The Best Sun Shirts of 2024

In fly fishing, two things are constant water and sun, and the latter is something every angler should be aware of. Protecting one’s self from the harmful effects of sun exposure is a must while enjoying long days on the water–especially in high UV index environments such as tropical latitudes and high altitudes. While there are loads of options on the market that offer adequate UPF ratings, there are good sun shirts, and then there are great ones. Whether you’re fishing an alpine lake with a chill in the air or slogging across brutally hot Caribbean tidal flats in the high sun–there’s a sun shirt for that. 

While it can be tough allocating fishing funds toward apparel rather than gear, having some trusty sun shirts in your wardrobe is a worthwhile investment that will genuinely improve the quality of your time on the water. With endless offerings from reputable brands, putting together a top list of sun shirts was far from easy. So we hit the water and did what we know best: fished. The best sun shirts offered a blend of performance and comfortability that others simply could not match. After rigorous testing, here are our picks for the best sun shirts of 2024.

• Best Overall: Freefly Elevate Hoodie
• Best For Travel: Orvis DriCast™ Hoodie
• Best For Cool Weather: Arc’teryx Cormac Hoody
• Best For Hot Weather: Freefly Elevate Lightweight Hoodie
• Best Button Down: Marsh Wear Lenwood Tech Longsleeve Shirt

How We Made Our Picks

Selecting our favorite sun shirts from a sea of quality options came down to a few key garment characteristics. Above all other features, we’ve found that the choice of fabric and performance fit really sets apart the top-tier options. While some fabrics are wonderfully cozy and comfy, they don’t necessarily offer the breathability, anti-odor, and quick-drying properties that serious anglers demand out of their apparel. That being considered, sun garments designed with even the highest quality fabrics will fall short when it comes to performance if the fit isn’t mindfully engineered for high-activity endeavors such as trekking, rowing or poling a boat, and, of course, casting.  

We tested a swath of sun shirts across the industry and decided that breathability, comfort, and fit are the big three categories to think about. Long-term garment integrity was also a must for making our top list. The least important but still absolutely relevant features, cool aesthetics, and unique performance scored some points as well. 

Not surprisingly, we found that the best way to truly reveal a given sun shirt’s quality is to put it to use on the water. Repeated wear without washing allowed us to test fabric breathability and odor control following several fishy and sweaty days on the water. Regarding comfort, it was important to see how shirts held up after prolonged use. Were they as soft and comfortable as the day we got them? Examining the seams and stitching around the wrist cuffs, thumb loops, and hem after both extended activewear and several runs through the laundry enabled us to get a sense of overall integrity. We found that the performance and comfort of some sun shirts are brilliant out of the packaging but lacking after a few dozen days of fishing and a couple of laundry cycles–so trust us when we say these garments are not all made equally.

In terms of fit and overall functionality, we made sure to be mindful of some lesser-considered but important details. Does the hood blow off when facing into the wind? Are there any low-profile stash pockets for tippet spools or nippers? Do the wrist cuffs actually provide back-of-the-hand sun coverage when utilizing the thumb loops? After developing a long list of prerequisites, serious anglers will be glad to hear there are options that check all the boxes for the best sun shirts.

Best Overall: Freefly Elevate Hoodie

Key Features:

• Durable yet soft lyocell blend doesn’t weigh you down
• UPF 30+ rating
• drirelease® tech wicks moisture and dries quickly
• HeiQ® Fresh odor control keeps you fresh
• Crossover hood for complete neck coverage
• Unique finger-loop sun cuff delivers back-of-hand protection while leaving your palms free

Pros:

• Available in men’s and women’s sizing
• Incredibly comfortable and soft to the touch
• Attractive color selection

Cons:

• Lacks any stash pockets 

The Elevate Hoodie from Freefly is the sun shirt I reach for more than anything else in my wardrobe. It’s super soft and cozy, offers a killer amount of stretch, and sports a really nice balance between an athletic and relaxed fit. I also love the aesthetic–I don’t hesitate to wear it from boat to beach to bar. The drirelease fabric tech is what truly sets this garment apart from the rest. The Elevate Hoodie dries quickly when wet wading, very effectively wicks sweat without compromising breathability, and resists odor brilliantly. It also stays nice and soft to the touch even after several days of being submerged in the salt. The hoodie does have a tendency to take on salty streaks after submersion in the ocean, but I haven’t noticed any hindrance to how the fabric performs. Not to be overlooked, the crossover hood provides better-than-average coverage of your throat and neck without feeling cramped or looking awkward. The unique finger-loop sun cuff is also a brilliant design feature that leaves your palms fabric-free if you’re not a fan of traditional thumb holes. 

