Our 10 Favorite Lightweight Hoodies For Spring

Far from their origins as wintry upstate New York gear, hoodies have now become a year-round fashion option. Made in a staggering array of materials and weights, they’re the perfect “throw it on and look great” option that every guy should have in his wardrobe.

With spring on the horizon, our minds are turning towards these men’s lightweight hoodies. Designed to keep you at optimal comfort temperatures, they’re a must for everything from heading to the gym to lounging around the house or heading out to your favorite brewery.

Proof 72-Hour Merino UPF Hoodie

Huckberry’s Proof brand is always one of the first places we look when we’re searching for wardrobe staples, as they do a great job of combining functionality, durability, and casual style—all at a fair price. This is especially true of the Proof 72-Hour Merino UPF Hoodie, which is one of the most versatile pieces you can wear this spring.

It’s made with a lightweight construction that’s just a tiny bit heavier than a t-shirt, and its merino wool and nylon fabric blend excels at wicking moisture and keeping you dry and cool all day long. It’s highly resistant to odor buildup too, making it true to its name as a hoodie that’s prepared for three days of continuous wear.

• Price: $138
• Materials: 84% 18.5-micron merino wool, 12% nylon, 4% spandex, 180gsm

Free Fly Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie

The fishermen and beachgoers over at Free Fly know a thing or two about sun hoodies—and their Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie might be the best example of the style. Made from a lightweight, breathable, and anti-stink bamboo viscose material, it’s exceptionally airy and comfortable.

Nearly two dozen color options mean it’s a truly anytime, anywhere hoodie, and its quick-drying fabric makes it a favorite for sand, surf, and sun. Just keep in mind that it has a fairly slim fit, even through the hood, so you may want to size up from your usual fit if you’re a bigger guy.

• Price: $68
• Materials: Bamboo viscose

Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie

The Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie is a versatile, lightweight, and breathable garment designed for a wide range of outdoor activities. It’s crafted from AirVent fabric that provides superior moisture-wicking properties, ensuring you stay comfortable and dry during your outdoor adventures this spring.

Equipped with UPF 15 sun protection, the Echo Hoodie shields you from harmful ultraviolet rays, making it an ideal choice for hiking, running, or climbing in sunny conditions. The sleek design features an adjustable, close-fitting hood, providing additional coverage and protection when needed.

The Echo Hoodie incorporates Polygiene odor control technology, which inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria, keeping you fresh during extended excursions. With its flat-seam construction, this hoodie minimizes chafing, ensuring a comfortable fit for all-day wear. The Raglan sleeves and stretch fabric promote unrestricted movement, while the zippered chest pocket securely stores small essentials.

• Price: $75
• Materials: Recycled Polyester

Rhone OOO Hoodie

“Out of Office” are the three sweetest words you can sign off on an email with. They promise a week of vacation, of relaxation, and of enjoying all those things that make work worth doing in the first place. Rhone’s aptly-named OOO Hoodie takes this sort of laid back mindset into its very design, with an extra-stretchy polyester and elastane blend that fits snugly but never tightly.

It’s an exceptionally versatile piece of loungewear, with a shoulder seam designed for scratch-free comfort and a standard fit that looks good on just about anyone. So when you’re ready to call it quits on work, for a day or a week, grab one of these hoodies to match.

• Price: $108
• Materials: Polyester and elastane

Vuori Sunday Element Hoodie

Looking through these hoodies, you’ll notice a trend: A lot of them are made of some blend of polyester and a stretchy material. Why? Because the combination gives you just the right combination of durability, moves-with-you comfort, and long-lasting fit that won’t bag out.

Vuori’s Sunday Element Hoodie is no exception, with a primarily polyester construction that has a generous portion of elastane for four-way stretch and breathability. It’s a darned fine hoodie with a laid back look and feel, and its neutral color options can pair with just about anything.

• Price: $108
• Materials: Polyester and elastane

Fair Harbor SeaBreeze Hoodie

To really understand Fair Harbor’s SeaBreeze Hoodie, you’ll need to know more about its secret ingredient: Tencel. Derived from wood pulp, Tencel offers some of the best in stretch, breathability, and odor-fighting powers—and it’s totally sustainable, to boot.

Combined with polyester and spandex in the SeaBreeze Hoodie, that Tencel gives it a finely tuned softness and a never-too-stretchy fit and feel. And to complete the package, this hoodie provides UPF 50 sun protection that’s perfect for long days on the beach.

• Price: $72
• Materials: Polyester, tencel, and spandex

Free Fly Elevate Hoodie

Free Fly’s second lightweight hoodie offering (and their latest hoodie addition) the Clearwater Hoodie, uses the same finely tuned blend of polyester, Tencel, and spandex mentioned in the previous hoodie from Fair Harbor.

Where it differs is in the construction of its hood: Made with a full-coverage design, the Clearwater Hoodie is clearly intended for full days out in the sun, and full UPF-30 protection while you’re doing it. We like the muted but interesting selection of colors here too, as they’re atypical for men’s hoodies but look great with a pair of khaki shorts.

• Price: $88
• Materials: Polyester, Tencel, and spandex

Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoodie

Most lightweight hoodies for men are designed with the beach and the lake in mind. Not so with Black Diamond’s Alpenglow Hoodie, a purpose-built hiking hoodie that excels on ascents through the forest and long treks across desert mesas.

A very clever addition of an in-fabric cooling technology makes it one of the best lightweight hoodies you’ll find for intense exercise outdoors, as it reflects a good 70 percent of the sun’s rays to keep you at optimum temperatures. We think it’s a must for any dedicated outdoorsman.

• Price: $67+
• Materials: Polyester and elastane

Howler Brothers Loggerhead UPF Hoodie

For a hoodie that bridges the gap between a classic fall and winter hoodie and a more warm-weather-friendly one, check out Howler Brothers’ Loggerhead UPF Hoodie. It’s made with the same sort of fit and feel as a heavier hoodie, complete with a full coverage hood and large kangaroo pocket, but an all-polyester construction makes it lightweight enough to wear out on a warm spring afternoon, and offers just enough protection a few hours earlier before the temps rise substantially.

Price: $69

Materials: 100% polyester with 50% recycled content

Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody

Patagonia is the O.G. when it comes to top quality, sustainable outdoor gear at great prices. And you’ll be happy to know that their Capilene Cool Daily Hoody lives up to their reputation, with a construction entirely from recycled polyester and the best price for a lightweight hoodie on this list (plus it’s Fair Trade Certified).

Equipped with built-in odor control, it avoids the most common problem for all-polyester hoodies and won’t collect funky odors with each wear. Overall, it’s an excellent standby hoodie for any guy’s spring and summer wardrobe.

• Price: $65
• Materials: Recycled polyester

KÜHL AIRKÜHL Hoody

KÜHL’s particular brand of high-tech outdoor gear continues to be a hit with guys and gals alike, and every piece from their collections has a distinct “KÜHL” aesthetic. The AIRKÜHL Hoody continues with this trend, with a distinct look and feel that sets it apart from the other hoodies on this list.

Designed specifically for high resistance to abrasion and snags, it’s an ideal multi-purpose hoodie—take it with you to the beach, head out on a hike with it, or just lounge around the house in comfort and coolness.

• Price: $89
• Materials: Polyester and spandex

Disclosure: Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.