Posted by Zach Zenteno // Jul 11, 2025
Shine On You Crazy Sun Shirt — Helly Hansen Shine Long Sleeve Crew First Impressions
Despite the lies perpetrated by Big Rain, Seattle does, in fact, receive bountiful sunshine in the summer months. With ~16 hours of daylight to cash in under the great PNW sun, I’ve spent the first half of summer toiling around the woods in Helly Hansen’s new Shine Long Sleeve Crew, putting its UV protection and breathable fit to the test in a variety of conditions. Here are my first impressions.
Double peace out on Silver Peak, Snoqualmie Pass.
OUT OF THE BOX
Let’s start with first first impressions: fresh out of the box, the Shine LS is impeccably soft to the touch—something I prioritize as an unashamed chafer. Stretchy, soft and durable enough for the snags and abrasions that come with trail running, Helly Hansen has seemingly struck the perfect ratio of recycled Polyamide to Elastane in the Shine Collection. As far as fit goes, I’m a very averagely proportioned human, and I have no complaints with the size Large. So far, so good.
ON-TRAIL PERFORMANCE
Pun incoming: this shirt really shines after you’ve broken a sweat. If all the sun shirts in my closet are quick-dry, the Shine LS is super turbo mode quick-dry, which heavily contributes to its superb cooling capabilities on big mile, high-temperature days. Here’s how it works—when my sweat soaks the fabric, the Shine LS is quick to evaporate that sweat, using the moisture to turn the body’s natural cooling process up to 11. Cool to the touch and light on the body, this shirt offers full-torso UPF 50+ coverage that comes in extra handy above the treeline, where the sun always shines. When compared to layer upon layer of sticky sunscreen, I’ll take the Shine LS Crew any day of the week.
FINAL THOUGHTS
To nitpick (because I have to), I’d like to see the Shine in a non-zippered hooded version. I’ve never been a fan of next-to-skin zippers, and the added breathability brought on by the half-zip design isn’t worth it (to me) when the shirt itself is already so excellent at cooling.
Otherwise, I have no negative feedback. The Shine LS is my current go-to trail running shirt for its unmatched next-to-skin feel and incredible cooling capabilities. Shine on you crazy sun shirt, shine on.
About the Author
Zach Zenteno
Originally from Southern California, Zach is a PR Account Manager and enthusiast of all things outdoors. Prior to working at WH, Zach spent a year at REI, fully immersing himself in the outdoor industry and picking up hobbies such as backpacking, skiing and cycling. He graduated from Seattle University with a degree in Marketing and Management in 2020, where he spent four years swimming for the D1 swim team. In his free time, you’ll find Zach hiking, riding, and continuously exploring the outdoors.