Sun shirts for runners reviewed by our team over the years that we think hit the mark. Providing UPF protection without overheating, which can be a tall order at 9,000 feet where the sun is ultra intense!
In case you’re totally new to the idea of sun shirts, let’s do a quick primer on why you might want MORE clothing instead of less for your sunny day adventures.
What is UPF in Clothing
We’ve all heard of SPF, which is the protection rating scale used for sunscreen. UPF is similar, and stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It’s a rating scale used for determining how well your shirt is able to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
The assigned number represents what percentage of the sun’s rays are able to penetrate the fabric to reach your skin. So, a UPF rating of 50 means that 50% of the UV rays are blocked.
Why it’s Better Than Just Using Sunscreen
Unlike cotton, these tightly woven shirts provide better UV protection even before the UPF treatment. That is then layered with an additional UPF coating, which will vary by the brand and we’ve noted specifically below some of our top picks use environmentally friendly coating.
Unlike sunscreen that you need to reapply for a long day on the trails or enjoying summer activities, UPF is going to protect you continuously.
It is important to know the protective layer can fade over time with multiple washes. Some brands say roughly 30-40 washes. You absolutely want to wash this gear in cold water AND DO NOT put it in the dryer. This is going to ensure it lasts a great deal longer.
Sun Shirts Are About More than Sunburns
Of course, protecting your body from harmful UV rays is important when it comes to protecting yourself from skin cancer, but as an athlete, there are other reasons to take care, too.
Getting a sunburn also:
lowers your body’s ability to cool itself
higher core temp means fatigue, impaired decision making
increases your likelihood of dehydration
causes your runs over the next couple of days to be more painful
Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are real concerns on hot summer days, so the better protected you are, the less likely you are to suffer.
Best UPF Running Shirts
There are a lot of options out there, and while you might think (like I once did) that short sleeves are always the better option in the heat, it’s time to think again.
These long-sleeved options are great for protecting your skin, and contain cooling technologies that make them excellent trail choices year round.
Lightweight Wool – IBEX Springbok Sun Hoodie
You might not think that wool would be a great choice in a summer hoodie, but it’s actually excellent for wicking sweat away from your skin. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling wet, and helps regulate your body temperature by releasing that moisture as vapor.
UPF of 35+
Sizes XS-XXL
Comes in Rouge, Dusty Blue, and Atlantic (W) and Shitake and Mauve Heather (M)
Men’s and Women’s Versions
Available at ibex.com for $145
The hoodie is made with Pro Tech Lite® fabric and is extremely light and breathable. The hood and thumbholes offer additional options for sun protection as well.
Bonus Cooling Feel – ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie
This hoodie is made with Outdoor Research’s ActiveIce™ tech, which means the fabric is treated with a thermoreactive formula that works with your body’s natural evaporation process.
It’s said to accelerate heat loss and deliver a targeted cooling effect on the parts of you that are heating up the fastest.
They are also made with certified bluesign tech, meaning they meet strict environmental, health, and safety standards throughout the production process.
Loved the feeling of the material on this as it was super lightweight and for me personally felt much cooler than some other long sleeve options.
UPF of 50+
Sizes XS-XXXXL
Comes in Stardust, Maldives Heather, Zest Heather, and Gray Heather (W)
Men’s and Women’s
Available at Outdoorresearch.com for $90
The thumbholes and hood provides extra protection, and the side slits at the hem add that little something extra for fit and performance.
No Stink Here – Freefly Men’s Elevate Hoodie
This hoodie is made from a lyocell blend. Lyocell is a type of rayon made from cellulose (often wood pulp) using a closed-loop process that recycles solvents used in production.
It’s soft, breathable, and wicks moisture similar to the way cotton does.
David has worn this on many Colorado summer days for hiking, outdoor events and every other sweaty thing. He loves that the sun doesn’t feel as intense and he’s equally as comfortable as he would be temperature wise in short sleeves.
The shirt is also made with driRelease® technology built into the yarn, meaning it doesn’t wash out over time. This method causes fibers to pull sweat through to the surface, and helps it try 4x faster than cotton.
UPF of 30+
Sizes S-XXL
Comes in Blue Fog, Rust, and Shale Green
Men’s and Women’s versions
Available at freeflyapparel.com for $88
Sustainable Casual – Pyrenees T19 Hoodie
The TENCEL blend keeps you cool and odor-free, along with being extremely environmentally friendly. Wait for it…it’s made from recycled eucalyptus wood pulp. Don’t ask us the science, we can’t tell you how, but can tell you it creates a really soft very lightweight material.
It dries quickly and wicks moisture, and is soft enough to help with any chafing concerns you might have. David once again to the rescue with testing because Sun shirts are becoming his specialty.
He really liked that it has casual look, with a loose, true-to-size fit. When it’s super hot, he’s not into anything feeling too tight and trapping heat. This one also has a watch hole on the sleeve which we always appreciate. And those fun athletic shorts…also from Path.
Bonus points for using non-toxic chemicals when coating the fabric to provide that UPF rating!
UPF of 50+
Sizes XS-XXL
Comes in 8 different colors
Unisex
Available at pathprojects.com for $78
Like the other options on this list, the hood and adjustable cuffs give you options for more coverage, but the built-in slot to view your watch is unique to this choice.
Temperature Regulation – Kuhl Eclipser Hoodie
Every brand seems to have their own jargon, but what we really care out is how does it end up working?? Kuhl infused this shirt with Graphene, which they claim is the “lightest and best temperature-regulating material known to man”. That’s a pretty tall order.
But we’re inclined to agree. The shirt feels very thin, comfortable and breathable. Even once you start to sweat, it’s helping to pull that moisture away from the skin which is key to regulating body temperature.
UPF of 50+
Sizes S-XXXL
Also available in short sleeve and long sleeve
Comes in 4 different color options
Men’s and Women’s Versions
Available at KUHL.com for $80
Add some Color To Your Run – Rabbit UPF Deflector 2.0 Shirt
RTTF Coach Laura spends a lot of time training in the desert sun and swears by her UPF shirts, including Run Rabbit. The lightweight jersey fabric is great for both breathability and moisture wicking, and this hoodie features perforations under the arms for added ventilation.
The watch hole on this one is another pro for us. What can we say, it’s the little things in life that stand out. But additionally, if you’re looking for color and patterns this is your winner.
The hood is cut in a “scuba style” with a built in brim, and there are watch windows on both the left and right wrists.
The smooth, soft texture of this hoodie provides a natural stretch that makes it easy to move and unlikely to cause issues with friction, making it a good choice for a long day on the trails.
Have you tried any of these shirts? Have you been converted to long-sleeved options in the heat?
We’d love to hear about what you think about these options in the comments!
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