Backside Line
We awarded the Milk & Whiskey Chaser (males’s / ladies’s) greatest “Townie” in our solar shirts gear information due to its consolation and match. Although its softness shines, this shirt absorbs a variety of sweat and dries very slowly, making it a doubtful selection for high-exertion actions.
This shirt shouldn’t be missed for informal hikers, although. We love the superb solar protecting options, together with a UPF 50+ score and cozy thumbholes that assist the cuff cowl all the hand. This shirt suits nicely underneath layers and, frankly, is our selection for operating errands round city.
Its heavier material makes it a fantastic stand-alone prime for straightforward and reasonable hikes in cooler climate. We put on it on a regular basis and are snug 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 is dependent upon what you’re shopping for this prime for. The typical particular person would put on each cent and extra out of this shirt.
How We Examined
We examined the Milk & Whiskey Chaser solar shirt in varied situations and settings. From difficult multi-mile hikes with a full pack to long-distance runs, we integrated it into our every day wardrobe throughout fluctuating climate situations, each as a standalone piece and layered underneath different clothes.
Fast Specs

Milk & Whiskey Chaser Solar Hoodie
Greatest Each Day Solar Shirt
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.5/5.0
Worth:
$99
UPF Ranking:
50+
Material Weight:
179 GSM
Material:
49% polyester, 28% modal rayon, 18% naia, 5% spandex
Professionals
- Tremendous comfortable material
- Nice handfeel
- Snug
- Nice solar safety
- Nice for city and path
Cons
- Absorbs sweat and dries slower than different solar shirts
- Heavier than others
- Worth
- Double layer thumbholes and hood
Consolation
There was by no means any doubt that the Milk & Whiskey Chaser could be snug whereas mountaineering. Earlier than taking this solar shirt out for exams, we wore it round the home, operating errands and going to work. It was so snug and match so nicely that it was the very first thing we reached for within the morning.
Taking this shirt on the path, sporting an in a single day pack, and ascending steep slopes, the consolation by no means wavered.
The hand really feel is unbelievable. It doesn’t have the lightest material (179 GSM), however the high quality of the material is comfortable 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 gives wonderful solar safety. The shirt has a UPF 50+ score and has thumbholes, lengthy cuffs, and a hood. Nonetheless, it doesn’t present safety on the neck with a gaiter.
Because of the good stretch of the material, the thumbholes are very snug when pulled over the hand. When worn, the thumbholes pull the sleeves to utterly cowl the knuckles.
The hood is superb. After 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 could have offered is a neck gaiter to totally defend the higher physique.
Breathability & Wicking Energy
A strenuous take a look at hike revealed how a lot sweat this shirt absorbs and the way lengthy it takes to dry. Nonetheless, it additionally confirmed that the material breathes pretty nicely, particularly for a knitted shirt.
One factor we discover whereas sporting this shirt at work and whereas mountaineering is our palms are likely to sweat underneath the double-layered cuffs.
On one other take a look at hike with this prime, it was within the excessive 40s and sunny. We made positive to load up an in a single day pack, too. After 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 needed to seize pictures of this shirt there. So we waited…and waited…and waited…. An hour later, this shirt was nonetheless moist to the purpose of displaying darkish spots by the material.
Nonetheless, whereas mountaineering, the shirt breathes very nicely. We might really feel a breeze come by the components 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 greatest for staying cool and cozy on informal sunny outings.
Versatility
This shirt can positively stand as much as path days and apres nights.
There’s a zippered pocket on the facet that might match keys and snacks concurrently, however as a result of it’s manufactured from such a drapey material, we wouldn’t suggest utilizing this pocket for very heavy gadgets.
This solar shirt can work nicely all through the season, however you’ll most likely really feel most snug throughout cooler months that don’t require layering until you might be solely taking straightforward hikes or walks round city. Throughout the mid-day warmth of summer season, we’d go for one thing lighter and extra ethereal.
As a result of this material is so absorptive, we don’t suggest it for outings the place you may generate some perspiration.
Ought to You Purchase the Milk & Whiskey Chaser Solar hoodie?
This prime is a tremendous selection for somebody who’s on the lookout for the consolation of a knit shirt with nice solar safety. It’s most likely greatest fitted to somebody who’s in search of informal outside recreation and day hikes. The model is marketed towards households (Chaser shirts can be found in kids’s sizing), which is the velocity we predict most accurately fits this shirt’s capability.
This is able to not be our first advice for somebody planning a summer season thru-hike, although it could be a fantastic sleep/camp shirt. The thicker material feels extra snug at evening and within the morning, and the super-soft material is sturdy for long-term consolation.
What Different Solar Shirts Ought to You Contemplate?
Make sure you examine the Milk & Whiskey towards the opposite solar shirts in our greatest solar shirts gear information. Right here’s a couple of comparable choices:
Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie II Evaluate: The Free Fly and Milk & Whiskey are very related shirts. Each have an extremely comfortable, drapey material. Each have thicker summertime material (189 & 190 GSM) and wonderful solar protecting options. The one clear function that the Whiskey & Milk has over the Free Fly is odor-resistance.
REI Sahara Shade Evaluate: Barely lighter than the Milk & Whiskey, however nonetheless capable of present the identical wonderful solar protecting options plus safety for the neck. The REI shirt has a really flattering form.
Cotopaxi Sombra Solar Hoodie Evaluate: Bridging the hole between technical and comfort, the Cotopaxi is a good selection for somebody who’s on the lookout for the benefit of the Milk & Whiskey however a extra technical material.