We are designing a sun hoody for climbers, what features are important to you?

Maybe use some more durable fabric on the underside of the forearm to the palm . Mine always fray there.  

The most important feature I can think of--that no one else seems to have mentioned yet--is some kind of cord or string or lace or cinch for adjusting the hood. I don't understand why "over or under the helmet" gets so much attention when sun protection is just as necessary when you're hiking to and from wherever it is that you put your helmet on. And a hood that keeps blowing off of your head on the approach or descent is really annoying, as well as useless. The OR Echo is the only one I've got that has this feature, which is why I frequently end up wearing it in spite of its low SPF.

My favorite right now is a discontinued Under Armor sun hoodie, it is fantastic in every regard.

1) Over helmet
2) Long loose fitting sleeves that come down over my hand if I want
3) Long through the torso
4) No drawstring, they are annoying

I am paying more for a re-sole on my shoes that your price point of $25...if it is well constructed, I'm willing to pay more.  I also have and OR product that I don't like...

1. Ability to go over the helmet. I like being able to quickly regulate temperature going between climbing and belay stations.  You can always put it under.
2. Yes
3. Slightly loose, but athletic fit. Having it a bit longer so it fits under harness is a huge selling point for climbers.
4. Thumb loops are a nice option. Good for extra sun protection and securing under gloves. Gear should be multipurpose.

I’m indifferent on pockets. They can be nice, but are by no means a dealbreaker. A sunhoody that is heavy or makes you uncomfortable while wearing is a dealbreaker.

I think your product is a great idea, let us know if you get a kickstarter going!

non-see through fabric/color is a must. I bought a white hoody from Outdoor Research and you can see every detail of my bra through it.  Also the slit in the hood to pull your pony tail through is pretty clutch for ladies and those with long hair.

Agree with Greg 100%.

I wear cotton flannels on glaciers in the summer.  Once I sweat them out, they keep me cool.  I use a buff and a brimmed hat to keep the sun off my neck.  Would love to find something with a hood for better protection- I haven't because the fit on most flannel hoods is terrible, and I'd prefer a synthetic (more breathable) hood.   I'd still use the buff and hat to protect my face.

If synthetic, I would use it as a baselayer, too.  In this circumstance, thumb loops are mandatory as they help bridge the void left between your gloves and jacket.  Down low, the loops will help protect your hands from the sun.  And yes, I'm talking about summer mountaineering.  Have never worn a sun hoodie rock climbing, I loathe having a hood (even ice climbing) over my head on lead.

Maybe you can produce two garments.  A traditional sun hoodie, and a flannel with a synthetic hood.

Max Tepfer wrote:

I basically live in sun hoodies. Here are some thoughts:

Definitely over the helmet. If it’s that cold, I want a warmer layer and/or a hat.  I wear mine as my primary base layer when I’m wearing it. I like the idea of some snugness at the wrists and then baggier overall. Specifically I like wrists that won’t fall over my hands, but will easily pull up over my forearms and more or less stay put.  It’s also super important for it to fit long in the torso to stay under a harness. Thumb loops can be nice when it’s hot and sunny to keep the sun off your hands, but they’re obviouslt slightly gimmicky.  Ditto the button below the chin. 

Ditto what Max said here. Some type of stretch gusset going down to the wrist would be nice. I use a tropic II and do wish there was less material down there at the wrists for crack climbing and that I could slide it up for offwidths.
Hood over the helmet is best, I want it up to block my neck at belays and off while climbing. I can't stand a hood over my helmet while climbing, if I need warmth I rock a buff. 

Hi James!

What I can't stand about currently available sun hoodies i've tried on:

Slimy feeling knit polyester
Baggy fit
No neck ventilation
Feels more like a base layer for cool temps that something to cool you

So my take might be different enough it doesn't fit with intended garment from the get go:

Stand alone for use in warm-hot. Not base layer for insulation, not a slimy or stretchy knit fabric. Pretty much like a Patagonia houdini/shirt hybrid, but a pullover, 1/2- 1/4 zip with  a tougher more breathable cottony feeling SPF fabric with just a bit of stretch. Fabric is all important, more like a regular cotton or cotton/poly blend button down shirt feels than skeezy poly stretch.

