HUK vs Columbia Sun Hoodies (2026)

HUK and Columbia's PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) line both sell fishing hoodies through Amazon.com, in men's and women's cuts rated UPF 50 or 50+. They differ on how they cool you and on who has checked their rating. This compares both on the makers' own specs; our UPF sun shirt and hoodie guide covers the wider field, including Coolibar.

How we chose: we did not test these hoodies; specs come from each listing and maker page, and every pick was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on September 29, 2026.

Six hoodies side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

HUK's mesh-sides and fabric details come from its Pursuit Performance Hoodie page; Columbia's hood detail from its Terminal Tackle page.

UPF ratings and who has checked them

Both brands print UPF 50 or 50+ on these six. What neither does on these listings is name the lab test. In the US that would be AATCC TM 183 for the measurement and ASTM D6603 for the label, which asks for the lowest value expected over two years of use; our hoodie guide explains both.

The outside check is the Skin Cancer Foundation. Its seal criteria require fabric of at least UPF 50, and its recommended products list includes Columbia Sportswear as a fabric brand. The Tidal Tee II listing names the seal outright; none of the HUK listings here mentions the Skin Cancer Foundation.

That is not evidence HUK's numbers are wrong. It means that with HUK you are taking the maker's UPF 50+ at its word, and with Columbia an outside body has reviewed the fabric.

Not every hoodie is UPF 50

Check the listing before you assume. HUK's Bass Hoodie Tee, for example, says "UPF 30+ sun protection" in its bullets, and Simms, a third brand, lists its Waterline Sun Hoody at UPF 30+. Both are hooded shirts sold on Amazon.com next to the UPF 50+ models.

UPF 30 still blocks most UV, but by the Skin Cancer Foundation's arithmetic (UPF 50 lets through 1/50) it lets through about 1/30, more than half again as much. For all-day sun on open water, we would stay with 50 or 50+.

Venting and cooling: HUK's mesh against Columbia's fabric

The clearest difference is how each brand handles heat.

HUK uses mesh. The Pursuit has "mesh vented sides," per HUK, and the Icon a "full back panel wicking mesh," per the listing. Mesh moves air you can feel. The trade-off is that neither listing says whether the mesh itself carries the UPF 50+ rating, so on a long day with your back to the sun, the Icon's back panel is the place to be careful.

Columbia uses treated fabric. The Solar Stream II lists Omni-Freeze, which Columbia describes on its women's Super Solar Stream II listing as "blue rings that react with sweat to lower the temperature of the fabric." That is Columbia's claim, and it needs sweat to work. The Terminal Tackle has no cooling treatment listed; its relaxed fit does that job.

HUK also claims "cooling fibers" on the Pursuit that "work to remove heat from the surface of your skin." Treat both brands' cooling language as marketing until someone publishes a test.

Hoods, thumbs and women's cuts

For a hood worn all day, Columbia's Terminal Tackle has the most useful detail: Columbia says the streamlined hood is thin enough to fit under a ball cap or fishing hat, and it has a high neckline. HUK's women's Icon has an adjustable hood that HUK says helps in "sun, wind, or light rain."

For hands, the Columbia Tidal Tee II has thumb holes that "help keep the sleeves in place," and none of the HUK listings here mention thumb holes. If the backs of your hands burn on the tiller, add sun gloves to either brand.

Fit: HUK's classic against Columbia's relaxed

HUK lists the Pursuit's fit as "Classic" on its product page. Columbia calls the Terminal Tackle a "relaxed fit," and says the same on the Amazon listing, where it describes the hoodie as "designed for a relaxed fit."

Fit matters for sun as well as comfort. The Skin Cancer Foundation's sun-protective clothing page says "loose-fitting apparel is preferable" because "tight clothing can stretch and reduce the level of protection offered." If you are between sizes in either brand, the larger size keeps the fabric from stretching across the shoulders when you cast.

On the boat or on the trail

On a boat, you stand in one place with sun from above and glare from the water. That favors venting: HUK's mesh sides or back let air through where you sweat most. Add a gaiter for the neck and lower face.

On a trail, a pack sits over the back, which blocks the Icon's mesh panel and presses the fabric against you. There, Columbia's Terminal Tackle, with its hood under a cap and relaxed cut, or HUK's Pursuit with mesh at the sides, makes more sense than a mesh back.

Care and stain treatments

Both brands add finishes for fishing. HUK's Pursuit has a stain release treatment that HUK says helps stains wash out and resists "oily substances," and HUK's page adds an anti-microbial treatment. Columbia leans on Omni-Wick for moisture and, on the Terminal Tackle, a polyester interlock knit it calls quick drying.

Neither brand says how many washes its finishes last. Wash to the care label, including any instruction about fabric softener, and rinse salt and fish slime out after each trip rather than letting a hoodie sit in the boat bag.

Who each brand suits

• Buy HUK if you fish in heat and want mesh venting you can feel: the Pursuit Vented for mesh sides, the Icon for a mesh back. Check each HUK listing says 50+, not 30+.
• Buy Columbia PFG if you want a rating an outside body stands behind (Columbia is on the Skin Cancer Foundation's list), a hood that fits under a cap, or thumb holes on the women's Tidal Tee II.
• Either if you just need a UPF 50 hoodie for a day on the boat; then choose on fit and color, and wear a brimmed hat from our sun hat guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are HUK and Columbia hoodies good for hiking too?

Yes; both are made for fishing but work on a trail. The Terminal Tackle's hood under a cap suits hikers, and HUK's mesh helps on a climb, though a pack covers the Icon's back panel.

Does mesh let sun through?

It can. The Skin Cancer Foundation says densely woven fabric protects better than "sheer, thin or loosely woven cloth," and mesh is open by design. Unless the listing says the mesh is UPF rated, treat mesh panels as lighter cover.

Which one dries faster?

Neither publishes a dry time. HUK and Columbia both describe their fabrics as quick drying, so we cannot rank them on it.

Is Omni-Shade the same on every Columbia hoodie?

No. The Coolhead Zero IV and women's Super Solar Stream II listings describe "Omni-Shade Broad Spectrum" for "moderate to extreme" sunlight, while the Tidal Tee II and Terminal Tackle glove listings describe Omni-Shade for "mild to extreme" exposure. Check the UPF number on the listing.

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WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. UPF figures and cooling claims are the makers' own.