First Lite asked if we wanted to try some of their apparel for our hiking treks. I decided to test the Men’s Wick Hoody, and I’m so glad I did. It has served me well in various situations as we have trekked through and across several national parks lately.
First Lite bills the hoody as ultralight and designed for hot weather and high exertion.
The airy 150-gram Aerowool® construction and loose-fitting hood provide breathable concealment and sun protection in the warmest conditions. This layer also features 125-gram Aerowool® mesh panels to maximize ventilation during active hunts. The Men’s Wick Hoody is the new standard for quick-drying, odor-resistant, ultralight base layers.
– Info from First Lite website.
I used the hoody as a quick coverup when we went into the always-chilly Carlsbad Caverns. It worked great for sun protection when hiking in White Sands National Park. I used it for wind protection when climbing to the top of Guadalupe Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
I also used it most recently when we started on an early morning hike in Grand Canyon National Park that lasted into the afternoon. The beauty of this hoody is its versatility. It is lightweight but provides enough coverage to keep the chill out on an early morning hike. I have paired it with a lightweight, breathable t-shirt a few times. But I was stripping off the t-shirt and hiking in just the hoody before long. That’s because the mesh panel helps with airflow, so you don’t feel like you’ll overheat when the temperature climbs rapidly. But at the same time, having long sleeves is essential when hiking in hot desert conditions.
The hood is a nice touch that helps if you find yourself in windy conditions. And it helps when the sun is beating down. The thumb holes — which seem rarer on men’s clothes than women’s — help keep the chill or the sun off your hands, whichever happens to be the issue.
Because of this hoody, I have stayed warm and cool. A few times, I felt comfortable but found myself still sweating through the hoody. It was primarily on my back where a pack was resting. But the hoody dries quickly, never stained, and does a good job of not getting stinky between washes.
The hoody sells for $120, so it’s a bit of an investment. But if you spend as much time in it as I have, you’ll soon find it worth every penny. This high-quality product does what it says it will do. It’s versatile enough to become something you wear regularly and should hold up for a long time.
If a hoody isn’t the style you need, the Wick Ultralight 150 Aerowool® is also available in a men’s Quarter Zip Crew and Short Sleeve Crew.