The North Face Lightrange Sunriser Hoodie Review

tThe North Face Lightrange Sunriser Hoodie is lightweight, high-tech sun protection in a sporty package. Unlike some sun hoodies, the Sunriser is form-fitting and highly mobile, allowing it to perform fast-moving sports activities. Read on to learn more about this interesting new solar gear option from The North Face.

The North Face LIGHTRANGE Sunriser Hoodie At a glance

• Recommended RRP: $70
• UPF Rating: 40
• Cut: Slim and tight
• Weight: 144g/5.08oz
• Fabric: 100% polyester (89% recycled)
• Characteristics: Anti-odor, split side hems, FlashDry wicking technology, thumb loops, soft next-to-skin feel, high-stretch fabric

Sunriser hoodie for women here.

Intended use

The North Face markets the Sunriser Hoodie as «ideal for backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, and other activities where saving weight is important.» Overall, I think Sunriser works best as a next-to-skin layer for more time-sensitive activities like trail and ultra running, route setting, or fastpacking.

Review circumstances

I received the Sunriser Hoodie three months ago and have since worn it on numerous day hikes, long trail rides, and river trips in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. The testing window was August through October with average conditions ranging from 70 to 90°F and 60 to 90% humidity.

I rock climbed and bouldered, ran on rough trails, went off trail, and swam in this layer. Overall, I found the Sunriser to be a reliable and forgiving layer for optimal comfort in challenging conditions, whether it’s preventing sunburn after a long day on the river, effectively wicking away sweat while PRing on a trail, or drying quickly for irritation-free walking after swimming.

Characteristics

LIGHT RANGE Fabric: This new fabric from The North Face is a radically lightweight microgrid fabric with the triple threat of anti-odor, UPF, and enhanced wicking treatments.

Slim cut: This hoodie is designed to be fitted and mobile. The torso is significantly shorter than the arms, the sleeves are small in diameter, the slip hems are split to increase mobility, and the hood hugs my head and ears.

The North Face Sunriser has a split side hem for added mobility.

Next-to-skin comfort: Flatlock seams, tag-free design, and incredibly soft, flexible fabric make this hoodie feel like a second skin. Additionally, the hoodie features raglan sleeves to reduce the risk of shoulder chafing or irritation when carrying a backpack.

Elastic thumb loops: Hidden in the hem of the sleeves are small elastic loops to help protect the backs of your hands from sun exposure. I initially thought this would be an inferior design to traditional thumbholes, but the elastic loops help prevent the strange stretching of the sleeves that sometimes occurs with other designs.

Elastic loops protect your hands without stretching the sleeves uncomfortably.

Use

While the humble sun hoodie may seem like a simple piece of gear, the Sunriser has a few quirks that set it apart from other models.

Fabric technology

I mentioned it before, but The North Face claims to include a ton of technology in the LIGHTRANGE fabric that this hoodie is made of. The fabric is a high thread count microgrid fabric of 108 grams per square meter. Translation? Very light, soft, elastic and breathable fabric. Add the LIGHTRANGE fabric treatment and you’re looking at an odor-resistant, quick-drying, and UV-resistant kit.

108g/m² The fabric is near the lower limit for sun hood fabrics industry-wide. For reference, the popular Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily hoodie weighs 125 g/m²and the Black Diamond Alpenglow is 200 g/m².

This lightweight fabric feels great against the skin but is not very durable. In areas exposed to friction (like under backpack straps), I noticed some pilling after just a few uses. While traveling off the trail, snagged branches also damaged the fabric.

In this close-up, you can see that the fabric is a tight microgrid design.

All of that is to say that while this hoodie is well constructed, this material will be a limiting factor, especially for hiking or climbing on rough terrain, or for use on long hikes.

Plus, while this sun hoodie has an anti-odor layer, it’s still a 100% polyester garment, which has a reputation for stinking. Despite the treatment, in my experience this hoodie couldn’t compete with more inherently odor-free materials like merino wool.

Overall, the fabric of this hoodie seems best suited for fast, light adventures like trail running. More on that later.

A quick note on UPF qualifications

UPF, short for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, is not a linear scale. Instead, the space between smaller numbers represents larger jumps in protection than the gaps between larger numbers. For example, a regular white t-shirt has a UPF of 5, which corresponds to 4/5 protection (with 1 in 5 UV rays penetrating the fabric).

