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Warm-Weather Hunting in the Forloh SolAir UPF Hooded Long Sleeve Shirt: OutdoorHUB Review
I’ve been wearing the Forloh Insect Shield SolAir UPF Hooded Shirt all summer while fishing and throughout the fall while dove and bow hunting. I’ve battled hot, sweaty, sunny days and cool, cloudy days in this long-sleeve shirt. Let’s get started with this Forloh SolAir UPF Hooded Long Sleeve review.
Specs & Materials
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- Fabric type and blend: Polyester (90%) and Spandex (10%)
- Shirt style: Long sleeve with a hood
- Weight: Lightweight
- Available sizes and colors: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL. Forloh Green, Glacier, Deep Cover, Exposed, and MarshField
- Key features: Insect Shield, Brrr Pro enhanced cooling, Polygiene Stay Fresh, UPF 1000+, hood, and built-in thumb loops
This Forloh hooded long-sleeve shirt combines polyester and spandex with Polygiene Stay Fresh, Insect Shield, and Brrr Pro cooling technologies. The built-in hood, thumb loops, and UPF 1000+ help protect you from the sun’s harmful rays while early-season hunting or fishing during the summer. With multiple camos, colors, and size options (ranging from S to 3XL), you’ll find the perfect one for you.
Fit & Comfort
It has a relaxed fit, so if you want a more true-to-size fit, Forloh recommends sizing down. I’ve found the relaxed fit to be very comfortable. At first, I was worried my shotgun butt might catch on the material in my armpit, but I haven’t once missed a dove because of that. I hunted on hot September days while wearing the Forloh Hooded Longsleeve, and I did sweat, but I stayed as cool as possible. On hunts that were cooler in the morning, I didn’t mind wearing this shirt under a pullover or jacket. It didn’t bunch up, and it’s light enough for a base layer on cool hunts.
Rating:
9/10
Breathability & Moisture Management
I’ve already briefly touched on how comfortable I am in this shirt while sweating in the Oklahoma humidity. That’s because it does a good job of wicking away my sweat, yet remaining dry. As long as there is a slight breeze or shade, I can wear this shirt in 90+ degree heat (which I’ve done on some of my early-season hunts).
Rating:
9/10
Warmth & Versatility
I can’t imagine this shirt being warm in cold conditions by itself, but it makes a good base layer. I’ve found it very versatile (which is greatly appreciated in Oklahoma’s crazy weather). I didn’t overheat during the summer while fishing or hunting. In the fall and early winter, it’s made a comfortable base layer with a softshell jacket or hooded pullover on top.
Rating:
8/10
Durability & Construction
I’m tough on gear. After all, if a company sends me a product to test, I’m going to thoroughly test it. While wearing this American-made shirt, I’ve crossed (and snagged) barbed wire fences, walked through briars and thickets, baked in the sun, and washed it several times, yet this shirt still looks new. It hasn’t faded at all. The stitching is holding up very well. I haven’t noticed a single stitch coming undone after months of use.
Rating:
8/10
Odor Control & UV Protection
I was very skeptical of the built-in Insect Shield, Polygiene Stay Fresh, and UPF rating. However, I can confidently say these technologies work. I have yet to get a bug bite while wearing this shirt (paired with the pants). I didn’t get sunburned anywhere that this shirt covered while sitting in direct sunlight for hours at a time, whether I was kayak fishing or dove hunting. But the grossest test was going multiple days without washing it. I expected the stench to be unbearable. Instead, my wife didn’t even notice it (and that’s saying something). While I recommend washing it between sweaty hunts during archery season (deer have a much better nose than my wife), I think you could get away without washing it, if you need to skip a wash.
Rating:
9/10
Style & Everyday Use
If I had one of the single-color shirts, I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it while on vacation (most of my vacations involve the outdoors) or in town. The single colors don’t stand out too much, but the camo pops in a crowd of non-outdoor enthusiasts.
Rating:
7/10
Value & Competition
At $109, this is the most expensive shirt I own, which is a tough pill to swallow. However, it has several benefits that all of my other shirts don’t have, and it’s still comparable to other high-end baselayer hunting shirts. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed not getting bug bites or sunburns and staying relatively cool, and I would definitely recommend it if biting insects love you as much as they love me. But again, it’s premium American-made hunting gear with a premium price.
Rating:
8/10
Overall Rating: Forloh SolAir UPF Hooded Long Sleeve Review
The Forloh SolAir Hooded LS Shirt is the best lightweight hunting shirt I own; it’s not even close. It’s perfect for warm-weather hunting and fishing, especially when the biting insects are out in force or the sun is beating down. However, it’s expensive, so I wouldn’t recommend it to new hunters. It’s best suited for serious outdoorsmen and women who are in the field more than they’re not.
Rating:
8.3/10
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