ProView – VOORMI River Run Hoodie
I’ve always been a big advocate for anything that falls into the category of the “Sun Hoodie.” As someone who spends 100+ days in the summer working outside, often for extended periods, it’s inconvenient, and unhealthy to be wearing so much sunscreen. If you spend any amount of time recreating outside and don’t have a sun hoodie, it’s time to seriously consider getting one. I largely prefer to cover my skin whenever possible, and up until now, I always thought the best way to do that was with the thinnest, most breathable polyester hoodie I could find. I’ll admit I was skeptical when I first heard about a wool sun hoodie. I first put the VOORMI River Run Hoodie on in mid-August, and now that I’ve gotten to try it, I wish I could have gotten it earlier in the year!
Before ski season rolled around, I got to chance to test out the hoodie in the remnants of the hot Colorado summer. From hiking to rock climbing, I think this awesome wool shirt has definitely earned its place in my wardrobe.
VOORMI River Run Hoodie
Product Description: The evolution of our go-to summer long sleeve. Featuring the lightest and most breathable DUAL SURFACE™ Precision Blended Wool we've ever made (100 g/m2), the River Run Hoodie handles the height of the summer sun with as much poise as it does a crisp morning start. Thanks to our proprietary precision blending process, the naturally UV protecting, thermally regulating ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHCOUNTRY MERINO™ wool provides plenty of cover for the razor thin layer of moisture wicking synthetic fibers underneath. Relaxed Fit.
Offer price: $130 MSRP
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Quality
(4)
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Fit
(4.2)
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Versatility
(3.7)
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Style
(4.5)
Summary
All in all, I’d give the River Run Hoodie 4 out of 5 stars. While it’s not the do-it-all solution to summer sun protection, it’s a great choice for the casual recreationalist (like myself) looking to stay cool and protected, while still looking good doing so. Protecting yourself from the firey ball in the sky is important, and sunscreen is expensive. Sun hoodies are a great way to stay protected without feeling like you have to go out of your way to do so, and the VOORMI River Runner Hoodie is a great solution. It’s definitely going to be my choice for almost all of my summertime activities, and I would definitely recommend checking out this American made brand!
Overall
4.1Pros
- High performance material
- Comfortable
- Casual fit
Cons
- Slightly small in forearms
Construction
The River Run Hoodie is an awesome, all around, summer layer. It is comfortable, looks good, and most importantly, keeps the sun off without making you overheat. In general, I am a huge fan of wool anything. As someone who is often backpacking for 15+ days at a time, wool makes a huge difference when it comes to smell. I also find wool is more comfortable, as it has unique moisture wicking and cooling properties that garments made out of 100 percent polyester don’t. For these reasons I’m a big fan of a wool version of the classic polyester sun hoodie. The hoodie itself is considerably lighter than most wool garments and feels like it will stand up extremely well over time (which I think has to do with the blend of polyester and wool being just right!) And, for those of you who pay attention to manufacturing, you’ll probably be happy to know that all VOORMI products are made in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
Fit
The VOORMI River Run fits comfortably, and I found it was pretty true to size. I did, however, find that the forearms were a bit snug. The material feels great on your skin, and the cooling effect is almost immediately noticeable the second you move into the sun.
Improvements
I do think this hoodie has some limitations. Being wool, the hoodie is heavier than 100 percent polyester garments simply due to the nature of the material (wool is heavier). For that reason, this probably isn’t my top choice for extremely high aerobic activities like trail running. I also think I’d probably skip over this piece for glacial or snow travel in the spring or early summer, as I usually prefer the lightest possible clothing in this unique, microwave-esque, environment. I do think this is a great solution for a more casual outing, where you don’t feel like your pushing to your very limit. I think of this layer as being great for activities like backpacking or cragging, where I’m still working hard, but not fighting to save every ounce of weight. For those activities, this is definitely my first choice over my stinky, stained polyester sun hoodies. It’s an awesome casual piece that you can wear all day (or many days), to remain protected and comfortable, and it’s stylish enough that you can roll straight into the bar after a long day and not think twice about how you look. I’ve actually found myself wearing it around town more than once, which is something I would never do with the other sun hoodies I own.
Final Word
All in all, I’d give the River Run Hoodie 4 out of 5 stars. While it’s not the do-it-all solution to summer sun protection, it’s a great choice for the casual recreationalist (like myself) looking to stay cool and protected, while still looking good doing so. Protecting yourself from the firey ball in the sky is important, and sunscreen is expensive. Sun hoodies are a great way to stay protected without feeling like you have to go out of your way to do so, and the VOORMI River Runner Hoodie is a great solution. It’s definitely going to be my choice for almost all of my summertime activities, and I would definitely recommend checking out this American made brand!
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Max Forbes is a professional outdoor educator and wilderness medicine instructor who typically spends nearly a third of his year sleeping outdoors. Originally hailing from the Northeast, Max is now based in Golden, Colorado, where he splits his time between working as an EMT in the Emergency Room, and teaching in the mountains.
