ProView – Mountain Hardwear Shade Lite Long Sleeve Hoodie

The Mountain Hardwear Shade Lite Long Sleeve Hoody does its job extremely well. Wearing this hoody in the scorching desert heat in Joshua Tree and Red Rock Canyon saved me from being roasted. In May of 2021, I was able to climb all over these beautiful landscapes for 11 days with no sun damage. 

Climbing in the desert in May might not have been the wisest choice, but my husband and I had already committed to going for our honeymoon…so we worked with what we had! Although we tried our best to chase shade and start early, there were several days of our 11-day trip that we ended up in the scorching sun for hours at a time. The Shade Light Hoody allowed me to enjoy Joshua Tree and Red Rock Canyon without worrying about the danger of sun damage; in fact, the only place I put sunscreen was my face, and I didn’t get burnt the entire trip! I climbed several single-pitch and multipitch routes in Joshua Tree and Red Rock Canyon with the sun shirt as my companion for almost all of them. Because it is the desert, temperatures ranged from the 50’s-90’s, so I got to experience quite a broad range while wearing the hoody. Additionally, because we climbed a multitude of routes, I was able to evaluate how the shirt performed on long approaches and on the wall. As a recent graduate from an outdoor education program in South Carolina and a future employee as an Adventure Specialist in Montana, this shirt is going to travel with me on all the climbing adventures to come. 

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Fit/Comfort

I ordered an XS, and it fits very well (I’m 5’5”, 120lbs, 34 B). Because it is the “standard fit”, it fits a little loosely which is good because it is not stretchy. I would have preferred some more stretch as it is annoying to take on and off with a helmet on. However, the three-piece hood does fit over a helmet when the shirt is on, and it provides excellent sun coverage. 

Look/Style

Because it is a looser fit, it has a boxy look to it (but it’s not baggy), but as a sun shirt I think that is completely fine. There is also knit fabric under the chin which protects your neck from the sun and doubles as a stylistic “pop”. Overall, I feel super comfortable, confident, and feminine when wearing it. 

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Features

There are NO thumb loops on this shirt which some might find to be a let-down, but I did not find it to be a problem at all. It has UPF 50 which provides that vital element of protection from UV rays. Although this hoody also has a side pocket with a key clip, I didn’t find myself wanting to risk using it for any valuables…but I might feel differently if I wasn’t 400’ in the air. 

Weight/Packability

This hoody packs into its own pocket which turns it into a ball a little bigger than my hand. It is not as packable as it could be, but this is probably due to the half-knit, half-stretch fabric. What you gain in durability, you occasionally lose in packability. 

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Function/Performance

If sun protection is what you are looking for, you cannot go wrong with the Shade Light Hoody. Overall, I am giving it such a high rating because it provides excellent sun coverage and has outstanding sweat-wicking properties. It isn’t as breathable as I would like because it is a thicker material, so I would recommend wearing this shirt for glacier travel. Although I got to appreciate its moisture-wicking abilities in the desert, it was difficult to put on a thicker sun-shirt in temperatures in the upper 80’s. 

Durability/Construction

I wore this hoody almost every day of my 11-day climbing honeymoon, and it remains in excellent condition. The one bummer was that I nicked the front of the shirt (see photo) on my first climb with it on (an awkward mixed route called “S Crack” in South Carolina). Based on that experience I thought that it wasn’t a durable shirt, but after wearing it for a few more weeks in more extreme conditions, I’ve realized…it was the route’s fault and not the shirt. 

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Friendliness to the Earth

I gave this item a 3/5 on “Friendliness to the Earth”. Mountain Hardwear uses all-natural UPF for sun shirts, focusing on the density of the material instead of relying on chemical treatments. Additionally, although the material used for this shirt is not recycled, Mountain Hardwear does encourage repair and reuse of all apparel. 

The Final Word

The Shade Light Hoody is a necessary companion on a sunny day. Even though the thickness of the material is a little too warm in high temperatures and the material isn’t stretchy enough to pull the shirt on and off over a helmet, I would definitely recommend this hoody for anyone seeking protection from the sun. The polyester material is incredible at wicking away sweat, the three-piece hood fits over a helmet, and the knit pieces at the cuffs and under the chin provide extra durability and style. 

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