REI Sahara Shade Solar Shirt Evaluate

Backside Line

The REI Sahara Shade (males’s / girls’s) has held a spot on our information to one of the best solar shirts of the yr for a very long time. We’ve had many CH gear analysts cowl hundreds of miles trashing this prime, and the jury is in: it’s a purchase.

Not solely has it been awarded Finest Price range Purchase two years in a row, however it’s also a easy, snug, and flattering prime. Having stated that, this isn’t a technical shirt and received’t dry, breathe, or wick like different shirts inside the overview. Whereas it could possibly work as a base layer throughout colder months, it’s not best for this. 

This shirt is a good worth for informal, bluebird day hikers who wish to hike a median of 6 miles per journey and return to the automobile earlier than the solar units. It additionally can be an ideal worth for individuals who would put on this round city as properly. 

In full disclosure, gear analyst Helena purchased this shirt two years in the past and wore it for her 2022 John Muir Path thru-hike. Notes from her expertise there are included all through this overview.

How We Examined

To check this yr’s model of the Sahara Shade, our gear analysts took this shirt on numerous adventures, together with street biking, lengthy walks, and simple hikes beneath 10 miles. These exams had been accomplished throughout various temperatures and climate.  

Consolation

The REI Sahara Shade charges very extremely for consolation. Its knit physique has glorious stretch, good match, and a delicate handfeel. 

What stands out essentially the most about this prime is the flattering match. The form of the physique is accentuated by the exaggerated shirttail hem, although not all reviewers had been followers of this. 

The material is snug and delicate, crafted from a polyester and spandex mix that ensures stretch and sturdiness. The material can be bluesign authorized, which signifies that REI adhered to or ensured strict security and environmental necessities had been adopted throughout manufacturing. That is one other prime that you simply simply kind of overlook you’re carrying as a result of it’s so straightforward and comfy. 

Although this shirt washes properly and with none fussy settings, it does have a tendency to carry residual scent after strenuous exercise.

Solar Safety

The REI Sahara Shade additionally outperforms a number of different shirts within the solar safety class. This shirt provides nice solar safety by way of an UPF 50+ score, a hood with a excessive neck, and thumbholes. 

50+ is the best UPF score of solar safety a garment will be awarded. In keeping with the Pores and skin Most cancers Basis, because of this your pores and skin is protected against 98% of the solar’s rays. The inspiration says this UPF score is “glorious.” 

The hood was good and match very well. We discovered that it didn’t fall on our faces or fall off whereas mountain climbing. A drawstring on the hood opening aids in adjusting the scale to suit the wants of every hiker. When the hood is up, it additionally pulls up cloth to cowl the neck. This protection is nice, and the material doesn’t pull or press on the neck in any respect.  

When arms are put by way of the thumbholes, the sleeves pull as much as utterly cowl the arms.

Breathability & Wicking Energy

Breathability, wicking, and drying time should not the place the REI Sahara Shade shines. You’re getting what you pay for right here. 

Throughout an 8 mile stroll on a brilliant windy, chilly day, we layered a fleece and puffy over it, however then overheated. Taking off the layers didn’t clear up the temperature regulation points as a result of then the shirt feels further chilly when it’s moist with sweat. 

Whereas mountain climbing the JMT in an older model of the Sahara Shade, we’d soak this prime with sweat. The outcome wasn’t best; we’d be soaked on the summits the place wind would quickly cool the moist shirt. The way in which down would really feel barely chilly. Then it might take some time to dry.

On hotter outings, we discover that we’re continually taking off thumbholes and pushing our sleeves as much as free ourselves from the warmth and sweat trapped inside this shirt. As a result of it isn’t one of the best at respiratory or wicking, this isn’t the shirt we attain for if we all know we’re going to break a sweat.

Versatility

Although this fronts as a no-frills, straight-forward solar shirt, the REI Sahara Shade has a stupendous type that appears simply as pretty paired with denims to put on round city because it does lined in sweat on the summit. 

If we haven’t made it abundantly clear, this solar shirt wins main versatility factors for its townie transferability. Nevertheless, it’s not the best alternative for year-round put on. For one thing that layers properly and feels snug, search for one thing with a extra breathable and wicking cloth.

Ought to You Purchase the REI Sahara Shade Solar Shirt?

The REI Sahara Shade is a good decide for these searching for an off-the-cuff mountain climbing shirt that has glorious solar safety and comfy match. Although it doesn’t breathe, wick, or dry rapidly, this prime continues to be completely snug for the hiker. It’s also an ideal worth as the most affordable on our solar shirt information but in addition will be squeezed for all of its worth. It transitions simply from path to city and withstands a brutal period of time on path. 

This shirt might be not one of the best match for these trying to deal with bigger adventures as its lack of breathability and wicking may cause some discomfort throughout strenuous exercise. 

What Different Solar Shirts Ought to You Think about?

Beneath are extra extremely rated solar shirts from our annual information to one of the best solar shirts: 

Cotopaxi Sombra Solar Hoodie Evaluate: That is one which feels cute and appears good and offers nice solar safety and can take you farther on the path is Cotopaxi. This isn’t a knit, nevertheless, so it received’t have the identical handfeel that the REI delivers. 

Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Lengthy Sleeve Hoody Evaluate: This knit is lighter and dries faster than the REI Sahara Shade, however retains glorious solar safety and silky delicate cloth. The match of the Mountain {Hardware} isn’t as favored because the REI, however its nice stretch makes up for that. 

Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Solar Hoodie Woolverino Evaluate: For those who just like the delicate and stretchy feeling of a knit cloth however need extra technical options, the Minus 33 is a good possibility. Pure wool delivers an extremely light-weight cloth that breathes, wicks, and helps regulate physique temperature. This selection doesn’t have the relaxed match of the REI, nevertheless.