Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie Sun Shirt Review

Bottom Line

The standout feature of the Free Fly Bamboo Shade (men’s / women’s) sun shirt is its comfort. The silky, soft fabric is unparalleled out of all our favorite sun shirts we tested this year. The fit, sun protection, stretch, and versatility all rate well for this top, but we found that it wasn’t the quickest drying, best breathing, or good at wicking. 

While hiking with this shirt, we kept returning to the softness of the fabric. Our notes repeated over and over how great the fabric felt against the skin. The relaxed and easy-going fit was comfortable, as were the hood and thumbholes. 

As the hike became more challenging, we immediately noticed how much sweat was accumulating on our skin and the back of this shirt. We didn’t feel great airflow through the shirt and noticed it took a while to dry. 

Despite this, we believe this is a good option for the average hiker who enjoys casual, front-country adventures.

How We Tested

This sun shirt underwent multiple tests in different temperatures and weather. We hiked in it on sunny, warm afternoons with a day pack on. We wore it as a running shirt for ~4-mile runs during cold, wintery dusks. We also did a lab test by wearing it for a 20-minute stationary bike ride. After each activity, we made sure to clock the dry time and the stench.

Comfort

When we wear this top, we make everyone feel the fabric because we are in love with its softness. We can pull and stretch the fabric with ease, and the way it fits is top-notch comfort. 

The Free Fly Women’s Bamboo Shade Hoodie II has a very comfortable, silky-feeling fabric that provides a softness that stays with you all day. This fantastic quality comes from the viscose fibers used in the fabric. Though don’t be confused by the labeling– this viscose is made from bamboo but is not considered a natural fiber because of the extensive processing it undergoes. 

The fabric moves freely during various outdoor activities and outings. Free Fly says this fabric has a four-way stretch, which we corroborate. While running, we especially notice how well the sleeves move with our arms, accommodating movements. This stretch makes this shirt easy to wear on and off the trail.  

One caveat is the strict washing instructions. We did throw its cousin –– the Free Fly Men’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie / Women’s Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie II –– into the regular wash and noticed that it lost some of its softness and stretch and shrunk. We were happy to see that the Bamboo Shade Hoodie II did not lose shape or softness after washing. 

If comfort is a top priority in your next sunshirt, you won’t be disappointed.  

Sun Protection

The Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie II offers dermatologist-approved sun protection. It has a UPF 50+ rating, cuffs that cover the hands completely when the thumbholes are worn, and a hood. 

UPF 50+ is the highest rating possible for sun-protective clothing. The Skin Cancer Foundation considers this rating “excellent” because it blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays. 

The thumbholes help keep the cuffs in place, covering the hands completely to the knuckles. While hiking, they are comfortable, but the sleeves pull at the thumb crotch when our arms are outstretched. Bending down to tie shoes felt slightly uncomfortable, but this was not noticeable when arms were at the sides. 

The hood is loose and roomy—perfect for wearing a hat underneath—but it isn’t so loose that it falls into our eyes or off our heads when hiking or running.

Breathability & Wicking Power

Breathability and wicking power are where the Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie II lost testing points. On low to moderate exertion hiking, it feels okay. But once the grade gets steep,  sweat accumulates, and there isn’t great breathability to help cool us off. 

In another test, during a 20-minute stationary bike ride, sweat pooled on the back of the shirt and our skin. It didn’t feel like much air was coming through the fabric(even with the ceiling fan on!). The sweat that stayed on our bodies made it feel even more humid and gross. In this lab test and during field testing, the fabric becomes clingy and heavy once it is saturated.

Hang drying can take more than two and a half hours, which is dangerous in variable weather or when it is your only top on backcountry trips. For this reason, we don’t suggest it for sweaty scenarios.

Versatility

This shirt perfectly transitions into town and works well for most casual outdoor activities. We thought it worked fine in fall weather by itself, but we wouldn’t recommend this as a base layer for intense activities. We also noticed that this was the smelliest shirt out of our favorite sun shirts after activity. 

We like wearing this shirt around the house and under sweaters to run errands. The shirt is casual but appropriate for settings around town with a sleek design that looks convincingly like an average long sleeve. We even wore this to a meeting at a coffee shop and felt comfortable.  

Though it can look great in town, be conscious of the smell before you meet friends. This shirt held on to the hiking stench long after we left the trail. 

While we wouldn’t recommend this as a technical base layer, its thicker fabric makes this warmer than most of the other sun shirts in our review and a fine choice to wear under a puffy for a quick outing.

Should You Buy the Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie Sun Shirt?

This is a solid choice for the average hiker who isn’t looking for anything technical but wants good sun protection. It wins our hearts for its comfortable fit and incredible fabric.  The material feels comfortable at temperatures as low as the mid-40s but may be stuffy under fleece layers during colder temperatures. For taking on 6-mile, frontcountry adventures in mild temperatures, this top is a great choice. 

This top wouldn’t be a good choice for someone who needs a technical shirt that breathes and wicks well. We would not recommend this top for someone who needs a reliable base layer for intense activities like backcountry skiing. 

What Other Sun Shirts Should You Consider?

If you’re considering the Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie II, make sure to check out our top picks in our sun shirt gear guide. 

Milk & Whiskey Chaser Review: The Milk & Whiskey is a similar sun shirt to the Free Fly. It offers great sun protection, soft fabric, an easy fit, and all-day comfort. However, the Milk & Whiskey does rate higher for breathability, which might be worth considering for hikers looking to go farther or harder. 

Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie Review: The Cotopaxi rates highly for breathability and higher on wicking/drying time versus the Free Fly. It fits differently because it is woven. This shirt floats away from the body instead of draping on it, which we found helps us keep cool during demanding hikes.  

Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino Review: Though the Minus 33 doesn’t provide the great sun protection that the Free Fly does, it acts as a more technical layer while keeping the softness and ease of a knit. This sun shirt is a great layering piece and helps regulate body temperature when hiking.