ProView – HIMALI Women’s Eclipse Sun Hoodie

Waking early hasn’t been much of a challenge for me the last few months as I’ve had the opportunity to take part in a few amazing trips that have gotten me out for long days in the sun. This past November I spent a month roaming the arid, open desert of Joshua Tree, CA to rock climb and take a 10 day AMGA Rock Guide Course. In December I flew via helicopter into the Carlyle Lodge outside of Nelson, BC for a week of backcountry skiing,  and to top it off, I started the new year with a week of personal rock climbing in Red Rock, Nevada. The diversity of conditions and context of use was perfect for testing out Himali’s Eclipse Sun Hoodie. And overall, I highly recommend this layer!

Performance/Fit

As a native person to the Pacific Northwest, I have found fall migrations to the US’s southwest desert particularly delightful in pre-drying my skin and bones before the cold, wet, and dark winters. This November, while Washington state received unprecedented rainfall, I was relishing in some mid-70 degree sunshine. My Eclipse Sun Hoodie handled extremely well in providing me the UV protection I needed while allowing maximum breathability to keep my core temp down. This silky, soft layer was a pleasure to put on everyday (and believe me I did), and the medium size I ordered from Himali fit my  5”4’, 145lb and C/D cup bust exceptionally well. The makers at Himali must be real mountain folk, knowing that the strength and endurance to move all day doesn’t necessarily come in the Western’s idea of thin and slender (aka, the fit was true to most outdoor standard sizing). 

Look

While taking the RGC, a certification course for aspiring guides who have a strong rock climbing background and for instructors who are interested in improving their skills and increasing knowledge, it was important for me to look and feel professional, standing up to the high standards of the AMGA. Amidst instruction and conversion with my peers and instructors, I got a few questions and compliments on the Eclipse Hoodie! Everyone loved the electric mint color that stood out against the white granite and I felt that it moved with me on the rock thanks to the fabrics 4-way stretch. Additionally, the neck and hood were a great fit around my helmet, allowing for a great range of movement but staying securely to my helmet for total sun protection. After +10 days of moving and grooving with the Eclipse in the desert, I was ready to take it on the next adventure. 

Features

A bus, a train, a long car ride, and too short of a helicopter ride later and I was transported deep into the Kootenay mountain range in south east BC. It was by and far the best skiing conditions I’ve ever experienced! Deep, blower pow for days! The blue bird days allowed for touring out far from our cozy mountain lodge, and I was so happy to have the Eclipse Sun Hoodie. It’s moisture wicking and silky fabric was so appreciated underneath my other layers in the cold morning and when building heat on the uphill skin tracks. And in this context, the built-in thumbhole loops were so helpful in keeping my sleeves down when changing layers and taking gloves on and off for using my phone for taking pictures and navigation. Perhaps the most impressive thing I noticed about the Eclipse Sun Hoodie was that even after many days of use with little to no showering, it never took on my body odor! That is huge for synthetic fabric! 

Durability

Bringing in 2022, I was able to catch a flight down to Las Vegas to meet a buddy for a week of adventure climbing in the sandstone mountain and canyons of Red Rock. After nearly 2 straight months of wearing my Hoodie, I was still happy putting it on almost every day and found it to be durable in it’s constant use and against the sandy scratching I did up some chimneys! Given the Eclipse’s thin and lightweight this definitely surprised me. I found only a few threads being pulled in the fabric, and nothing that seemed catastrophic to its integrity (just cosmetic one might say). 

Returning home to the Pacific Northwest, I have found that I’m still picking the Eclipse as my favorite active base layer. The soft side pocket has become my dog’s favorite spot to check for snacks and treats while we’re out running in the woods, and I certainly enjoy the easy convenience of the grab and keep moving accessibility of it! 

The Final Word

Overall, I am highly impressed with the performance of Himali’s sun hoodie and found that it more than met my expectations for a lightweight, alpine base layer. There really was no place the sun hoodie couldn’t be used and appreciated as a kick ass active layer. In combination with Himali’s Ascent Stretch Hoodie, the Eclipse is the foundation of my top layering system. 

Find HIMALI Women’s Eclipse Sun Hoodie on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today!