Milk & Whiskey Chaser Solar Hoodie Overview

Backside Line

We awarded the Milk & Whiskey Chaser (males’s / ladies’s) finest “Townie” in our solar shirts gear information due to its consolation and match. Although its softness shines, this shirt absorbs loads of sweat and dries very slowly, making it a doubtful alternative for high-exertion actions. 

This shirt shouldn’t be ignored for informal hikers, although. We love the superb solar protecting options, together with a UPF 50+ ranking and cozy thumbholes that assist the cuff cowl all the hand. This shirt matches nicely underneath layers and, frankly, is our alternative for operating errands round city. 

Its heavier cloth makes it an incredible stand-alone prime for straightforward and reasonable hikes in cooler climate. We put on it on a regular basis and are comfy even on sunny days within the mid-40s. 

This shirt can also be one of many pricier solar shirts we researched, and the worth you get out of it will depend on what you’re shopping for this prime for. The common individual would put on each cent and extra out of this shirt.

How We Examined

We examined the Milk & Whiskey Chaser solar shirt in varied circumstances and settings. From difficult multi-mile hikes with a full pack to long-distance runs, we included it into our every day wardrobe throughout fluctuating climate circumstances, each as a standalone piece and layered underneath different clothes.

Consolation

There was by no means any doubt that the Milk & Whiskey Chaser can be comfy whereas climbing. Earlier than taking this solar shirt out for assessments, we wore it round the home, operating errands and going to work. It was so comfy and match so nicely that it was the very first thing we reached for within the morning. 

Taking this shirt on the path, carrying an in a single day pack, and ascending steep slopes, the consolation by no means wavered. 

The hand really feel is unimaginable. It doesn’t have the lightest cloth (179 GSM), however the high quality of the material is tender and feels nice towards the pores and skin miles into your hike. The material has beneficiant stretch, and the match is wonderful. We love the way it hangs on the physique. The raglan sleeves enhance consolation across the shoulders.

Solar Safety

The Milk & Whiskey Chaser offers glorious solar safety. The shirt has a UPF 50+ ranking and has thumbholes, lengthy cuffs, and a hood. Nevertheless, it doesn’t present safety on the neck with a gaiter. 

Due to the nice stretch of the material, the thumbholes are very comfy when pulled over the hand. When worn, the thumbholes pull the sleeves to utterly cowl the knuckles. 

The hood is great. Once we hiked with this, the hood stayed precisely put. It didn’t threaten to fall into our eyes or off our heads. The one factor we want it might have supplied is a neck gaiter to completely shield the higher physique.

Breathability & Wicking Energy

A strenuous check hike revealed how a lot sweat this shirt absorbs and the way lengthy it takes to dry. Nevertheless, it additionally confirmed that the material breathes pretty nicely, particularly for a knitted shirt. 

One factor we discover whereas carrying this shirt at work and whereas climbing is our palms are likely to sweat underneath the double-layered cuffs. 

On one other check hike with this prime, it was within the excessive 40s and sunny. We made certain to load up an in a single day pack, too. Once we reached the summit and took off the pack, the material across the hip belt straps and again was saturated, not like different solar shirts we examined. 

The sunshine on the summit was wonderful, and we wished to seize photographs of this shirt there. So we waited…and waited…and waited…. An hour later, this shirt was nonetheless moist to the purpose of exhibiting darkish spots by means of the material. 

Nevertheless, whereas climbing, the shirt breathes very nicely. We might really feel a breeze come by means of the elements of our our bodies not coated by packs. 

Due to the lengthy dry time, we don’t wish to sweat on this shirt. It’s finest for staying cool and cozy on informal sunny outings.

Versatility

This shirt can undoubtedly stand as much as path days and apres nights. 

There’s a zippered pocket on the aspect that would match keys and snacks concurrently, however as a result of it’s made from such a drapey cloth, we wouldn’t advocate utilizing this pocket for very heavy objects. 

This solar shirt can work nicely all through the season, however you’ll most likely really feel most comfy throughout cooler months that don’t require layering until you’re solely taking straightforward hikes or walks round city. In the course of the mid-day warmth of summer season, we’d go for one thing lighter and extra ethereal. 

As a result of this cloth is so absorptive, we don’t advocate it for outings the place you would possibly generate some perspiration.

Ought to You Purchase the Milk & Whiskey Chaser Solar hoodie?

This prime is a tremendous alternative for somebody who’s on the lookout for the consolation of a knit shirt with nice solar safety. It’s most likely finest fitted to somebody who’s looking for informal outside recreation and day hikes. The model is marketed towards households (Chaser shirts can be found in youngsters’s sizing), which is the velocity we predict most closely fits this shirt’s capability. 

This is able to not be our first suggestion for somebody planning a summer season thru-hike, although it might be an incredible sleep/camp shirt. The thicker cloth feels extra comfy at night time and within the morning, and the super-soft cloth is sturdy for long-term consolation.

What Different Solar Shirts Ought to You Think about?

You should definitely examine the Milk & Whiskey towards the opposite solar shirts in our finest solar shirts gear information. Right here’s a couple of comparable choices: 

Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie II Overview: The Free Fly and Milk & Whiskey are very related shirts. Each have an extremely tender, drapey cloth. Each have thicker summertime cloth (189 & 190 GSM) and glorious solar protecting options. The one clear function that the Whiskey & Milk has over the Free Fly is odor-resistance. 

REI Sahara Shade Overview: Barely lighter than the Milk & Whiskey, however nonetheless capable of present the identical glorious solar protecting options plus safety for the neck. The REI shirt has a really flattering form. 

Cotopaxi Sombra Solar Hoodie Overview: Bridging the hole between technical and comfort, the Cotopaxi is a superb alternative for somebody who’s on the lookout for the benefit of the Milk & Whiskey however a extra technical cloth.