Backside Line
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down (males’s / ladies’s) is a wonderful selection from our information to the perfect solar shirts for somebody searching for a shirt that blends efficiency attire, outdoorsy type, and wearability. Considerate design parts –– like outsized chest pockets and adjustable hood, add to the general wearability.
The type decisions are outrageous, from the ‘80s-inspired Kaleidoscope sample (see pictures on this assessment) to the Pool Social gathering sample (pretzels, popsicles, and donuts) and invite that path occasion spirit. At the least, I instructed a buddy if anybody ever kidnapped you on path, witnesses will know if and once they handed you main as much as it.
Whereas on the dearer facet of the solar shirt world, the standard and engineering put into this high is price the additional dough.
It’s additionally made by a small, impartial firm, which is mirrored within the worth. I additionally discovered the corporate’s customer support extraordinarily useful and immediate of their response.
How We Examined
Our comparability testing included day hikes, some with no pack and others with a completely loaded, in a single day pack. These hikes included some stormy climate, whereas others have been clear, sunny, and funky. The shirt was additionally examined whereas highway biking by means of the hilly streets of Reno, Nevada.
Fast Specs

Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down
Greatest Backpacking Solar Shirt
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.8/5.0
Worth:
$95
UPF Ranking:
30
Weight:
8.5 oz.
Material Weight:
85 GSM
Material:
86% polyester, 14% spandex
Execs
- Two massive chest pockets
- Solar hood and thumbholes
- Breathable and moisture wicking
- Snug for lengthy journeys/heavy packs
- Roomy match, true to dimension
- Enjoyable patterns
- Button-up and cuff buttons for adjustability
Cons
- Worth
- Thumbholes have been too small
- Hood wants a hat for optimum operate
Consolation
In case your solar shirt isn’t comfy, it doesn’t matter how properly it protects you from the solar. That’s why consolation is the at the beginning metric right here. The Jolly Gear dominates on this class.
From first contact, this shirt made us joyful. The silky materials on the arms feels nice in opposition to the pores and skin, as does the light-weight, woven physique. The physique and arms are unfastened and flowy, offering a snug match. This shirt helps air flow into properly, has wonderful air flow, and has one of many lowest GSMs (grams per sq. meter) out of the shirts we examined. The fabric is a mix of polyester and spandex that helps hold the shirt dry and offers the physique a mild stretch.
Earlier than taking it out to check, there was fear that this shirt wouldn’t be comfy beneath a pack, particularly after noticing the way it began to bunch up whereas slouching on the sofa. The priority was that its structured design and low stretch by means of the arms and shoulders, paired with its looser match would pull misplaced with a pack on, demanding fixed adjustment. Nevertheless, this shirt was zero fuss whereas carrying a loaded in a single day pack. It stayed precisely the place it wanted to be.
Solar Safety
Whereas UPF 30 does garner this a Seal of Advice from the Pores and skin Most cancers Basis, it isn’t as excessive as different picks on this class. The shirt a hood and prolonged cuffs with thumbholes to extend solar safety.
The button-front design permits wearers to button the shirt as excessive as they like, offering some solar safety on the neck. The unfastened match implies that no a part of the material hugs the physique, making us really feel prefer it provides some higher safety –– UPF rankings degrade if a material is stretched.
Although the thumb holes on the cuffs pulled the sleeve properly previous our knuckles, they have been tight and uncomfortable. Whereas climbing with this shirt, we regularly discovered it extra comfy to unhook thumbs altogether. Even with the thumbs out of the holes, the cuffs do job of retaining the fingers coated.
The hood cinches at both facet, however it felt prefer it was falling everywhere even with these changes. It might fall again on the slightest wind. Like most solar shirt hoodies, the hood matches higher with a cap beneath.
Breathability & Wicking Energy
This solar shirt ranked extremely on each breathability and wicking scores due to its distinctive mesh cloth on the physique. As documented in pictures, the mesh sample permits air to stream, offering a cooling contact when performing strenuous actions.
We by no means felt overly sweaty, mucky, or gross when examined on a sunny, 50+ diploma day with a completely loaded in a single day pack on after which once more on a difficult bike trip. Bonus: as soon as we completed our actions, we discovered hardly any saturated spots on the shirt.
Versatility
The options of the Jolly Gear make this a standout. A favourite is the 2 massive chest pockets secured with a zipper. These pockets are massive sufficient to suit an iPhone 14+ (6.33 in by 3.05 in) –– an anomaly in outside gear, particularly for ladies’s particular kinds. Even with this brick of a telephone within the pocket and a completely loaded in a single day pack on, this shirt confirmed no indicators of discomfort.
It has a ponytail slot within the hood in order that customers with lengthy hair can sling hair by means of, giving higher choices for retaining cool. The button-front design actually acts as a function as wearers can regulate the openness of the physique. The button cuffs (full with thumbholes) enable changes to customise the match.
Although the options are wonderful, this shirt may not be probably the most comfy design to suit beneath layers like a puffer for cooler climate, so it tends to be most versatile in the summertime.
Ought to You Purchase the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down hoodie?
If you’re a backpacker, that is the journey high for you. When testing this shirt, fantasies of future thru-hikes distracted the miles. The pockets alone make this a win.
Although it doesn’t have as nice of a UPF ranking as comparable solar shirts, it nonetheless offers good protection and the Pores and skin Most cancers Basis’s seal of approval. Pockets to stash telephone, snacks, and maps on the chest is a golden ticket. No extra worrying in regards to the dimension of your hip belt pockets or what fanny pack to complement your quick-grab requirements.
Due to the light-weight, breathable, and wicking cloth, this factor will make you are feeling your greatest after lengthy ascents with a pack on. It’ll dry shortly in order that as you hike into night temperatures, you’re not placing your self in an uncomfortable or doubtlessly harmful state of affairs.
What Different Solar Shirts Ought to You Think about?
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down is just one of many wonderful solar shirts to think about in your subsequent journey. Discover different choices under and on our full solar shirt information.
Out of doors Analysis Echo Evaluate: If breathability, wicking, and dry time stood out within the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down, the Out of doors Analysis Echo is worthy of your consideration. This solar shirt is the lightest we examined and some of the breathable of the bunch. It dries inside ten minutes of inactivity and appears like you’re carrying nothing. This selection, nonetheless, has a decrease UPF ranking (15-20) and is see-through, which could not be comfy for all.
Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Solar Hoodie Woolverino Evaluate: The Minus 33 solar shirt has a comparable capability to breathe and wick. Although this can be a knit high, it has an ultra-light wool cloth that reigns with the pure powers of this fiber. It’s a good choice as a result of the wool cloth helps regulate physique temperatures to maintain up on steep climbs and chilly descents. This shirt has a snugger, body-hugging match and takes a bit longer to dry. Additionally it is dearer than the Jolly Gear.
Cotopaxi Sombra Solar Hoodie Evaluate: The Cotopaxi is a superb choice for a backpacking shirt that may sustain on lengthy thru-ikes as a result of it has a relaxed physique type, wonderful UPF solar safety (50+), technical woven cloth, and comparable options (pocket, hood, and thumbholes). It’s barely shorter than the Jolly, which could not work for everybody or each outside exercise, however it’s cheaper.