Hoodie Test Review

We took a Hoodie for a Swim

A lot of sun protection swimwear is skin tight so you can swim swiftly. The downside is that it can get a bit hot in warm climates, unless you soak it regularly. Also, when it stretches it looses some of its sun protection.

An alternative is a loose fitting hoodie. This is the most comfy sun safe swimming outfit we could find: Nylon hoodie and unlined pants. We've tested a Nike hoodie and breathable lightweight nylon shell pants in Thailand. Air temperature was about 35°C and the water of the lake was about 28°C warm. Sunshine was intense. The hoodie didn't feel hot, just cosy and snug.

Dry Test

The fabric is smooth on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside, feels good on the skin. It doesn't hold much water, but soaks up sweat and evaporates it quickly, keeping the skin fairly dry. The loose fit allows plenty of airflow. The hood can be used to protect the head from sunburn.

We tried these hoodies and tracksuit pants while trekking up a hot river valley. This got us a bit warm, but there were plenty of waterfalls to cool off. Once this outfit was wet it felt great, like wearable air-conditioning. However, it dried out soon so another "refill" was needed at the next waterfall.

Swim Test

Next we wore the hoodie and unlined nylon shell pants, cycling to the lake which took almost an hour. The loose fit let a lot of wind through and felt really comfortable. When we arrived we were keen to wear these clothes in the lake and cool off.

In the water the hoodie was just as comfortable as on land. It slows any activities down a bit, but that is not a problem for recreational swimming. We found it easy to enjoy any splash sports where its waterlogged weight helps build muscles. Chilling out in the lake during the midday heat is pleasantly refreshing. The wet hood keeps the head cool and safe from sunburn.

After swimming the water runs off quickly leaving the clothes just damp. It feels comfy and dries quickly. If you keep it on in hot weather, it will keep you cool but dry out in less than an hour. This makes the hoodie and pants an ideal amphibian outfit you can wear all day long in and out of the water. On cooler days you may want to wear a swim shirt underneath. On windy days a thin unlined windbreaker on top helps avoid wind chill.

Hood Makes Cool Sound Effects

The hood comes in handy if the glare from the sun's reflections gets too intense. It protects your neck and ears from sunburn. Just put it up, face away from the sun and you're cool. A wet hood creates awesome sound effects. It amplifies the sound around you like a big ear. You also hear the water inside your hoodie splashing around when you go swimming.

Summary

We feel this is so far the most practical outfit we've tested for sun safety and UV protection. It has better air circulation than a swimshirt, dries almost as fast and looks good both wet and dry. Swimming in a hoodie is easy, but it slows you down.

Fabric: 71% Polyester, 29% Polybutylene Terepthalate (whatever that is)