During my first two seasons of high school rugby, I had this teammate who was small, yet stout. He was our scrum half.
If you’re familiar with the sport, then you know how demanding and commanding the scrum half needs to be. It’s essential they’re tough and resilient. This is exactly how I would describe 5.11’s Sulli UV shirt.
I’ve put it through the ringer the last four months while building a house, and it’s still going strong!
Long Hot Days
Rather disappointingly, we’re in the last weeks of summer. The evenings get darker earlier, and the nice warm weather is fleeting.
I should be somewhat relieved because gone are the long workdays in nearly 100° smokey heat. However, those intense days weren’t too bad when I wore 5.11’s Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve shirt.
The featherlight hood covers my neck wonderfully when I wear a hat over it to keep it still and snug. The fabric quickly absorbs my sweat it keeps me nice and cool, especially when there’s a nice breeze.
Even as it’s pushed and rubbed against rough sheathing or 2x6s it keeps me safe and comfortable. Instead of my arms getting roughed up and beat down, the shirt takes it like a champ!
I’m still shocked by this because of how seriously thin it is. Every time I put it on, I forget how light the shirt is. Even if you compare it to a basic short sleeved shirt, it weighs less than those.
Perfection?
Obviously, no piece of clothing is perfect. (If you know any, then please let me know.)
The Sulli UV shirt is clearly resilient and can thrive in harsh environments performing tough jobs, but it’s still a sun shirt. Aka don’t expect it to remain blemish free. If you wash or nick it just right, then it doesn’t take much to pull some threads or stretch it out.
Literally the second time the shirt was washed, some strings were caught in the dryer. Leaving these little round balls right on the front of it.
Other than that, I can’t complain much. It even has the thumb holes in the sleeves. Making it ideal on and off the work site when I go on a run, hike, or just chilling at home.
The Recap
Look, I’ve poured concrete, sheathed exterior walls of a house, and placed roof trusses in this shirt. Not once, but over and over again the last four months.
Does the shirt look it? Yes. But is it still in one piece and going strong? Yup!
The same things I do in long sleeve Carhartt shirts, the 5.11 Sulli UV Hooded Long Sleeve shirt has also done. I don’t know how, but it has. All while being more comfortable and breathable than the Carhartt ones.
So as expensive as this shirt might be ($60 when not on sale), there’s a reason for it. It’s like my old scrum half: tiny but freaking mighty!