Best of the Best: Merino Sun Hoody

[thegoosano]

I’ve used first lite, ice breaker, smart wool, free fly, Sitka, kuiu, and others but still am on the hunt for the perfect sun hoody. Lately I’ve been researching Alpaca but there don’t seem to be options that are quite light enough for high output summer scouting or archery hunts.

Curious what you all are using, what you think is the best, and why?


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[grizz19]

I have the new GOHUNT hooded basin merino hoodie and I love it. Also like the duckworth one that I have but I forget the name of it. Duckworth seems to run a little warmer than the GOHUNT but that could just be me.

 

[Bump79]

I've liked a 120 Sitka best so far. I've never fully understood having more UPF protection than being covered and I'm pretty pasty.. but maybe I could get sunburnt through it. Idk.

 

[thegoosano]

Ya the GoHunt merino was on my radar, good price and heard good things. Had my eye on the canis tahr hooded quarter zip top but don’t know what the fabric weight is for that piece.


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[Bump79]

Ya the GoHunt merino was on my radar, good price and heard good things. Had my eye on the canis tahr hooded quarter zip top but don’t know what the fabric weight is for that piece.


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I feel like they told me 150 gsm but I don't recall exactly. Silly that they don't list it.

I had their Canis Chamois fleece top, bottom and gloves and was incredibly disappointed. Maybe their Tahr is amazing but I'm skeptical. All the talk about cordura and durability and it picked and pulled easier than any fleece. Makes a Kuiu 97 fleece seem like a carhartt. And it wasn't as warm and took longer to dry. I returned the first one as it had a pull out of the package. And had a minimal merino content. Struck a complete useless zone for me.

Best part about it was Canis didn't publish any of my reviews. I tried multiple times and I even called them and asked why and got some BS answer that it was a service and had nothing to do with them. All of the pieces I tried to review all still have 100% 5 star reviews. Sorry to rant but that's so deceptive for a exclusive online retailer. Especially since their zip off bottoms are like they weren't even tested before launch. So uncomfortable. I wouldn't support them again.

 

[grainhog]

It's not merino but imo the Black Diamond Alpenglow is the best. UPF50, light, fast drying, great hood design, offers some baselayer value. I wear it year round.

 

[Bump79]

Ooh I forgot to mention. The Black Ovis Realm hoody is really nice.

 

[thegoosano]

Should have mentioned, trying to stick to some sort of wool, merino or alpaca. I’ve used synthetics and no matter what they say about odor control, they all are pretty lousy. Had decent luck with bamboo on the free fly hoodies but they dry slowly and the sewing quality has been pretty poor, stitching seems to come out after one season at most.


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[Speaks]

Be curious to hear if you get any solid answers. I tired an alpaca one last year and was not impressed. I like merino but have yet to see something like this that I like.

I have been using the simms sun hoodies with insect shield. But you are right on odor control and you can only wash them so many times before loosing the insect shield effectiveness.

 

[thegoosano]

I feel like they told me 150 gsm but I don't recall exactly. Silly that they don't list it.

I had their Canis Chamois fleece top, bottom and gloves and was incredibly disappointed. Maybe their Tahr is amazing but I'm skeptical. All the talk about cordura and durability and it picked and pulled easier than any fleece. Makes a Kuiu 97 fleece seem like a carhartt. And it wasn't as warm and took longer to dry. I returned the first one as it had a pull out of the package. And had a minimal merino content. Struck a complete useless zone for me.

Best part about it was Canis didn't publish any of my reviews. I tried multiple times and I even called them and asked why and got some BS answer that it was a service and had nothing to do with them. All of the pieces I tried to review all still have 100% 5 star reviews. Sorry to rant but that's so deceptive for a exclusive online retailer. Especially since their zip off bottoms are like they weren't even tested before launch. So uncomfortable. I wouldn't support them again.
View attachment 836678

Wow, that is disappointing. I’ve heard their fit is off and you have to size up or it’s abnormally tight as well. So even though an XXL might work, not sure if my ego can take the double-X lol


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[deadend88]

I really like the banks bamboo hoodie from Kryptek. I run a version of this for fly fishing as well and performs well.

