Alpenglow Pro Gear Review | Sooji Clarkson

Alpenglow Pro Gear Review | Sooji Clarkson

AlpenGlow Pro from Black Diamond is “a sun shirt that ticks all the right boxes” says Sooji Clarkson.

All it takes is a change in uphill gradient, or in the wind or sun – or simply stopping for a minute – to get you cold, sweaty or both. And damp baselayers can quickly chill you to the core.

Be bold, start cold

Be bold, start cold is rarely wrong. If you’re not a bit cold standing around outside at the start of the day, you’re not dressed for moving. To maximise time efficiency, I value layers that can be adapted “on the go”. Such as utilising zips, hoods, and vents to tweak warmth without stopping to change layers. I’ve been wearing the Alpenglow Pro for both guiding and recreational trips, and it’s become my go-to baselayer this summer.

Soojii wearing her Alpenglow Pro Hoody

Fabric

The features I value in a baselayer or sunshirt are pretty common. However I am always surprised how uncommon it is for them to be found together.

A comfortable, lightweight UPF rated fabric is the obvious, and one of the easier features to find. The Alpenglow Pro has a stretchy, comfortable UPF 50+ rated fabric (and it’s not black!) that is great for wearing all day every day.

While it doesn’t dry quite as fast after being fully soaked (swimming or washing) as other thinner fabric sunshirts I have had, the time to dry from sweaty damp is surprisingly fast.  I find the thicker fabric worthwhile for the comfort it provides when I’m sweaty, particularly under a heavier pack.

Climbing wearing the hood over a helmet

Hood and ventilation

A good fitting hood with high neck is essential for hiding from both wind and sun. I’ve found the articulated scuba hood in the Alpenglow Pro stays on easily all day when running. It also fits well over my helmet for quick additional warmth and wind or sun protection when climbing.

The Alpenglow Pro has a generous length zip. I have often found that front zips, particularly in women’s baselayers, can be disappointingly short. I choose to believe this is an oversight in design rather than some outdated idea of modesty! If I want ventilation, I want the option to have plenty of it. In addition, the underarm mesh panels give ventilation where it’s needed without compromising the sun protection of the shirt.

Sooji chilling out

Relaxed technical fit

The hem is a good length. A top riding up in the back (common with packs) or not staying down under a harness is not just uncomfortable, it’s somehow utterly infuriating.

The fabric has plenty of stretch to roll up the sleeves without restricting arm movement. I appreciate this when running, but more so when climbing.

Overall, the fit is technical but relaxed enough to move with you with no constricting spots.

I’ve worn this for a couple of months recreationally as well as on guiding trips. It’s been on glaciers in baking sun, trail running, rock climbing, bush bashing, and bolting new climbs, as well as lounging around on rest days. The fabric doesn’t catch much on the (inevitable) bush lawyer or sharp rock crystals. So far, it’s holding up well to wear with my day in-day out hard use. I’ve managed to impart only minor surface abrasion on very high wear spots (cuffs, and always on the chest from rock climbing!).

The combination of a great functional hood, ventilation both from zip and mesh panels, and a functional fit in a surprisingly comfortable, UPF rated fabric, make this a keeper for me. The chest pocket for small items like lip balm and the thumb loops are worthwhile bonus features.

I would only swap it out for a more thermal baselayer in winter, especially on trips where I expect to sweat very little.

Layering

I found that the Alpine Start ultralight softshell and Coefficient LT hybrid hoody work well with the Alpenglow Pro.

The Alpine Start provides wind protection and a bit of additional warmth – particularly when starting to walk first thing in the morning and when belaying.

The Coefficient LT hoody is a good thermal midlayer. I’ve been enjoying thrashing these items all over the mountains and look forward to writing about them.

 

Photo Credits: Stu Duncan

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