Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino Review

Bottom Line

The lightweight Minus 33 Micro Weight 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie Woolverino (men’s / women’s) is outstanding at helping active users regulate their body temperature.

The wool fabric reminds us of classic outdoor wear. Wool is soft (and gets softer over time), odor-resistant, and has great breathability and moisture-wicking properties. The most incredible aspect of the fabric is its lightness. We were surprised at how light this shirt was, especially for a wool blend. 

The lightweight fabric performed well in cooler temperatures and even when wet. As we hiked with this shirt, we were shocked again at how comfortable we were through sunny climbs and shaded descents. This hoody’s ability to adapt to temperature was one of the best out of all our tested tops for our best sun shirt gear guide. While it hikes exceptionally well, this shirt doesn’t offer maximum sun protection at UPF 20. Even though this shirt blocks ~95% of the sun’s harmful radiation, my dermatologist would like to point out that there are shirts that do better.

Despite this, we believe this shirt is a great buy. It fits well, feels comfortable, performs well in various activities and settings, and the fabric feels durable.

How We Tested

We primarily took this shirt out on moderate day hikes (~6 miles on average). Temperatures and conditions varied, but generally, we were hiking in the 40s. Walking through canyons allowed us to test this top on sunny ascents and shaded descents. To test the quality and comfort of the fabric, we also wore it with a loaded overnight pack.

Comfort

At first wear, the comfort of this shirt was average at best. The fabric has a gentle stretch, but certainly not as much as others we tested. Finally, the handfeel has a wooly sort of feel. 

The fit hugs the body, especially the forearms. While it isn’t skin tight, it rests on the body where all the other shirts in this category float away from the body. 

While the wool-based fabric doesn’t have the itchy wool feel, it certainly does not have that soft, silky feel that synthetic fabrics have. However, the shirt gets softer over time with wear and wash. 

What the woolverino has over its softer synthetic counterparts is an incredibly thin and lightweight feeling. The fabric has a gentle stretchiness, yet the threads feel durable.

Sun Protection

The only major drawback to the Minus 33 is its low UPF rating and cuffs that don’t fully cover the hands, even when using the thumbholes.  

Before we even put the shirt on, we noticed that we could see light through the fabric. This tracks with the UPF rating of 20. Still, a score of 20 blocks 95–96.6% of UV rays from reaching the skin. 

The shirt has a hood and thumbholes to help keep the cuffs in place. We found the hood fits well and doesn’t fall off or into our eyes while hiking. When we use the thumbholes, only about half the hand is covered. 

Sometimes, the quarter zip presses too much into our neck, but the tradeoff is that it protects the entire neck from the sun.

Breathability & Wicking Power

This top really performs under the pressure of hiking. Though it holds onto sweat, it breathes very well and feels comfortable (even with sweat) through changing temperatures. 

On one of our test hikes, we took it out for a 6-mile hike in 48-degree weather. We were in full sun and ended our hike just before dusk settled. 

As we started off, we wore this shirt without a mid- or outer layer. While it was chilly and this shirt was thin, it was manageable with just this on. The first thing we noticed was how well it breathed. We could feel the air flowing through it, but we never felt cold and miserable. In fact, after 20 minutes of walking along a pretty flat trail and being in the sun, we were warm and comfortable. 

With a loaded pack on, we began our climb. Initially, we were worried that it would be too hot as we climbed. Though we started sweating (and panting), this shirt did not overheat. We actually felt cooler at the top of the climb than at the bottom. 

The rest of the hike wandered through shaded canyons as the temperature dropped, but we stayed comfortable and warm even with residual sweat. At one point, we took the pack off and revealed the sweaty back to the wind and still, felt comfortable. 

While this isn’t the most breathable top, it functions great in wind and cool temperatures.

Versatility

The Minus 33 has great value because of its versatility. It transcends seasons, settings, and outdoor adventures. However, we wouldn’t depend on this top for its pocket. 

Based on our field tests, this top is suitable for year-round use, by itself in summer and as a baselayer during cooler months.  This shirt also works very well for all outdoor sports. We wear it for mountain biking, climbing, or going to the gym. This shirt’s style has an outdoorsy look to it that may not translate well to all off-trail occasions. But we don’t mind wearing it from the trail to post-hike tacos (especially because it resists odors). 

One notable feature is the zippered chest pocket. However, we don’t find it very useful. The pocket is designed to stash a credit card or ID and maybe a small set of keys, though we didn’t find it comfortable to stash keys in it. We think this pocket is great for those early morning runs that might happen to be routed around that doughnut shop.

Should You Buy the Minus33 Micro Weight Woolverino 1/4 Zip Sun Hoodie?

This is a solid choice for anyone looking for a dependable, natural base layer. It works well for those who demand technical qualities from their shirts but want a knitted, stretchy fabric. For this consumer, the Minus 33 can keep up for challenging adventures in changing weather. 

We wish this had a higher UPF score, but we’ll happily take the ultra-light “micro” wool fabric in its place. Because of this, this top is probably not the choice for someone looking for the best sun protection. 

What Other Sun Shirts Should You Consider?

Find other “best of” picks like the Minus 33 in our complete sun shirt gear guide. Other worthy options include:

Arc’teryx Taema / Cormac Review: This top provides a highly technical fabric that is just as ideal for layering during challenging adventures as it is for front-country trail runs in the summer months. The Arc’teryx slightly beats out Minus 33 in technical abilities. It also offers better sun protection with a UPF 40+ rating. The drawbacks are the Arc’teryx fit and stiffness of the fabric. 

Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoody Review: This pick is another ultra-lightweight knit that breathes pretty well. Straight out of the box, this shirt is noticeably softer than the Minus 33. The fabric has greater stretch and better sun protection (UPF 50). However, this shirt can’t compete with the Minus 33’s ability to adapt to changing temperatures. 

Free Fly Women’s Bamboo Shade Hoodie II Review: This knit has a heavier, but softer fabric than the Minus 33. The Free Fly feels silky soft and drapes really well. It provides better sun protection (UPF 50+) but might be more suitable for easy to moderate, frontcountry adventures.