Best For Travel: Orvis DriCast™ Hoodie

Key Features:

• Eco-friendly blend feels as soft as cotton
• UPF 50+, wet or dry, blocks 98% of UVA & UVB rays
• Dries fast to keep you comfortable on the water or trail
• OutSmart Fresh odor control so you can wear it longer and wash it less
• Lightweight and highly breathable for cool comfort
• Raglan sleeves for easy movement
• Three-piece hood for improved fit and coverage
• Concealed thumb loops at the sleeve hems provide back-of-hand sun protection

Pros:

• Available in men’s and women’s sizing
• Wide color selection
• Particularly high UPF rating is great for those who are especially sensitive to the sun

Cons:

• Lacks any stash pockets

As a former diehard fan of Orvis’s original drirelease casting shirts, I was certainly excited to check out the new and improved DriCast Hoodie. Offering a lighter weight and faster dry time than the previous drirelease garments, as well as an impressive UPF 50+ maximum sun protection, Orvis has really dialed this one in.

There are two characteristics of this sun shirt that have earned it the best for travel superlative–fabric softness and odor resistance after extended wear. You can wet wade in this bad boy for a week straight without washing, and it still has a nice and soft-to-the-touch feel while also minimizing odor. In summary, it feels and smells clean when it most certainly is not. Even after weeks of wear without a proper run through the laundry while on a recent DIY trip to the Yucatan, my DriCast Hoodie remained cozy and (mostly) odor-free. This is a particularly handy feature when fishing far from home on an international trip or trekking/floating through the backcountry on a multi-day trip. I’ve even worn this on a last-minute flight after a day of wet wading relatively odor-free.

Compared to the last generation of drirelease sun shirts, Orvis has improved the overall fit with the DriCast Hoodie and added concealed thumb loops. This sun shirt offers a more streamlined, athletic fit featuring Raglan sleeves for improved movement and a three-piece hood for enhanced coverage. The hood on the former Orvis sun hoodies had a tendency to blow off when facing into the wind; fortunately, the brand has addressed that issue here. 

Best For Cool Weather: Arc’teryx Cormac Hoody

Key Features:

• 100% recycled Phasic™ LT fabric wicks moisture and offers excellent breathability
• 40+ UPF rating
• Brimmed helmet-compatible hood
• Thumb loops hold sleeves in place and provide thorough back-of-the-hand coverage
• Low-profile seams ride comfortably under a pack
• DAO™ finish (Durable Anti Odour) boosts odor resistance
• Merrow stitch seam construction reduces seam size and irritation

Pros:

• Designed for high-energy mountain pursuits, featuring performance-driven designs
• High UPF rating

Cons:

• No women’s sizing available
• Higher degree of hand coverage with the thumb-loops engaged is not for everyone
• Limited color selection

The Cormac Hoody was an unexpected but welcome addition to our list of top sun shirts. Arc’teryx has engineered this sun hoody for mountain pursuits such as hiking, climbing, and trail running, but after some extensive testing, we’ve found it’s a stellar sun shirt for fishing applications. Built with 100% recycled Phasic™ LT fabric, this hoody has a slightly thicker feel than most other sun garments we tested. This makes the Cormac Hoody a bit better at breaking the wind and keeping the chill at bay, yet the fabric still maintains great breathability when you really get moving. The thumb loops furthermore bring the wrist cuffs almost all the way to your knuckles when engaged, both minimizing chilly drafts and providing better-than-average back-of-the-hand sun coverage. Sporting an impressive 40+ UPF rating, anglers who are especially sensitive to the sun will find a friend here. 

After a few weeks of guiding kayak trips out in the salt marsh in the Cormac Hoody, I’ve decided what stood out most about the garment is the athletic fit and low-profile seams and stitching. You can instantly tell this is a sun shirt designed for high activity by the way it cooperates with your body movement and resists bunching or chaffing under a pack or while pressed into a rowing seat. The Cormac Hoody also dries surprisingly quickly, especially considering it’s one of the thicker sun shirts we tested.    

Best For Hot Weather: Freefly Elevate Lightweight Hoodie

Key Features:

• Ultra-lightweight yet durable lyocell blend doesn’t weigh you down
• UPF 25 rated
• Highly breathable fabric keeps you cool
• drirelease® tech wicks moisture and dries quickly
• HeiQ® Fresh odor control keeps you fresh
• Thumbhole keeps sleeves in place and disappears when not in use

Pros:

• Exceptionally soft-to-the-touch fabric 
• Attractive color selection 

Cons:

• Lower UPF 25 rating may fall short for some particularly sun-sensitive anglers
• No women’s sizing available
• Lack of colors suited for walk-and-stalk flats fishing

The Elevate Hoody is our pick for best overall, so it should come as no surprise that the lightweight iteration from Freefly is our go-to for hot weather. The ultra-lightweight lyocell blend is remarkably breathable, so if you struggle to feel properly ventilated while fishing in particularly hot climates, you should perk your ears here. You may have noticed that garments with drirelease fabric tech have made several appearances on our top list–the Lightweight Elevate Hoodie definitely scored big points for this reason. The moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties are top-notch, while HeiQ® Fresh odor control ensures you can get a lot of wear out of each wash. The polyester blend very willingly moves with you and is arguably the softest to-the-touch sun garment I’ve ever worn.

