KETL NoFry Sun Hoodie Review

The Bottom Line

The KETL NoFry Hoodie is a special sun shirt designed for those who love high breathability and are willing to sacrifice some protection to achieve it. This small, lightweight design is very comfortable and airy, giving a tough feeling when walking in a warm environment.

Another trade-off in the highly breathable design is that the fabric is soft and prone to sagging. In other words, don’t expect too much longevity. But for the price, the NoFry is a great option for those looking for a summer-friendly sun shirt. For more options, check out our gear guide for sun shirts.

How We Tested

We wore the NoFry Sun Hoodie on several hikes of three to five miles, as well as short ski trips and hiking days. We took a closer look at how the shirt works in each situation, testing it with layers underneath and outside.

Comfort

Overall, the NoFry Sun Hoodie gets high marks for comfort due to its fit, super comfortable hand feel, and great stretch. After throwing this shirt into our daily rotation, we gravitated to it again and again for its silky, drapey fabric.

The fit was there for our female gear tester. The shirt is only sold in men’s sizes, which leads us to believe that some men may experience tightness in the back and shoulders. We’ve confirmed this with online reviews, which means those with a broad chest or shoulders may want to consider sizing up.

Importantly, this did not affect the lightweight, silky-soft feel of the shirt. Of all the sun shirts we reviewed, this one had the thinnest fabric at 79 GSM. In comparison, the average “lightweight” fabric is around 100 GSM, and only one other shirt we’ve reviewed – the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down – is closer to 85 GSM for UL designs and 95 GSM for printed styles.

The NoFry fabric is a high-performance, grid-bonded polyester that offers great stretch, outperforming most of the competition on the move, too. However, compared to the women’s Arcteryx Cormac/Sunna Hoody, we noticed the NoFry’s lack of stretch and four-way stretch. Although it moves very well, it can be very prone to getting caught on other layers, equipment, or abrasive surfaces.

Sun protection

NoFry offers solid protection in a lightweight and breathable design, but it’s not a standout on the market. For reference, it has a UPF 30+ rating, which the Skin Cancer Foundation calls “excellent protection.” Only shirts with UPF 50+ are eligible for their Recommendation Mark, but KETL still blocks nearly 97% of harmful UV rays, allowing only 1/30 to pass through the fabric.

As for the features, the hood is comfortable and has no way to be tightened or compressed. When we were walking on a windy day, it kept falling on our head. During the visit in favorable weather, the hood still slightly blocked our eyes and face. With the hood down, however, the hood stayed in place when we drove 60 miles per hour with all the windows down.

The NoFry does not have a neck gaiter, and the sleeves do not fully cover the hands. This was true even when we used our thumbs to keep the sleeves in place. That said, we appreciated the four-snap neck closure, which allowed for quick ventilation or added protection (depending on what we needed most). KETL also offers a single snap design for the same price.

Breathability & Wicking Power

The NoFry Sun Hoodie really shines with its breathability, wicking, and quick-drying capabilities – don’t count on it smelling good after a full day. Before giving away this shirt, we noted the unique construction, which includes a mesh texture that allows air to pass through (almost like a mesh). Unlike other sun shirts we’ve reviewed, this ultralight weave is invisible. In the field, this translates into a windy, slightly windy environment whether we’re skiing or hiking, with or without a top layer.

The NoFry was also the fastest drying of all the sun shirts we tested. It dried so quickly in the field that we didn’t even think about sweat – that is, until we got to the car and smelled it. We found that even wearing this shirt around town to run errands caused the fabric to smell under the arms. The strange thing is that the shirt seemed to pick up a bad smell – we smelled good after changing clothes.

Flexibility

While the NoFry works well as a base layer, it doesn’t have the staying power of many of the other sun shirts on our list. In other words, after a summer of moderate hiking, pocket wear, or scratching, don’t expect the shirt to look brand new.

After a month and a half of having this shirt in our weekly rotation, there were noticeable creases in the sleeves and body, especially the cuffs. Although we were outfitted for skiing, hiking, and running, we didn’t face any strenuous hikes that put us in danger.

This shirt requires an extra layer when the temperature drops below the mid 50s. Even when we took this on a short ski trip (one mile), we felt cold going uphill despite the hard work. On the other hand, this shirt can make a decent base layer for mild but still sweaty winter adventures, such as skiing or snowboarding.

Should You Buy the KETL NoFry Sun Hoodie?

All things considered, this is a great shirt. It balances technical performance with comfort and lightness with sun protection. We see this as a comet in the proverbial sky of sun shirts, burning brightly but quickly. It’s a great choice for summer hikers but falls well on winter trips with a medium overtop.

If long-term durability is high on your priority list, NoFry is not the best choice. Lightweight fabric is soft and prone to wrinkling, spoiling faster than dense weaves. A UPF 30+ shirt rating also falls on the lower end of the spectrum, even though it blocks about 97% of harmful UV rays.

What Are Some Other Sun Shirts To Consider?

If you’re still unsure if the KETL NoFry Sun Hoodie is for you, check out the three options below, or head over to our full list of recommendations in our best sun shirts guide.

Arc’teryx Sunna Hoody Review: Those looking for a technical and durable option will find a lot to like in the Cormac Men’s / Women’s Sunna Hoody. The fabric is thicker than NoFry’s (110 GSM) but dries quickly, absorbs moisture well, has a good amount of stretch, and offers better flexibility all year round.

Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Review: The Triple Crown Button Down provides enhanced durability with the same lightweight and breathable design. The only evidence of a full summer of backpacking — including a seven-day trek in the Eastern Sierra — are the dirty stains on the cuffs. However, the Triple Crown is more expensive than the NoFry, and not everyone will like the style of the buttons.

Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody Review: Crafter Lake combines soft, lightweight fabric with excellent sun protection (UPF 50+). This comes at the cost of drying time close to NoFry, although Crater Lake’s breathability and wicking power are much higher than most other knits.