Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody Review

When you want it all – great sun protection, top-notch breathability, tons of features, and comfort to spare – then look no further than the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody. No single detail was overlooked when designing the Alpenglow Pro; because of that, it has something for everyone. This top-tier hoody is perfect for fisherpeople, thru-hikers, and those simply looking to soak up a little less sun on a hot summer's day.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Fit

Comfortable hooded sun shirts tend to be loose-fitting and stretchy. The Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro has both in spades. Pinch points are unimaginable, thanks to the relaxed yet, somehow, technical fit. Extra long raglan-style sleeves allow for extreme freedom of movement, while thumb loops help to keep them in place over the arms. The fabric is stretchy enough to easily allow the sleeves to be rolled up past the elbow without being too tight around the bicep.

The extra-long torso and drop hem have your back covered, whether you're walking tall up a mountainside or doubled over by the effects of altitude. The half zip can easily be unzipped to dump out excessive heat or cinched up tight around the chin to keep the hood from blowing away. We're particularly impressed by the gusseted pits, which use an even more permeable mesh material to help with additional ventilation and moisture regulation without adding pit zips.

Sun Protection

The BD Alpenglow Pro delivers excellent sun protection, starting with its UPF 50+ rated fabric. Extra-long sleeves, thumb loops, extra-long torso, drop hem, and an extra-large hood (with front zip to cinch it up against your neck) all combine to make sure this protective, UPF 50+ fabric covers your whole upper body.

We verified the UPF 50+ rating using a simple photochromic UV intensity test card. The results were relative to other UPF 50+ fabrics we tested and far better than compared to our control, a UPF 5 cotton shirt. We're confident that this shirt's UPF 50+ rating is valid.

Our ultimate field test was a multi-day spring backpacking trip along the Continental Divide at its highest point outside Breckenridge, Colorado. The cloudless sky, the altitude (above 14,000 feet), and the snow's reflection all amplified the sun's blistering intensity. Yet we escaped relatively unscathed, in large part thanks to the UV protection provided by the Alpenglow Pro Hoody, supplementing its coverage only with a neck buff and some roll-on sunscreen.

Breathability

One of the usual compromises of great sun protection is oftentimes poor breathability. Tighter knit and heavier fabrics block out the sun better than lighter fabrics but can also be stifling. The Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro has a few tricks up its sleeves to counter this, and we rated it as one of the better shirts, especially given its excellent sun protection.

Firstly, and perhaps most surprisingly, the Alpenglow Pro put up some of the best results in our air permeability tests of most any sun shirt we've tested. Good air permeability – the ability for air to escape through the fabric – is generally a positive indicator of good breathability. Being able to circulate air helps with air exchange and evaporation of perspiration. This shirt put up good, but not great times in our line dry test. The 7.5-ounce, size Large that we tested completely dried within an average time relative to other shirts. Faster dry times usually mean a shirt is made of a thinner fabric, and a thinner fabric is usually an indicator of reduced sun protection, so these results are to be expected.

The front half zip goes a long way to help dump out extra heat without taking the shirt completely off. The more intriguing features are the mesh panels running down the side, extending from in line with the elbows almost to the bottom of the shirt. These mesh panels are even more air permeable, allowing more air, moisture, and, thus, heat to escape. These areas rarely see the sun, so this is a great way to improve ventilation without impacting the protective nature of the shirt.

Versatility

The number of extra accouterments featured in the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody make it a versatile sun shirt.

The small chest pocket is perfect for carrying essentials like keys, phone, sunscreen, and lip balm, making a great travel top. The helmet-compatible hood is useful when cycling, climbing, and kayaking. Any sun shirt with a front zip means it's easier to thermoregulate without needing to remove the shirt – just unzip it to dump extra heat out – making it a multi-season layer.

Despite its versatility, the trail-to-table ability of this top is up for debate. The BD Alpenglow Pro does not come off as a casual piece, but it's doubtful your like-minded friends will mind if you saddle up next to them at the local watering hole while donning it. The underarm mesh is treated with a silver-based antimicrobial – HeiQ Pure Odor Control – which helps keep stink levels at bay.

The BD Alpenglow Pro is likely too technical to wear in all but the most casual office work settings. Although if you have a job where you need to be outside most of the day, it's perfect. Likewise, the Alpenglow Pro would make an excellent fishing shirt, given its leading UPF 50+ rating.

Durability

Tough fabric is just the start of why we rated the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro with high marks in durability. The fabric is durable and extremely stretchy, making it less likely to rip when snagged on a passing branch on the way to your secret fishing spot. Our harsh abrasion test caused surface damage to the shirt, but not enough to rip through the fabric. This hints that any damage you inflict to the shirt on a long-distance trip can be easily patched up using readily available materials.

The shirt's flatlock seams are extremely strong and – since they lay flat against the fabric – are practically unnoticeable. The front zip is beefy for a sun shirt. We're happy to see that, as smaller zippers tend to have teeth that are easily damaged. Even the mesh panels under the arms are lined with full-sized seams that look indestructible. The toughness of the BD Alpenglow Pro is certifiably ready for a multi-week backpacking romp through the American Southwest or across the hinterlands and tussock tundra fields of Alaska. The fabric and stitching require little hand-holding.

Should You Buy the Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro Hoody?

When we pick out a sun shirt for the day, we naturally gravitate towards the Alpenglow Pro. The half zip and chest pocket are features we always miss when unavailable. Since we're accident-prone, having a shirt that can take a bit of abuse from our misadventures with gravity is a huge plus. The price tag is high – in some cases, much higher than other shirts in our review. But there is no doubt that the shirt delivers an array of positive attributes that put it in the running to be the one sun shirt to rule them all.

What Other Sun Shirts Should You Consider?

The closest approximate to the Alpenglow Pro is the Outdoor Research Astroman Sun Hoodie. This shirt has many of the best features of the Alpenglow Pro, including a half-zip front and chest pocket, although it lacks the mesh paneling underneath the arms that we adore. Perhaps most notably, it costs a fair bit less.

For something much simpler but just as comfortable, the REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie is an absolute winner. Although this top doesn't have as many bells and whistles, like a chest pocket, it still features a hidden cinch that keeps the hood firm over your head in even the heaviest gales.