The North Face Sunriser has a claimed UPF of 40+, meaning less than 1 in 40 UV rays penetrate the fabric. That’s pretty good, and most sun hoodies are between 30 and 50 UPF.

However, I wanted to point out that UPF ratings are determined by multiple factors: it can be any combination of the weave tension of the fabric, the UPF coatings applied to the fabric, or an odd geometry of the fabric designed to disperse UV rays. All of this means that UPF grades don’t always represent real-world performance. Protection may decrease when the fabric is stretched, wet, or old and worn.

In the case of the Sunriser, the material is definitely too thin to have UPF 40 protection on its own. We reached out to The North Face to clarify how the Sunriser achieves this high rating with such a thin fabric. As you may have guessed, it is thanks to the Lightrange treatment that is applied to the fabric. TNF assured us that the hoodie was tested beyond the brand’s normal wash test standard to ensure the treatment persisted through numerous washes.

Ultra-thin fabric is not always good; Although I can’t say much definitively, this fabric lets a lot of sunlight through the grid lines, especially when stretched.

That said, I would still lean toward a more inherently UV-resistant material for adventurers in environments with high UV levels, such as above the tree line, in the desert, or near the equator.

Fit

The fit of this hoodie surprised me at first when I opened it out of the box. As someone used to loose, flowy hoodies (my personal favorite cut is the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down, which is basically the opposite fit of the Sunriser), the tight forearms, short torso, fitted hood, and overall slim fit made me skeptical.

I enjoy wearing this hoodie, but I wouldn’t wear it on a hike. The cut is very athletic and while it didn’t seem restrictive for racing, I think it might start to feel that way after a few days on the track. As a trail running hoodie, the fit is excellent – ​​there’s no extra fabric to snag on passing branches. As a backpacking layer, this hoodie doesn’t stand out for me and I still prefer some of the looser, more durable options out there.

The North Face Sunriser Pros

Feeling light and like a second skin: High moisture wicking efficiency and breathability, combined with low fabric thickness, make this hoodie incredibly comfortable to wear.

Quick drying, odor resistant: FlashDry technology, thin materials and odor resistance create a versatile piece that breathes well, even in harsh weather conditions.

Design designed for athletes: This hoodie is designed from the ground up for mobility. Look for split hems, a slim athletic fit, and a shorter torso.

Cons of the North Face Sunriser

Durability is mediocre: With a barely-there high-tech fabric, something has to give, and in this case, it’s durability. Snags, scratches, and friction can easily damage this hoodie, perhaps more quickly than most. Additionally, most of the technical specifications of this hoodie are based on a coating, which can degrade with use, reducing UV and odor resistance and wicking performance.

The slim cut may be a disadvantage for some: While the athletic fit of this hoodie is perfect for urgent activities like trail running, I find it limiting when backpacking.

UPF rating is average: A UPF rating of 40 is acceptable, but for adventures in high UV environments or people with sensitive skin, something with a UPF 50+ rating will provide more protection.

Conclusion

The North Face LIGHTRANGE Sunriser Hoodie is a solid active layer option for trail runners, warm-weather hikers, or other sporting activities where staying cool and dry is important. The Sunriser employs a high-tech, extremely lightweight fabric, providing incredible comfort and breathability in a slim athletic fit.

Unfortunately, lightweight fabric means lower durability, which may disqualify you for hiking, where resilience is key in the long run. Still, the Sunriser is worth a look, especially if you prefer tighter sportswear or are planning adventures in hot or humid conditions.

Shop the North Face Sunriser Men’s Hoodie

Shop the North Face Sunriser Women’s Hoodie

Other options to consider

REI Co-op Sahara Sun Hoodie (Men’s | Women’s)

• Recommended RRP: $50
• UPF Rating: 50+

Patagonia Cool Daily Capilene Hoodie (Men’s | Women’s)

• Recommended RRP: $65
• UPF Rating: 50+

Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down (men | Women’s)

• Recommended RRP: $95
• UPF Rating: 30

Black Diamond Alpine Glitter (Men’s | Women’s)

• Recommended RRP: $110
• UPF Rating: 50

The North Face Sunriser Hoody was donated for review purposes.