Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Solar Hoodie Woolverino Assessment

Backside Line

The light-weight Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Solar Hoodie Woolverino (males’s / girls’s) is excellent at serving to lively customers regulate their physique temperature.

The wool material reminds us of traditional out of doors put on. Wool is comfortable (and will get softer over time), odor-resistant, and has nice breathability and moisture-wicking properties. Essentially the most unimaginable side of the material is its lightness. We had been shocked at how gentle this shirt was, particularly for a wool mix. 

The light-weight material carried out effectively in cooler temperatures and even when moist. As we hiked with this shirt, we had been shocked once more at how snug we had been by sunny climbs and shaded descents. This hoody’s potential to adapt to temperature was probably the greatest out of all our examined tops for our greatest solar shirt gear information. Whereas it hikes exceptionally effectively, this shirt doesn’t provide most solar safety at UPF 20. Though this shirt blocks ~95% of the solar’s dangerous radiation, my dermatologist want to level out that there are shirts that do higher.

Regardless of this, we imagine this shirt is a good purchase. It matches effectively, feels snug, performs effectively in numerous actions and settings, and the material feels sturdy.

How We Examined

We primarily took this shirt out on average day hikes (~6 miles on common). Temperatures and circumstances various, however usually, we had been mountain climbing within the 40s. Strolling by canyons allowed us to check this high on sunny ascents and shaded descents. To check the standard and luxury of the material, we additionally wore it with a loaded in a single day pack.

Consolation

At first put on, the consolation of this shirt was common at finest. The material has a mild stretch, however actually not as a lot as others we examined. Lastly, the handfeel has a wooly type of really feel. 

The match hugs the physique, particularly the forearms. Whereas it isn’t pores and skin tight, it rests on the physique the place all the opposite shirts on this class float away from the physique. 

Whereas the wool-based material doesn’t have the itchy wool really feel, it actually doesn’t have that comfortable, silky really feel that artificial materials have. Nevertheless, the shirt will get softer over time with put on and wash. 

What the woolverino has over its softer artificial counterparts is an extremely skinny and light-weight feeling. The material has a mild stretchiness, but the threads really feel sturdy.

Solar Safety

The one main downside to the Minus 33 is its low UPF ranking and cuffs that don’t absolutely cowl the fingers, even when utilizing the thumbholes.  

Earlier than we even put the shirt on, we seen that we might see gentle by the material. This tracks with the UPF ranking of 20. Nonetheless, a rating of 20 blocks 95–96.6% of UV rays from reaching the pores and skin. 

The shirt has a hood and thumbholes to assist maintain the cuffs in place. We discovered the hood matches effectively and doesn’t fall off or into our eyes whereas mountain climbing. Once we use the thumbholes, solely about half the hand is roofed. 

Typically, the quarter zip presses an excessive amount of into our neck, however the tradeoff is that it protects your entire neck from the solar.

Breathability & Wicking Energy

This high actually performs below the strain of mountain climbing. Although it holds onto sweat, it breathes very effectively and feels snug (even with sweat) by altering temperatures. 

On one among our check hikes, we took it out for a 6-mile hike in 48-degree climate. We had been in full solar and ended our hike simply earlier than nightfall settled. 

As we began off, we wore this shirt with out a mid- or outer layer. Whereas it was chilly and this shirt was skinny, it was manageable with simply this on. The very first thing we seen was how effectively it breathed. We might really feel the air flowing by it, however we by no means felt chilly and depressing. The truth is, after 20 minutes of strolling alongside a reasonably flat path and being within the solar, we had been heat and cozy. 

With a loaded pack on, we started our climb. Initially, we had been anxious that it could be too sizzling as we climbed. Although we began sweating (and panting), this shirt didn’t overheat. We really felt cooler on the high of the climb than on the backside. 

The remainder of the hike wandered by shaded canyons because the temperature dropped, however we stayed snug and heat even with residual sweat. At one level, we took the pack off and revealed the sweaty again to the wind and nonetheless, felt snug. 

Whereas this isn’t probably the most breathable high, it capabilities nice in wind and funky temperatures.

Versatility

The Minus 33 has nice worth due to its versatility. It transcends seasons, settings, and out of doors adventures. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t rely upon this high for its pocket. 

Based mostly on our area exams, this high is appropriate for year-round use, by itself in summer season and as a baselayer throughout cooler months.  This shirt additionally works very effectively for all out of doors sports activities. We put on it for mountain biking, climbing, or going to the gymnasium. This shirt’s type has an outdoorsy look to it that won’t translate effectively to all off-trail events. However we don’t thoughts carrying it from the path to post-hike tacos (particularly as a result of it resists odors). 

One notable characteristic is the zippered chest pocket. Nevertheless, we don’t discover it very helpful. The pocket is designed to stash a bank card or ID and possibly a small set of keys, although we didn’t discover it snug to stash keys in it. We expect this pocket is nice for these early morning runs that may occur to be routed round that doughnut store.

Ought to You Purchase the Minus33 Micro Weight Woolverino 1/4 Zip Solar Hoodie?

It is a strong alternative for anybody on the lookout for a reliable, pure base layer. It really works effectively for many who demand technical qualities from their shirts however need a knitted, stretchy material. For this client, the Minus 33 can sustain for difficult adventures in altering climate. 

We want this had the next UPF rating, however we’ll fortunately take the ultra-light “micro” wool material as a replacement. Due to this, this high might be not the selection for somebody on the lookout for the most effective solar safety. 

What Different Solar Shirts Ought to You Take into account?

Discover different “better of” picks just like the Minus 33 in our full solar shirt gear information. Different worthy choices embody:

Arc’teryx Taema / Cormac Assessment: This high gives a extremely technical material that’s simply as ideally suited for layering throughout difficult adventures as it’s for front-country path runs in the summertime months. The Arc’teryx barely beats out Minus 33 in technical talents. It additionally affords higher solar safety with a UPF 40+ ranking. The drawbacks are the Arc’teryx match and stiffness of the material. 

Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Lengthy Sleeve Hoody Assessment: This decide is one other ultra-lightweight knit that breathes fairly effectively. Straight out of the field, this shirt is noticeably softer than the Minus 33. The material has larger stretch and higher solar safety (UPF 50). Nevertheless, this shirt can’t compete with the Minus 33’s potential to adapt to altering temperatures. 

Free Fly Girls’s Bamboo Shade Hoodie II Assessment: This knit has a heavier, however softer material than the Minus 33. The Free Fly feels silky comfortable and drapes rather well. It gives higher solar safety (UPF 50+) however is likely to be extra appropriate for simple to average, frontcountry adventures.