner has worn one on PNW glaciers and not had issues.  I'm sure experience can and will vary, but seemed worth mentioning that it seems to work in my limited sample size.

Right. A UPF 15 blocks 93% of UVA and UVB. UPF 30 is 97%  +/-

15 is doing a great job compared to none - but like with SPF, I'd prefer 30+ b/c of family history with skin cancer. It can be cumulative, and despite "not burning", the UV dosage can add up. We also wear the lame trekking gloves when using poles backpacking or when paddle-boarding --- I've found my wife and don't need to worry about looking dorky anymore  =)

We're amazed at the younger climbers we'll see wearing tank tops and shorts in full sun on hours long multi-pitch routes (and without enough sunblock), while we're in pants and long sleeves (and likely not much warmer with today's tech fabrics).

Long Ranger wrote:

When looking at UPF protection over weight, it's hard to beat polyester.

No argument there. I'm a firm believer in and avid user of synthetic fabrics. Honestly, a long sleeve cotton tee would be fine for climbing for climbing a hot and sunny offwidth. Offwidths aren't a PITA because of what I'm wearing, poor technique and fitness are bigger concerns hahaha. I've dug ditches in 90 degree sun under for full days in a white long sleeve cotton T. In that setting I would say cotton is actually superior to synthetics. 

Synthetics have a massive weight advantage. They dry much faster. I'm always going to want those qualities the further into the backcountry I'm going. If carry weight is a concern (100% of longer trips), there is any chance of precipitation, and especially when there is going to be a big day/night temp differential then I'm going to opt for synthetics every time. 

If I'm in a setting where I can easily change my clothes then slightly loose cotton is a superior cooling fabric. The water retention provides a more substantial heat sync that works brilliantly if there is any type of breeze. If I'm on a short day hike I will often opt for a thin cotton t-shirt over a synthetic. It's more comfortable, looks better, smells better, and I get the bonus cooling. Cotton is fine for a quick there and back or if I've got plenty of time to chill and dry at the destination. Putting on a clean cotton shirt at camp at night (or at least in the car when you finish) can be a real treat on multiday adventures so even on longer trips a shirt may sneak into my pack. 

 

It's all about using the right tool for the right situation. Cotton has its place. In the hot parts of the world I have traveled to locals often utilize cotton. Sometimes that is for lack of other options, but as often it's because cotton performs brilliantly when used wisely. 

Being genetically engineered to thrive in northern bogs produced by melting continental glacier runoff in a constant hail storm (White AF), I pick the best UPF rating I can get. :)  My Father unfortunately passed away from skin cancer, although he wasn't blessed with my superior genes - those must have come from my Irish Grandfather. Sun protection is certainly a topic that I've tried to research quite a bit on. That and the reports that sunscreen chemicals leech into the environment, as well as pool within the body at high concentrations makes me cover up more now, than ever before. 

Danny Parker wrote: Sun hoody nerd here...

Great summary. For the hottest and somewhat humid weather weather — summer in Florida or Texas — which would be your top choice (not for climbing or trail, just best in dealing with extreme heat)?

I’d love one that isn’t super wicking, to get a good bit of evaporative cooling. That’s what bamboo/ tencel/ lyocell gets you, but you need the right weave and the Free Fly seems like it might be too clingy and have too much Bamboo, at 70%. (I wear sun shirts for running and tennis in 90+°, so getting very very sweaty is the norm)

I really want to try something with Polartec Delta fabric. It is (was?) a 30/70 Tencel/poly blend with a textured weave to allow air flow and reduce clinging, but it looks like no one is making anything with it just a few years after it was released.

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/blog/article/running-hot-cool-your-jets-with-polartec-delta

Got the OR Astroman hoody last night. 

Fit is looser vs the Rab Pulse, Borealis, and OR Echo. "Flow-y"  Size L, 5'11" 165-170. Hood will wear over a helmet better than the other shirts, though. 

It is like I was expecting - something lighter in weight and more breathable than my Boreas/Borealis shirts that are my favorite climbing shirts for 95% of the time, and a material that feels less prone to snagging and should wear better than the lightest Pulse/Echo shirts. 

I happened to be doing laundry and had the shirts out, so I did a quick weight comparison (men's L):

Pulse/Echo: 4.3oz

Astroman: 6.4oz

Borealis: 9.8oz

I find the Borealis to be a tighter weave than Rab's previous Boreas/Ventus line, which blocks more wind, but does not breathe as well. I prefer the older Rabs and think they are awesome all-around climbing layers for the majority of weather conditions (good rock climbing weather).

I received my Nice Climbs hoody today. 

Size M 224g / 7.9oz (actually weighed on my scale)

100% polyester 

$24

Color was kind of a silver. The fabric has the typical sheen that makes it immediately recognizable as synthetic. There is no stretch and the sleeves are a little too short for the thumb loops to be of much use with your arms raised. My chest hair made for a weird bumpy look on my chest (see last picture) that my GF hated immediately. I sent it back.

I also ordered two of these. 

Men's Lightweight Pullover Hoodie - Hooded Long Sleeve Workout Shirts Dry Fit   $17

I'm 6' 170 lbs and wear a size medium shirt in almost all brands. I love the heather pattern as it camouflages blemishes / dirt. The stretch is really nice. The fabric is not as thin or light as the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody or Tropic Comfort II, but it's still nice and lightweight. No thumb loops. The fabric is very stretchy and comfortable. It's 90% polyester and should provide UPF 50 but it is advertised at 30 UPF. The hood fits over a helmet or loosely on your head, it's big enough to do pretty well in the wind. This hoody has has a nice matte finish that doesn't have the sheen that plagues many synthetic fabrics. Because of the spandex this shirt will take ~10% longer to dry than something made of 100% polyester, that's a small price to pay for the added comfort of the stretch. 

The description says "Tech Jersey". The actual hoody says 90% Polyester 10% Spandex

Blue Heather Size Small 232g / 8.2oz (measured)

Purple Heather Size Medium 265g / 9.3oz (measured)

The medium will be more effective as a sun shirt because of the looser fit and lighter color (the purple is heathered with white thread, the blue is heathered with black thread). I'm keeping both. The blue will function as a traditional base layer in cooler weather and the purple will be my "beater" sun shirt that goes on all single day adventures and can get ruined. I'm pretty sure that this hoody is the exact same thing with thumb holes for $22, unfortunately size medium is not currently available.

To complete my sun hoody binge I also purchased an Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody. 

The fabric is crazy light and stretchy. It's almost like wearing nothing at all. It's definitely more delicate than any of the other hoodies I recieved. The hood fits like a dream. Thumbholes are perfect. It has a matte finish and isn't shiny like most synthetics. I love it. It will be my go to anytime weight is a concern. 

Size M 168g / 5.9oz (measured) $42

I would've gone for a L at your height - all these look a little snug.