Contrary to the original Elevate Hoodie, this lighter-weight version features low-profile thumbholes rather than a finger loop for keeping your sleeves in place. I personally prefer the more bare-bones design of the finger loop, but I have no real complaints here. Freefly offers a very attractive selection of colorways, in my opinion, but unfortunately, there is a lack of soft blues, whites, and greens for wading and stalking saltwater flats.

Best Button Down: Marsh Wear Lenwood Tech Longsleeve Shirt

Key Features:

• Strech ripstop 90% poly / 10% elastane
• Concealed collar stay buttons
• Gusset mesh panels for venting
• Sleeve roll-up button tabs
• Zipper chest pocket 
• Hidden lens cleaner at the hem
• Damask woven label

Pros:

• Thoroughly equipped with practical, purpose-built features
• Both a dapper and casual aesthetic

Cons:

• No women’s sizing is available
• Limited color selection

I am admittedly not a big button down guy, but the feature-rich Lenwood Tech Longsleeve Shirt from Marsh Wear has become one of my favorite sun shirts. Most notably, this sharp-looking shirt has a degree of stretch that rivals any sun hoody. I typically steer clear of button downs because they tend to restrict my movement and casting stroke during more active days of fishing, but this shirt is in no way confining. The fabric stretches to accommodate your movement beautifully and is breathable, including gusset mesh panels around the armpits to dump excess heat.

The sleeves also have roll-up button tabs for when you want to show a little more skin. Marsh Wear has also added a few killer details here that elevate the Lenwood Tech’s functionality. A zippered chest pocket makes for the perfect stash spot for a few tippet spools, nippers, or other smaller pieces of gear, while a hidden lens cleaner at the hem enables you to keep your optics crispy, clean, and on point. Lastly, this button down blends both a classy and casual aesthetic equally at home on and off the water.

Honorable Mentions:

Didn’t find what you were looking for? We tested quite a few quality sun shirts and wanted to highlight some of the garments that we loved but didn’t quite make our top list. Be sure to check out these honorable mentions if you want to explore other options that may be right for you.

Marsh Wear: Both the Buxton and High Noon Tech Hoodie were contenders across several categories. Great performance and truly awesome aesthetics.

Duck Camp: The brand has received widespread praise for its wonderfully soft and aesthetically sharp hoodies featuring drirelease fabric blends. Duck Camp also offers some killer button-down options and bamboo-blend sun garments in its lineup if that’s more your speed.

Jigalode: The Mighty Jig Performance Hoodie offers an especially performance-driven fit with a stay-put hood and stellar degree of stretch.

Outdoor Research: The ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Hoodie is an ultralight option with a high UPF 50 rating and self-cooling ActiveIce™ technology, which is great for hot climates.

Simms: The Intruder® Fishing Hoody has proven to be a brilliant and unique hoody/button down hybrid that offers fantastic functionality features and soft-to-the-touch, hot-climate-approved synthetic fabric. 

Huk: The Tide Point Shirt from Huk was a close runner-up for best button down, offering exceptional breathability for hot days on the water and a nice lineup of mindful features. 

Voormi: The River Run Hoodie from Voormi offers a blend of comfortable fabrics and performance-driven features that are equally at home in the mountains and the coastal flats.

Fish Hippie: The Boden Hoodie has been a staple in my wardrobe for some time now. Its wonderfully quick-drying, stretchy fabric is available in loads of practical color options.

Final Thoughts

Like many categories of gear and apparel, at the end of the day, the best option is what performs best for you and the contexts you fish in. This roundup is intended to put some of our top picks on your radar, but with so many quality sun garments on the scene these days, remember that narrowing down this list of superlatives was quite challenging. Be sure to mindfully consider the climate and expected activity level of your fishing endeavors before pulling the trigger on a purchase, and don’t forget to think about aesthetics–if that’s important to you. While the above sun shirt options check most of the major functionality boxes across the board, realistically, you’ll probably want a few different tops for each of your favorite fishing contexts to dial in your specific on-the-water needs.

The Guide Test: Benchmade Intersect

Best Waterproof Bags for Fly Fishing