Patagonia Tropic Comfort Natural Sun Hoody Review

The Bottom Line

The Tropic Comfort Natural Hoody (men’s/women’s) has stepped into the spotlight this year as our favorite everyday sun shirt thanks to its outstanding comfort and odor resistance. It shines on casual outings like after-work hikes, climbing gym sessions, and slathering on s’mores on cold nights. It’s not a fancy piece of technology, but it’s a solid daily driver that gets through all the daily and light outdoor activities.

We gravitated to the Tropic Comfort for day hikes and errands, but its inability to wick away moisture left us feeling remarkably sticky during the toughest hikes. For options that work best for getting your heart pumping, check out our sun shirt gear guide.

How We Tested

We tested this shirt on two separate four-mile hikes: one along a snow-covered trail in 40-degree weather and one in the desert with clear sun. We even wore this shirt as a base layer for skiing a few times.

Comfort

The Tropic Comfort Natural Hoody is undeniably comfortable. The modal/spandex jersey fabric feels soft against the skin and offers a good amount of stretch. Although there are some minor annoyances – such as an extra finger loop for the sleeves and a heavy zipper on the side panel pocket – the shirt quickly impressed from a comfort point of view.

We had no complaints about fit, even with our broad shoulders and shifting weight on our upper arms. The shirt slipped well under layers, including sweaters and puffy jackets of various sizes. The fabric moves and stretches very well, too.

Sun protection

Tropic Comfort’s UPF 40+ rating isn’t the highest available – and falls just short of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Recommendation mark – but it does have some great features that boost protection.

First, we love the hood. It fits perfectly, leaving room for a ball cap underneath. When the wind starts to blow, there’s a handy button on the neck that tightens things down without forcing you to cram it over your face.

We also like that the sleeves completely cover the hands and come with both standard thumbs and extra loops to throw over the other fingers for a more secure fit. The secondary finger loops took some getting used to and felt unnecessary at times, but overall, they proved more useful than not.

Breathability & Wicking Power

Tropic Comfort isn’t the most breathable or moisture wicking material but it doesn’t hold odors as well as one would expect. After testing the Tropic Comfort on a few runs, we noticed that it really held the heat, causing us to sweat more than other shirts.

Some users say that Tropic Comfort feels noticeably heavier when wet. This is due to the modal-heavy fabric, which is made from the pulp of beech trees and has similar properties to other natural fibers such as cotton and wool. According to the index, modal is said to be about 50% more absorbent than cotton.

This irritation is made worse by the longer the shirt dries. We took the Tropic Comfort on a wintry trip to South Lake Tahoe in February, with temperatures in the mid-40s and a breeze adding to the snow chill at the summit. The shirt was comfortable and warm enough to wear alone while hiking, especially in the sun, but it got sweaty and noticeably cold on the climb. It wasn’t dry when we got back on the trail two miles later.

This experience was repeated on another hike in the high desert hills of Reno, Nevada, with temperatures in the mid-50s. After a steep start, we were very warm in the Tropic Comfort with a puffy overtop but very cold without it. As a result, we wouldn’t recommend this shirt for long day hikes, multi-day hikes, or winter hikes – a full shirt can be very uncomfortable and dangerous in cooler or colder temperatures.

At the end of the day, we were impressed with how well the Tropic Comfort controlled odors. Despite releasing a hearty BO after each of the aforementioned trips, the shirt didn’t smell bad and survived the wash.

Flexibility

Tropic Comfort Natural is a great versatile piece. While it’s not our first choice for a tech trip, it has an attractive look that makes it perfect for everyday wear. Ultimately, this is the shirt we gravitate to the most when we’re running errands or taking the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. Although it’s a bit pricey for a sun shirt, we feel this makes it a solid value.

We also like that the modal-heavy fabric retains its shape and resists wear and tear better than cotton. Through all of our tests — including wearing and ripping off snow gloves while snowshoeing, sorting and carrying rocks while hiking, and nervously fumbling with the hood’s cinch button — this shirt held up without visible flaws, tears, or other signs of wear and tear.

Should You Buy Patagonia Tropic Comfort Natural?

To answer this question, it is important to first consider your external goals and objectives. If you enjoy hiking as a social outlet or an easy way to unwind after work, Tropic Comfort can tick all the boxes. Very comfortable, easy to wear, and odorless. You pay a little for the Patagonia name, but the design is well built and looks good to boot.

If you’re training for a specific goal or enjoy more technical outings, Tropic Comfort is probably the way to go. It does not breathe well, is quick to absorb moisture (ie, sweat), and takes a long time to dry. If those features are important to you, there are plenty of viable options on the market.

What Are Some Other Sun Shirts To Consider?

We think this shirt is a real winner, but you might want to check out the other top-rated options in our best sun shirts guide. Here are a few that give Tropic Comfort Natural a run for its money:

Arc’teryx Sunna Hoody Review: While the Tropic Comfort ranks high in comfort and versatility, it falls behind the men’s Arc’teryx Cormac / women’s Sunna Hoody in many metrics. Technical yet incredibly comfortable, the design features a stretchy fabric that’s super easy to get into. The Cormac/Sunna are also very breathable, quick drying, and protective but not too good at falling for casual wear.

Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie Review: Bridging the gap between technology and convenience, Sombra is a great choice if you value both comfort and functionality. Its playful design is unmatched in the city, and the fabric wicks moisture better and protects from the sun better than Tropic Comfort’s.

REI Sahara Shade Hoodie Review: Sahara Shade offers easy comfort at a friendlier price than Tropic Comfort. It is also better at wicking away sweat and provides improved breathability. The biggest drawback is that it doesn’t hold up well over time, it eventually loses its shape, accumulates holes and stains, and fades quickly.