Patagonia "Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt" Review: A versatile UV-protective mountain shirt perfect for the coming season
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Summer is finally here. Whether you're hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, cycling, fishing, or any other activity under the scorching sun, you'll be exposed to strong sunlight all day long, so sun protection is essential
The ultraviolet rays at high altitudes are stronger than you might think, and the light reflected off the surfaces of water and snow can also assail you mercilessly. If you neglect to take care of your skin, it can quickly become inflamed within a day, so it's essential to take precautions against sunburn when outdoors in the summer
One way to protect yourself from the sun is to use sunscreen on exposed skin, but even if you are wearing clothes, they do not completely block UV rays, so it is definitely a good idea to take some kind of precaution
So recently, I've become interested in wearing clothes with UV protection. These are fabrics that have been treated with UV protection to block UV rays and reduce damage to the skin and fabric. There are several styles available, such as T-shirts, hoodies, and long-sleeved shirts, but one that I recently discovered that I thought was perfect for summer trekking is the Patagonia Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt (hereafter referred to as the sun shirt), . I'd like to review it right away.
table of contents
- Patagonia Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt Key Features
- Detailed Review
- The loose silhouette allows air to pass through easily. It can be worn directly on the skin or over a T-shirt
- Quick-drying, smooth to the touch, with ventilation on the back for maximum freshness
- UPF40+ UV protection and a high double collar effectively protect against UV rays
- It has a variety of pockets and a lens cleaner, making it extremely practical
- Summary: The ultimate all-purpose summer shirt for everyday activities like hiking, running, biking, fishing, and paddling
Patagonia Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt Key Features
The Patagonia Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt offers UPF 40+ UV protection and keeps you cool and comfortable even on humid days. Made from stretchy, quick-drying recycled polyester, it's comfortable for active movement, while the regular fit offers breathability and style, making it ideal for both active and everyday wear. It's packed with practical features, including ample storage, including two vertical chest pockets with large, corrosion-resistant zippers, a double-layered collar for enhanced sun protection, and an open back vent for easy access to a lens cleaner, making it an all-around favorite for a variety of summer activities.
Favorite points
- High UV protection with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 40+
- A refreshing and open feel
- Moderate stretch for ease of movement
- Highly practical with various pockets, lens cleaner, and double collar that can be raised
- Excellent durability against abrasion and washing
- Versatile enough to wear from the city to the peak and suitable for a variety of activities
Points of concern
- The ventilation on the back is hidden when wearing a backpack
- It is better to use snap buttons or other buttons that are easy to operate
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Patagonia Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt |
|---|---|
| weight | 227g (S size actual measurement) |
| color | Marmot Field: Beeswax Tan, Rock Melon, Graze Green, Marmot Field: Seabird Gray |
| size | XS / S / M / L / XL |
| material | 3.5-oz 100% recycled polyester stretch plain weave with moisture-wicking properties |
| |
| Other features |
|
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| sun protection | ★★★★☆ |
| Breathable and quick-drying | ★★★★☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★★ |
| Functionality | ★★★★★ |
| durability | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★☆☆ |
| ★★★★★ | |
Detailed Review
The loose silhouette allows air to pass through easily. It can be worn directly on the skin or over a T-shirt
Whether it's a quick-drying shirt, UV protection wear, or even an insect repellent shirt, the most important thing about activewear is comfort. No matter how functional it is, in the end, if you want to wear it for a long time, it has to feel comfortable to wear. Without that, it's pointless. I did n't have to worry about that with the Sun Shirt
176cm, 64kg, wearing size S
It's a button-up shirt with buttons on the underside of the collar, and the buttons on both sides of the chest and the sturdy collar give it a safari shirt look. Even though I'm 176cm tall and weigh 64kg, and somewhat slim, the small size didn't feel too tight for me, and it was a slightly roomy, large (but not too loose) fit. You can wear it over a T-shirt or undershirt, or even directly against your skin, it doesn't feel baggy and allows the wind to flow through comfortably
In addition to comfort, the shirt has also been designed with ease of use during activities in mind, such as a longer hem that prevents the shirt from riding up when fastening the hip belt of the backpack while hiking
Quick-drying, smooth to the touch, with ventilation on the back for maximum freshness
The soft, smooth, and stretchy fabric feels refreshing against the skin. Although it's made from 100% polyester, it doesn't feel too rough or synthetic, making it comfortable enough to wear in any situation, whether active or relaxed
Furthermore, the polyester fabric is water-resistant and absorbs almost no moisture, so it stays dry even when you sweat or get wet. After a long, sweaty hike or splashing around in the water, the moisture is effectively dispersed throughout the fabric, and I was surprised at how quickly it dried
The fabric is not particularly thin, but the sweat absorbed by the highly absorbent fabric does not simply accumulate in the fabric, but instead spreads out effectively, allowing moisture to evaporate effectively
The pattern of sweat on the back immediately after climbing. The blurred outline of the sweat patch is evidence of the fabric's high sweat absorption and diffusion properties
What further boosts this quick-drying ability is the ventilation in the back. To be honest , because the Sun Shirt is highly UV-resistant, the fabric is woven quite tightly, so it's not particularly breathable. However, as if to make up for this, there are ventilation holes in the back yoke that allow air to escape from the front of the shirt to the back, allowing heat and moisture to be quickly released. Combined with the breathable cut, I honestly never felt stuffy while walking around in this shirt.