So your criteria:

1: Over under depends on fabric. Is it thin/light enough and breathable enough to wear in the heat under? If not, over the helmet for breathability
2: No. Prioritize keeping cool.
3: Athletic with a little room not baggy, not skin tight
4: Thumb loops are stoopid

Alex Fletcher wrote:A big key for me is length to stay under a harness. I’m 6’2” @ 160lbs so I almost always would fit a medium better but have to get larges for the length. Super annoying. I’m constantly swimming in my clothing. 

I'm the same size with a super long torso and broad shoulders so imagine swimming in the next size up (hopefully) or occasionally an XL.  That said if there was a tall option that would appeal to me and most likely others.

If you can make it exactly like my old Patagonia sun hoodies, but more breathable with  a bit better next to skin feel, but still able to take as much abuse as these things remarkably do, I'll buy 2 immediately.

That said, I have climbed in my Patagonia tropic comforts for years, have multiple copies, and don't feel they are lacking in any way I can't live with. Less is more. That also said, I'm always a sucker for a better mousetrap!

I have a columbia sun hoody with a loose bunchy neck gaiter built in that protects the back of my neck without even using the hood. It's also shimmery. F'ing best shirt I've ever owned

I'm definitely a Patagonia fanboy, but my favorite sun hoody is the Rab Pulse Hoody. It is lighter and more breathable than the TCII, and the hood bunches up and serves as an effective neck gaiter when not worn. The two downsides of this piece are that it is quite expensive and it is not nearly as durable as other offerings. If I was making a dream sun hoody it would have the sides and underarms made of the same material as the Rab, the rest made out of the Patagonia material, and the hood design of the Rab. I prefer a baggy fit. Seems to breathe better

My BF and I both have the Columbia sun hoody. It was a good price, and for the grime and grind it gets, was what I wanted to pay. My next hoody:

• No stink. The Columbia is awful for retaining bacteria. Breathable panels would be great under the arms, as other have suggested.
• Baggy
• A hood that can also provide UPF protection as well as fit over or under a helmet (perhaps 2 versions?)
• Nice colors. The Columbia colorways are pretty rank: a "no-thank-you" pink for women. How about nice blues or violets and pastels. Mens: muted colors; more pastels; as long as the colors are light and not heat-absorbing.
• Durability. This is tricky, because we all want to breathe in the summer and fall. At least, reinforced sleeves and a way to repel dirt. 

seems like a trolling tread to me.  there are no options, you get what Ali Baba has.  

1) Over, though I never wear a hood either over or under when wearing a helmet.
2) Yes
3) Yes
4) Yes, absolutely

Here's a vote for looser and shorter sleeves, maybe 3/4 or 5/6 length. Almost all longer sleeved shirts I wear for climbing are 3/4 length.

1) Over the helmet, easier to remove when you find a bit of shade or quickly need more peripheral vision.
2) Wear it alone, baselayer if it gets cooler in the evening.
3) Loose fit, fits under harness, long arms.
4) Middle finger loop? the problem with thumb loops is that you bring fabric on your palm.
Has to be effective at blocking UV.
Anti-bacterial if possible.
Some abrasion resistance.
No pockets, a loose and light material needed won't handle a pocket.
No zippers, maybe a light snap or two in the upper chest area to open up.

Literally a melanzana hoody made out of polyester would be perfect. the hood (best hood ever made IMO) adjusts, the pocket is high enough to reach, but not shallow that things fall out. add some thumb loops and call it good. doesnt need a pocket, but the hood on the melanzana is my favorite feature and would love to see similar. you can even cinch it to keep your hair out of your face. maybe some doubled or burlier fabric on the shoulders or elbows

James Huang wrote: 1) Do you prefer the hood to go over or under the helmet?
-When it's hot out, I feel like the hood should go over the helmet and under when it's cold. But more opinions wanted.

2) Do you wear it mostly as a baselayer?

3) Overall it should have a looser fit.

4)Thumb loops are overrated.

1) Over

2) Basically though in the summer I'm constantly on the search for the lightest most breathable long sleeve hooded or long necked shirt that I can wear instead of lathering up on sunscreen.
3) Not baggy but I don't want to feel like I'm painting it on either
4) I find them vaguely useful at times but mostly not needed.

A chest pocket can be handy either to keep a topo map or my phone with beta handy.

Slightly baggy fit but still tight enough in the sleeves that I can push them up my arms and they will stay there if I am leading a hard pitch and want to either stay a bit cooler or don’t want to totally trash the sleeves when the pitch looks like it will be a certain style. 

Over the hood so climbers can take it on and off without having to remove the helmet

no thumb loops thats stupid