Backside Line
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down (males’s / girls’s) is a superb alternative from our information to one of the best solar shirts for somebody on the lookout for a shirt that blends efficiency attire, outdoorsy model, and wearability. Considerate design components –– like outsized chest pockets and adjustable hood, add to the general wearability.
The model selections are outrageous, from the ‘80s-inspired Kaleidoscope sample (see images on this evaluate) to the Pool Social gathering sample (pretzels, popsicles, and donuts) and invite that path celebration spirit. Not less than, I instructed a pal if anybody ever kidnapped you on path, witnesses will know if and after they handed you main as much as it.
Whereas on the dearer aspect of the solar shirt world, the standard and engineering put into this high is value the additional dough.
It’s additionally made by a small, unbiased 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 and not using a pack and others with a totally loaded, in a single day pack. These hikes included some stormy climate, whereas others had been clear, sunny, and funky. The shirt was additionally examined whereas street biking by way 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.
Cloth Weight:
85 GSM
Cloth:
86% polyester, 14% spandex
Professionals
- Two massive chest pockets
- Solar hood and thumbholes
- Breathable and moisture wicking
- Comfy for lengthy journeys/heavy packs
- Roomy match, true to dimension
- Enjoyable patterns
- Button-up and cuff buttons for adjustability
Cons
- Worth
- Thumbholes had been too small
- Hood wants a hat for optimum perform
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 glad. The silky materials on the arms feels nice towards 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 glorious 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 delicate 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 way 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 offers some higher safety –– UPF scores degrade if a cloth is stretched.
Although the thumb holes on the cuffs pulled the sleeve properly previous our knuckles, they had been tight and uncomfortable. Whereas climbing with this shirt, we frequently discovered it extra comfy to unhook thumbs altogether. Even with the thumbs out of the holes, the cuffs do job of retaining the palms coated.
The hood cinches at both aspect, however it felt prefer it was falling in every single place 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 images, the mesh sample permits air to movement, 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 totally loaded in a single day pack on after which once more on a difficult bike journey. 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 girls’s particular kinds. Even with this brick of a telephone within the pocket and a totally 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 way of, giving higher choices for retaining cool. The button-front design definitely acts as a characteristic as wearers can regulate the openness of the physique. The button cuffs (full with thumbholes) permit changes to customise the match.
Although the options are superb, this shirt won’t 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?
In case you are 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 supplies 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 concerning 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’re feeling your finest after lengthy ascents with a pack on. It’ll dry rapidly in order that as you hike into night temperatures, you’re not placing your self in an uncomfortable or probably 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 superb solar shirts to contemplate to your subsequent journey. Discover different choices beneath and on our full solar shirt information.
Outside Analysis Echo Evaluate: If breathability, wicking, and dry time stood out within the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down, the Outside Analysis Echo is worthy of your consideration. This solar shirt is the lightest we examined and probably the most breathable of the bunch. It dries inside ten minutes of inactivity and seems like you’re carrying nothing. This alternative, 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 potential to breathe and wick. Although it is a knit high, it has an ultra-light wool cloth that reigns with the pure powers of this fiber. It’s a good possibility 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 possibility for a backpacking shirt that can sustain on lengthy thru-ikes as a result of it has a relaxed physique model, glorious UPF solar safety (50+), technical woven cloth, and related 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.