Prana Calder Hoodie Review: A Ton of Fun in the Sun
Table of Contents
As I’ve grown older, I’ve wised up to some facts about life. Chief among them: the sun is bad for you. That’s why I wear a sun hoody whenever I go outside on a clear day.
Okay, so the sun isn’t that bad per se, but too much of it causes problems: namely skin cancer, and skin aging.
Spending a lot of time outdoors, I’ve found it a wise investment to purchase high quality, UV resistant layers. Providing all day sun protection, without the slippery mess of sunscreen, sun clothing is the clear choice when it comes to protecting my health and well being.
I’ve found the Prana Calder Hoodie to be a decent shirt, providing full sun protection, while cooling the skin. It never gets too warm, and doesn’t stink (that badly). The best part: it’s a little more budget friendly than similar sun hoodies.
Read on for a full rundown and review of the Prana Calder Hoodie.
Find the Prana Calder Hoodie at REI Find the Prana Calder Hoodie at Backcountry Find the Prana Calder Hoodie on Amazon
Overview and Features
In general, Prana makes high quality technical/lifestyle clothing. They really shoot for the bohemian influencer angle, crafting stylish, yet utilitarian pants, shirts, and jackets.
I’ve written a couple of reviews of Prana clothing, finding most of it to be pretty good. The Prana Zion line is my go to choice for rock climbing, and hiking pants, for example.
The Calder Hoodie is made with the same quality I’ve come to expect. Here’s a quick rundown of features, as per Prana’s website:
- UPF 50+-blocks 98% of UV rays
- Bluesign approved construction
- YKK Zipper Hip CLosure Pocket
- Quick Dry Properties
Overall it’s a simple design that’s pulled off well. Earth tones, like all Prana clothing, are the color options. I got the blue one.
Women’s Prana Sun Hoodie-The Odea Sun Shirt
The Prana Calder Hoodie is a Men’s Hoodie (though I really don’t understand why anyone can’t just wear one).
Prana offers a similar Hoodie designed for women, called the Prana Odea Hooded Sun Shirt. The Prana Odea is made with similar materials as the Calder Hoodie, but comes with both a hood draw cord, and a kangaroo pocket. These features make it a bit more functional, but come at the expense of less sun protection. Rated at UPF 25, the Odea will only block about 96% of incoming UV rays, vs. the Calder’s 98%.
A 2% difference in protection doesn’t sound like much, but it probably makes a difference over many hours spent in the sun.
What We Liked:
- Lightweight
- Breathes well, even when exercising on hot days.
- Stretchy material and fit allows a wide range of motion.
- Zip pocket is a handy spot to store small items
- More affordable than similar sun hoodies
What We Didn’t
- Not very form fitting
- Color options are limited
- No thumbholes
Find the Prana Calder Hoodie at Backcountry Find the Prana Calder Hoodie on Amazon
Sun Protection-UPF Clothing
I first scoffed at the idea of Sun Hoodies. I’d see someone jogging down the street, wearing a full hoodie in 90+ degree weather, and I’d think they’re crazy. Why would you do that to yourself?
I couldn’t comprehend the idea that clothing could actually be cooling. Like, clothing that actually wicks sweat away from the skin, allowing it to evaporate, thereby creating a cooling effect. The idea seemed far fetched.
Yet these days, you’re unlikely to catch me outside without sun clothing protection. My go to combo is a sun hoody, combined with a buff. I try to protect as much of my upper body as I can, pulling the hood over my head, and stretch my buff to cover my nose.
The main advantages of using sun protective clothing are it’s UPF qualities, vs. the SPF rating from sunscreen.
There are a few distinctions between UPF and SPF. The main difference is how you are protected from UV radiation.
You see, there are two types of UV radiation that can damage skin. Deemed UV-A and UV-B, these are the culprits responsible for sunburn, skin aging, and cancer. Sunscreens, with their SPF rating, only protects against UV-B radiation.
UPF rated clothing will shield you against both UV-A, and UV-B, keeping you healthier and safer in the sun, compared to regular sunscreen.
