Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Coolibar Aricia Men's Long Sleeve Shirt vs Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve Tee
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best UV Protective Shirts: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Aricia states UPF 50+ and adds a sun-flap collar that most shirts lack. The ActiveIce Spectrum tee states the same rating with a listed fabric blend at a lower tier.
Coolibar Aricia Men's Long Sleeve Shirt
Buy itA button-down travel and trail shirt rated UPF 50+ with a hidden sun flap at the collar.
- Coolibar states UPF 50+ and says all its products are tested and verified at that level.
- The button-down collar has a hidden sun flap, which covers the back of the neck without needing a hood.
- Vents at the shoulder seams and underarms, snap-tab roll-up sleeves and a chest pocket make it easy to manage heat.
- The product page leaves the fabric composition field blank, so you cannot see the fiber blend before buying.
- Some owners report inconsistent sizing, with a medium feeling tight for a few.
- No hood and no thumb loops, so hands and neck below the collar rely on the shirt design and sunscreen.
Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve Tee
Buy itA stretchy polyester tee with a stated UPF 50+ rating and thumb holes, at the low end of the field.
- The page states UPF 50+, the top of the rating scale it shows.
- The fabric is listed as 94% polyester and 6% spandex, so you know what you are wearing.
- Thumb holes pull the cuffs over the backs of the hands, and the maker covers it with its lifetime Infinite Guarantee.
- The page says nothing about how long the UPF rating lasts through washing.
- It is a crew neck with no collar or hood, so the neck stays exposed.
- Some colors and sizes were sold out when we looked, so availability varies.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Coolibar Aricia Men's Long Sleeve Shirt Our pick | Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve Tee | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants one shirt for travel, day hikes and boat days that also passes for normal clothes. | Hikers and runners who want a light, cheap long sleeve with a rating they can read. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Stated UPF | UPF 50+ | UPF 50+ |
| Fabric blend on page | 3Ddri fabric, composition not listed | 94% polyester, 6% spandex |
| UPF durability claim | Maker site: up to 40 wash cycles | Not stated |
| Neck coverage | Collar with hidden sun flap | Crew neck |
| Hands | No thumb loops | Thumb holes |
| Style | Button-down | Pullover tee |
| Fit as described | Mixed sizing reports | Standard fit |
| Best use | Travel, trail, boat | Hiking, running |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Coolibar Aricia Men's Long Sleeve Shirt if
anyone who wants one shirt for travel, day hikes and boat days that also passes for normal clothes.
Know before buying: the product page leaves the fabric composition field blank, so you cannot see the fiber blend before buying.
Pick the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve Tee if
hikers and runners who want a light, cheap long sleeve with a rating they can read.
Know before buying: the page says nothing about how long the UPF rating lasts through washing.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Coolibar Aricia Men's Long Sleeve Shirt - A button-down travel and trail shirt rated UPF 50+ with a hidden sun flap at the collar. Choose the Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Long Sleeve Tee instead if hikers and runners who want a light, cheap long sleeve with a rating they can read.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best UV Protective Shirts: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).