 

[bojangles808]

some sort of merino blend. FL wick if going extended but often prefer kuiu gila if dy hunting just bc synthetics feel a little better to me in the hottest temps

 

[huntcookwrite]

Pinebury makes a couple different weights. It’s not a hunting brand, but super high quality stuff and made in the USA. I’d say their sizing runs small, so I’d size up 1-2 sizes depending on how you like your fit (especially if your wife has a tendency to wash and dry your merino…)

Here’s their summer weight (100gsm): https://pinebury.us/collections/run-hike/products/merino-wool-sun-shirt-hoodie-silver-pine

And all-season (145gsm): https://pinebury.us/collections/run-hike/products/ts017-2

They make a couple heavier weights, too, but not in the hoodie version.

 

[whiskybiker]

For temps below 75 Ridge merino's sun hoody is my favorite. Very fits great and the hood has a drawstring so you can keep it in place in the wind. If it's over 75, the Outdoor's vital hoody is amazing. It's a blend, so less wool then Ridge's. But, at over 60% wool it still doesn't hold any smells. I wear this thing at temps over 100 and am still comfortable. I also have a Wuru wool hoodie, to be honest it's not my favorite and I should sell it. It's a nice shirt. But, fits around my neck weird and I really don't like it.

 

[Fins_N_Tines]

I've liked a 120 Sitka best so far. I've never fully understood having more UPF protection than being covered and I'm pretty pasty.. but maybe I could get sunburnt through it. Idk.

Yup the sitka 120 hoody is best I've used, and I have used a lot.

 

[thegoosano]

Wish that Sitka made their merino tops in long sizes, hoping they add to their options this year but I’m doubtful.


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[thegoosano]

Found a good price Sitka merino on the classifieds, first Sitka merino top since maybe 2016 or so when they had their first merino. Will be interesting to see how it compares in comfort to FL wick which I’ve used heavily, the durability, and how the fit is. I’m a tall in most tops, but had to just get the XL so hoping it has long enough torso and sleeves


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[twall13]

I've really liked the Voormi River Run for a super light Merino blend. It's certainly another option worth considering. It's not quite as soft as the Sitka or First Lite but it's lighter weight than either of those and I've been impressed with the durability for such a light fabric. It's far from a brush busting layer but it's gotten fewer holes than I would have expected. My Sitka Merino T-shirt developed two holes on the car ride to a deer hunt last year and that was my first time wearing it... I still can't figure out how they developed.

I will say I haven't purchased one of the new models since they moved manufacturing and made some minor tweaks but I assume the fabric is the same.

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[thegoosano]

I've really liked the Voormi River Run for a super light Merino blend. It's certainly another option worth considering. It's not quite as soft as the Sitka or First Lite but it's lighter weight than either of those and I've been impressed with the durability for such a light fabric. It's far from a brush busting layer but it's gotten fewer holes than I would have expected. My Sitka Merino T-shirt developed two holes on the car ride to a deer hunt last year and that was my first time wearing it... I still can't figure out how they developed.

I will say I haven't purchased one of the new models since they moved manufacturing and made some minor tweaks but I assume the fabric is the same.

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Ya this is the newer 120 “armor spun” merino for whatever it’s worth. Never had my hands on it so excited to see the difference btwn the original Sitka merino and the other sun hoodies I have. I’ll definitely be paying attention to durability, that’s while you got holes just driving


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[twall13]

Ya this is the newer 120 “armor spun” merino for whatever it’s worth. Never had my hands on it so excited to see the difference btwn the original Sitka merino and the other sun hoodies I have. I’ll definitely be paying attention to durability, that’s while you got holes just driving


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The armor spun is the Sitka shirt I had, it was brand new last summer. That said, I have one of their hoodies too and so far it's held up a bit better than the T-shirt but it's seen limited use so far as well.

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