The gear that gets you there.
Only the best. Nothing else makes the list.
A cap with a cape and a sun hoodie. Umbrellas have their own list.
Three picks. Updated weekly. That is the whole list. If it is not here, it did not earn a place.
· Top three updated weekly. Listed prices and shop ratings stay live.
Surveys 40% · independent tests 30% · merchant ratings 15% · relative street price 15%. Sources & method
Listed prices and shop ratings stay live once a shop page loads. GEAR UP has the current figure.
Built from published thru-hiker surveys and independent testing — not commissions. Sources & method · Disclosure
Swipe — three picks side by side
Brim + cape · UPF 50+
Listed price
8.4 / 10 Thru Picks
Brim and neck cape, UPF 50+. Full sun coverage in a 2.4-ounce cap.
Sources: REI Co-op · Garage Grown Gear · Halfway Anywhere · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
Photo: REI Co-op
Capilene Cool Daily · UPF
Listed price
8.4 / 10 Thru Picks
Sun hoodie that replaced button-up shirts for many desert miles.
Sources: REI Co-op · Garage Grown Gear · Halfway Anywhere · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
Brim + cape · UPF 50+
Listed price
8.3 / 10 Thru Picks
A brim and a cape, UPF 50. The sun hat when a visor is not enough.
Sources: REI Co-op · CleverHiker · Thru Picks method
GEAR UP →Also at REI →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission. Not a paid ranking.
This ranking already sits in a finished kit. Every item is among the best. Weighed. Ranked. Ready.
Desert UV is the real risk. A brim and a hoodie. Umbrellas have their own list.
Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap is first: brim plus cape, UPF 50+. Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody is Highest Rated — the sun hoodie in the Women’s kit. Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure is the Premium Pick: a brim and a cape when a visor is not enough. Sunscreen is not on this ranking. Carry it anyway.
Rankings and kits are based on published surveys and independent analysis. They are opinions for informational purposes only. Users are responsible for choosing and using gear appropriate to their conditions and experience. Thru Picks is not liable for outcomes related to product use. Terms