Gear Review: Outdoor Research Women’s Playa Sun Hoody #ORInsightLab

I am sure that I don’t have to tell most of you this, but it has been one long HOT Summer! Not only were the temps well above normal here in Northern Michigan, but my husband and I decided to take a long past due summer road trip traveling through the sunny, hot states of Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado where the heat indexes hovered around a dangerous 100+ degrees throughout most of our trip. Staying safe while having fun in the sun throughout the summer heat was definitely a challenge, making the Outdoor Research Women’s Playa Sun Hoody a quick summer favorite! This hoody provided great protection from the sun and the moisture wicking, quick drying fabric kept me comfortable, dry and styling through all of our Summer adventures, both in Northern Michigan as well as out west.

 

Summer in Northern Michigan was a bit cool to start, but once the heat kicked in by June we were outdoors in the hot sun as much as possible. An avid kayaker and Airhead SUP Ambassador I spent every moment possible out on the water paddling long hours in the hot summer sun. If I wasn’t already wearing the Playa hoody it was always kept nearby and easily accessible, packed away in my favorite backpack or dry bag. I wore this hoody often on many great adventures, hiking the hot, sandy trails and shorelines of the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes as well as a beach cover up over my swimsuit while out on the water paddling my inflatable SUP. This top has a very comfortable standard fit, fitting slightly loose and allows unrestricted movement while paddling, while the long sleeves with thumb holes helped to protect my arms from sunburn. The velvety soft Ruche details on the sleeves and contrast stitching are one of my favorite features of this top as it made it feel a bit more feminine than most outdoors athletic type tops. I also really loved the Flame color which is actually more of a peachy, orange color, yet not too overly bright. The brighter flame color is highly visible which is important for safety while paddling on the water, yet subtle and pretty enough that it looks great without looking too nerdy.  I thought that this color also looked especially great against my tan skin. There’s nothing wrong with a girl looking pretty while being active too, right? The fabric is super soft and comfortable and with it’s UPF 50+ rating it did an excellent job of protecting me from the suns harsh UV rays without making me feel too warm. The 8″ center front zipper and adjustable hood with drawcord are also favorite features that add extra versatility and comfort to this top.  However, if you are not a real fan of hoodies, Outdoor Research also offers this top in the non-hooded version Outdoor Research Women’s Playa Sun Shirt.

 

 

Even though summer is officially nearing its end I know that I will likely continue to bring the Playa Hoody along with me on many more adventures both on and off the water.  As you never know, our record hot summer could end up turning into a good ole Michigan Indian Summer and I will be ready for more fun in the sun with the Outdoor Research Playa Hoody!

Purchase the Outdoor Research Women’s Playa Sun Hoody online through: Moosejaw , BackCountry , REI

Disclosure: As a participant in the Outdoor Research’s (OR) #ORInsightLab. I test gear and offer my genuine and honest feedback. This Outdoor Research Women’s Playa Hoody was provided to me at no cost, but as always the opinions are authentically my own.

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