"Will it actually keep me cool in 98° heat?" Fair question. Here are 10 straight answers.
Published June 1, 2026 · 8 min read
Farmers Defense VS. Sunscreen
| Feature | Farmers Defense | Sunscreen |
|---|---|---|
| Protects from UV damage | ✅ UPF 50+ Fabric Blocks 98% of UV rays | SPF 30–50 (degrades within 2 hours) |
| Reapplication | ✅ Never need | Needed Every 90–120 minutes |
| Coverage | ✅ Arms, neck, and torso, fully covered | Miss a spot, you burn |
| Sweat Performance | ✅ Moisture-wicking, stays protective | Sweats off instantly |
| Skin Contact Health | ✅ Clean, chemical-free | Oxybenzone, parabens, hormone disruptors |
| Comfort | ✅ Lightweight, breathable all day | Sticky, greasy, clogs pores |
Bare skin in direct sun takes the heat straight on. That's why you can burn AND overheat at the same time.
The hoodie's knit does two jobs at once: it shades your skin (a tested UPF 50+ weave that intercepts 98% of UVA/UVB), and it wicks your sweat across the fabric so it evaporates. Evaporation is your body's own cooling system; the fabric just gives it more surface area to work with.
Sunscreen stops working the moment you start sweating. For people who spend lots of time outdoors, hikers, gardeners, runners, that's within the first 20 minutes.
The Farmers Defense UV Sun Hoodie
delivers UPF 50+ protection built into the fabric itself. It doesn't degrade in heat. It doesn't sweat off. It doesn't miss the spots you forgot to rub in. You put it on at 6am and you're protected at 4pm. No reapplication, no burned forearms, no peeling skin the next morning.
"Cool in dry heat" is easy. The real question, asked in our comments over and over, comes from Florida, the Gulf, and the muggy East Coast.
So here is testimony from exactly those places.
Every time this hoodie is advertised, someone comments that cotton is the only fabric for summer. Here's what cotton actually does in the sun.
Typical cotton offers only a fraction of UPF 50 protection (less when wet and clinging), and once it soaks through it stops cooling and starts smothering.
Limited time only, buy any 2 UV Sun Hoodies and get a sun Hat absolutely free. This deal is limited by supply so... once it's gone, it's gone.
SHOP YOURS NOW>>
The Skin Cancer Foundation and dermatologists consistently rank UPF-rated clothing as the gold standard for UV protection. You can't mis-apply it. You can't forget to reapply. The protection is there or it isn't and with UPF 50+
The fabric is 85% recycled REPREVE polyester with 15% spandex, and we know exactly what some of you think about that, because you say it in the comments: "I'm not a water bottle."
Here's the straight answer: the REPREVE fabric is OEKO-TEX certified. That's an independent textile-safety standard: the finished fabric is tested against a list of hundreds of substances harmful to human health, and certified safe for skin contact. It's the same class of recycled performance fiber used by major outdoor and athletic brands, transformed into clean textile-grade fiber, not melted bottles against your skin.
Join the fast-growing community of Outdoor lovers who refuse to let UV damage ruin their day. With tens of thousands of five-star reviews and hundreds of thousands of fans of Farmers Defense, they've got you covered. Join The Community
All Farmers Defense packaging is made of 100% recycled material all the way down to the mailers they arrive in! Oh and did I mention that for every order they plant a tree!🤯
We're confident you'll never want to be without these. But If Farmers Defense Sun Hoodies aren't right for you, we offer a Lifetime Guarantee on your product. What do you have to lose?
Deal Ends This Weekend
Save up to 35% OFF →TRY TODAY WITH OUR PRODUCT LIFETIME GUARANTEE + FREE SHIPPING
This sun hoodie is a game changer! I wore this on a 15-mile bike ride in the desert and I was not overheated or sunburned. I was comfortable and I looked good! The hood is thin enough to wear under my helmet for full protection. The fabric wicks sweat beautifully. I wore nothing but a bra underneath. I wore it the whole camping trip and washed it out each night."
"I was skeptical. I've tried other UV clothing and it's always unbearable in the heat. I ordered almost as a last resort after another bad burn. Within the first week working in my garden, I realized I hadn't thought about sunscreen once. Three months later, I've ordered two more colors."
"This hoodie protected my arms while dead-heading the rose garden. Not one scratch on my arms. Lightweight and cool fabric was perfect on a hot day."
"I've recently been diagnosed with skin cancer so I have to wear long sleeves in the summer which proves to be quite hot and sticky in a lot of UV protection clothing. Not this hoodie, I can work for hours in the Florida sun in this jewel! Thank you so much Farmers Defense!"
"I got this to protect me from the sun and to protect my arms while working in the yard. I was surprised at how comfortable this hoodie is. It really did help cool me down in the hot and humid weather. The material is very soft. And it's so beautiful! I definitely plan to buy more colors in the future."
** Don't Wait! Limited to stock on hand for gift offer**
Buy 2 Get FREE Sun Hat →All three of our UV Hoodies — UV Hoodie, Zip-Up, and Crew Neck — are rated UPF 50+, blocking over 98% of UV rays.
The protection comes from the fabric itself, not a coating that washes out — so the UPF rating lasts the lifetime of the garment.