Manufacturer: Coolibar - 2401 Edgewood Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55426 USA
Tel: 800-926-6509 Fax: 952-922-1455
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: http://www.coolibar.com
E-mail: service@coolibar.com.
Listed weight: not listed
Weight as delivered: 9 3/8 oz / 270 g
MSRP: $49.95 USD
Available Colors: Cobalt / White / Hibiscus / Teal / Kiwi / Mandarin
Color Requested: White
Color Received: White
Size Requested: XL
Size Received: XL
 

The Coolibar Sun Block Hoodie arrived on Tuesday, July 24, 2006 in a large box which was in good condition. Inside was the Sun Block Hoodie, the Sun Hat, a free 5 oz bottle of Coolibar's Blue Lizard SPF 30+ Regular Sunscreen ($9.95 USD), the All Sport Hat (free with purchases over $75 USD), 6 trial-sized packets of Blue Lizard Sunscreen, a packing slip, a catalog and a couple of order forms. Each item - with the exception of the packing slip, catalog and order forms - was enclosed in a separate clear plastic bag and had a small, five page pamphlet describing in English the company, the item's sun protection factor, information on the Skin Cancer Foundation, and the garment itself. All items arrived in very good condition.

The Sun Block Hoodie is a pull-over, anorak-style lightweight jacket that has a comfortable hood, elastic cuffs at the wrists, CoolMax (R) ventilation at the armpits, and a large, double entry pocket on the front. The Sun Block Hoodie is made from lite SUNTECT™ fabric "that blocks 97% UV" and is very lightweight and breathable. The garment is well made. The seams appear to be snug with no loose or fraying pieces. The hood draws closed about the face with a simple drawstring comprised of the same SUNTECT fabric as the Hoodie, and the neck can be closed via three plastic snaps. At the armpits are two generous, triangular shaped CoolMax ventilation pits that begin at the lower armpit and taper off at the elbow. The elastic cuffs are nice, but I would like the ability to snug them tighter about my wrists. Finally, the upper back is comprised of CoolMax overlain with SUNTECT fabric; the overlying SUNTECT fabric is held down by a small stick in the center of the seam.

The directions on the Coolibar website (and in their catalog) state "Unisex sizing - so select one size smaller than Women's Size Chart". It has been my experience that, at least for me, this is not a good idea; ordering a size smaller than what the size chart say I am nearly always results in a garment that is too small. So I ignored this advice and requested the size I typically wear: an XL. I tried on the Sun Block Hoodie the day after it arrived. And I felt as if I were wearing my daddy's shirt. The Hoodie is not too large on me, but the cut of the garment is designed to be loose-fitting, and thus the Hoodie is just too big. I do believe the next size down (a large) would be too small. It's very annoying to be stuck in-between sizes.

It's been too hot out here in Southern California to really wear the Hoodie for any length of time. As summer ends and fall begins, the nighttime temperatures will drop and wearing the Hoodie will be a regular occurrence. However, I can give a brief description of my likes and dislikes thus far:

• Likes: lightweight, large pocket, nice styling
• Dislikes: a bit too big, elastic cuffs not snug about wrist
  

Test Plan:
Most of my hiking and camping activities will be in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains; in addition to the Southern California coast. We will be heading up to Oregon (Portland and Salem) in late August or early September. We're hoping to get some hiking / camping in up there, too.  I also plan on wearing the Coolibar hat in and around town during the course of this test.

Elevations in the local mountain range from 1,000 ft to 8,000 ft (300 - 2500 m); we will probably be in the 2 - 3,000 ft (600 - 900 m) range. Elevations along the coast range from sea level (0 ft / 0 m) to 1,000 ft (300 m), depending upon where the campsite is. Weather in Southern California varies greatly with location and season. In general, daytime temperatures can get up well above 90° F (35+ °C) in the summer; nighttime temperatures range from 50 to 70° F (10 - 21° C), although recent temperatures have been between 100 - 110° F (38 - 43° C) in the day and 80 - 90° F(27 - 35° C) at night. It is not uncommon for these "normal" temperatures to persist well into October and November. Typically, Southern California gets very little rain in the summer, and light to moderate amounts of rain in the fall. Temperatures in the Salem, Oregon area during the Summer and Fall are similar to that in Southern California, although they do get more rain.

The Coolibar Sun Block Hoodie is supposedly designed to keep the wearer cool and shaded. The Sun Block Hoodie is made of lite SUNTECT™ fabric (rated to block 97% UV light) and has "CoolMax® mesh ventilation on the sleeves and upper back". I am interested in determining just how effective the lite SUNTECT™ fabric is - is it any better than "normal" fabrics, as they also block sunlight? How durable are each of the items? Will they hold up to numerous washings? Will they handle being crushed in a daypack, the car, my children? Can they handle hiking or just everyday use?

Additional questions I will pose include:

• Features:
  • Size: At the moment, the size is a bit big. But is it too big?
  • Elastic Cuffs: The cuffs are not adjustable. Will this be an issue?
  • "Deep pouch pocket": Will the seams along the edges of the pocket hold up well, or will they begin to separate with use?
  • Hood: The drawstring is fairly simple. Will it hold up well to repeated use?
• Fabric:
  • The lite SUNTECT™ fabric is supposedly machine washable. How well will it hold up in the washing machine?
• How well will the fabric hold up to normal use and abuse? Can it handle trails, or will this item be an "in-town" only type of garment? Can it withstand a daypack or child backpack carrier?
• The Hoodie certainly is lightweight, but is it breathable as advertised?
• The Hoodie is also touted as being quick-drying - how quick is quick?
• Will it really provide sun-protection above and beyond normal fabrics?