Personally, I find sunscreen to be overly messy, and kind of a pain to use. With sun hoodies, like the Prana Calder, I can leave it on, and never have to worry about reapplication.
Comfort and Fit
Hewn from a synthetic material, the Prana Calder Hoodie is especially soft against the skin. It is designed to reduce friction, and promote airflow, thereby cutting out chafing. The fit of the Calder is fairly loose, draping over it’s wearer gently, rather than hugging tight against the skin.
The fit makes for a less flattering look, but prevents any tight, constricting spots. The hood, when worn, also hangs rather loosely, although is the right cut so that it does not ever block your vision.
It’s a comfortable piece of clothing, whether I’m actively exercising, or just lounging at home. I’m wearing it right now as I slump over my laptop, in fact. I wouldn’t hesitate to sleep in it, and the material stretches enough to be able to cover your face.
So far, I’ve taken the Calder along on a couple of long hikes, while wearing a loaded backpack. Unlike some other shirts, the Calder did not bunch up under my pack as I hiked. Sweat did gather on my back, but quickly evaporated as soon as I took the pack off.
The Calder is somewhat loose fitting, but it is a design that works well. I hardly notice it when I’m wearing it, and it allows air to readily flow. Other sun shirts are similarly loose fitting, but I cannot speak to their comfort. The Prana Calder, though, is one chill shirt.
Athletic Performance and Breathability
When designing the Calder, It’s clear that Prana had outdoor activity in mind. Where else might you wear this? The tanning salon? Reading the copy, Prana seems to advertise the Calder as a shirt for Surfers lounging around on the beach.
This hoodie has become a running staple of mine. I’ve worn it on tough trail runs in 90+ degree heat, and on long tough summer hikes. I sweat up a storm, as expected, and the Calder soaks it all up. When a light breeze comes along, all the moisture evaporates away, and I’m left with a refreshing, cooling feeling throughout my torso. The resulting cooling effect shines a light on the Prana Calder’s effectiveness as an active sun layer.
Climbing and Hiking
I was really able to test out the Calder one warm June weekend in Joshua Tree National Park. Temperatures were in the 80s, and I was looking to scramble, hike, and rock climb on Jtree’s classic Quartzite Crags. I started off the morning with a solo scramble through the tricky, challenging Chasm of Doom. Here, hikers must scrape their way through narrow passages, climb over tricky ledges, and slide through a narrow crevice known as the “Birth Canal”. The Calder never ripped or snagged throughout the entire ordeal. You know that a shirt is quality if it can survive a trip through The Chasm intact.
Next, I pulled on my climbing harness, and roped in. Many shirts, when worn under a harness, have a tendency to bunch up. They’ll even work their way out from under the harness, resulting in an uncomfortable fit.
My first climb of the day was Misfits, a route that requires long reaches, and strange body contortions. Through it all, the Prana Calder Hoodie stayed put. It moved freely, allowing a range of motion to match however I climbed. It was equally mobile when I was bouldering, or performing yoga stretches, for example.
Adding to that, the Prana Calder fit well under a climbing helmet. The hood did not impede the fit of my helmet, and I could tighten or loosen my helmet freely. The hood did not block my vision, either.
Conclusion
As my first real Sun Hoodie, the Prana Calder Hoodie has yet to let me down. Running, climbing, hiking, eating a salad in my backyard, I’ve used it for pretty much every outdoor activity. It cools its user off well, and is made without any excessive features. The Prana Calder is simple, but does the job of shielding against UV rays.
I have few complaints about the Calder, but I do wish that it came with thumbholes. Thumb holes would both allow additional sun protection on the hands, as well as making layering easier. Otherwise, it is a capable piece of athletic outerwear.
Where to Buy Prana Calder Hoodie
The Prana Calder Hoodie can be found wherever outdoor goods are sold, namely REI, Amazon, and Backcountry.
Find the Prana Calder Hoodie at REI Find the Prana Calder Hoodie at Backcountry Find the Prana Calder Hoodie on Amazon
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