Because it dries quickly, it’s also great for swimming. They have replaced traditional rash guards for many people. I wear mine to the beach and pool. When I go on vacation, I carry three or four sunnies and often end up doing laundry in town when I don’t have sunscreen that isn’t salty from the sweat and/or waves in Maine.
On a hot, sunny day, they are also often cooler than bare skin. Yes, long-sleeve sun hats tie you in, but because the fabric is so light and breathable—and I only wear mine sparingly—they block out the sun and shed heat so well that I find them more comfortable than any other clothing or no clothing at all.
What to Wear
Here are four favorites from my sun hoodie collection—I have a few more that I wouldn’t recommend or that are now out of season and out of production.
Heavy Cycle: The sun hat I wear the most is EMS Sunguard Overhead Hoodie. It’s super soft and comfortable with a generous cut that wicks away sweat. I wear it at the city pool, and after a few minutes of sitting on a lounge chair, it’s dry enough to wear to the grocery store without dripping everywhere.
Heavy Duty: One of the heaviest sun hats I own, and the one I would wear on a mountain, it is The North Face Summit Series Direct Solar Hoodie. This is a slightly thicker hat, although still light and very breathable. Because it has a zipper, you can also get more ventilation if you need it, so weight is never an issue. When buttoned up, the shirt also has a collar to protect your neck and jaw from the wind or sun. There is a proprietary finish applied to the fabric of the garment rated by The North Face SPF, which varies by garment.
More Wise: “Day to night” dresses that transition seamlessly from the office to a casual dinner and a night out are a staple in women’s fashion. But sometimes you really want something that can pull double duty. When I’m wearing a sun hat in a bar or restaurant, I reach out Blackstrap Brackish Sun Hoodiewhich looks more like a regular shirt than any other arrow in my quiver. I have it in shark tooth, a red and black pattern that looks like something I would wear even if I wasn’t trying to keep the sun off my back. I also really like that it’s safe to wipe the lenses—I’ve had so many pairs of glasses and I’m very careful about what I wipe them with.
Absolutely original: I tried the previous version of Fly Bamboo Lightweight Performance Hoodie and true like that. Bamboo is supersoft and naturally odor resistant, although less so than cotton. This hoodie wears a little on the warm side and only offers SPF 20 protection, but it dries quickly, and the loose fit is excellent.