However, this ventilation works best when your back is not blocked, so it's a shame that most of the ventilation doesn't work when you're wearing a backpack
UPF40+ UV protection and a high double collar effectively protect against UV rays
UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is an index used to evaluate the UV protection performance of clothing. It ranges from 0 to 50+, sun shirts rated at 40+. Simply put, this means that it will take 40 times longer for you to get sunburned than if you were wearing nothing, so it can be said to provide sufficient sun protection. Incidentally, polyester fabric itself is said to be resistant to sunburn.
Although it is short sleeved, it has slightly long sleeves and a double collar that can be raised, so sun protection has been taken into consideration in every detail of the design
In the summer, you want to wear short sleeves. In that case, pairing them with arm covers is the perfect combination
If you're talking about sun protection to that extent, some people will naturally say, "long sleeves would be better." Of course, I admit that long sleeves are preferable for better protection, especially in terms of sun protection. If there are long-sleeved sun shirts, that's fine too. However, even so, when it's unbearably hot, I still prefer to wear short sleeves if possible
I was idly wondering if there was a good way to both protect from the sun and stay cool, when I saw some arm covers (which were meant to keep you warm at the time) worn by participants at an offline event the other day, and thought, "This is it!" I tried them out and they were pretty good. I combined a short-sleeved sun shirt with arm covers that have UV protection and cooling functions in a "modular strategy," and was able to adjust them precisely from the start of the climb to the end, staying comfortable.
What's great about this modular approach is that the wind can pass through the short sleeves, making them more breathable than long sleeves. And yet, it also provides solid sun protection (of course, pair it with arm covers that also have sun protection). By wearing a cap around your face and keeping the collar up to protect your neck, you can kill two birds with one stone by preventing sunburn without losing your summer coolness. It's also easy to put on and take off when you don't mind the sun
It has a variety of pockets and a lens cleaner, making it extremely practical
As I always say, the excellent tailoring and attentive details tailored to the activity are what you'll find in all Patagonia products, and this one is no exception. The chest pockets on both sides are standard button pockets on the front, and large, vertical, corrosion-resistant zipper pockets behind them. The zipper pocket, which seems to be designed to hold a fly box, is large enough to fit a large smartphone, and was extremely useful even for someone like me who doesn't fly fish
The right chest pocket has a hidden tool dock under the flap, perfect for storing anything from clip-on pens to sunglasses to fishing gear
Additionally, a lens cleaner is sewn into the inside of the right front hem, so you don't need to wipe your glasses and your sunglasses will always look shiny
Summary: The ultimate all-purpose summer shirt for everyday activities like hiking, running, biking, fishing, and paddling
The Short Sleeve Self-Guided Sun Shirt is lightweight and comfortable, keeps you cool and dry all day, and is packed with essential UV protection and practical functionality.I tried it out for a variety of activities, including hiking, running, camping, packrafting, and fishing, and it fit perfectly in almost all of them, with no activity it didn't suit.
Although I only tried out the short-sleeved version this time, I'm now seriously considering buying the long-sleeved version for spring and autumn. This is the ultimate all-purpose shirt, which can be worn comfortably from the moment you step out the door to the field and even to the hot springs after descending the mountain, and I'm sure it will be a big hit this coming summer
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