There comes a point in your life when you realize protecting yourself from UV rays is more important than working with your shirt off to stay cool. True, that might come at the same time that weโre drinking more six-packs than displaying one, but itโs still an important turning point. The Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody is one option that does a fine job of protecting your skin and keeping you cool.
Pros
- Lightweight
- UV protectant
- Ridiculously comfortable
Cons
- Construction isnโt as tough as thicker blends
Deciphering the Truewerk Code
So whatโs up with the Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody? I mean, T.5, really?
The number code really does work. The higher the number, the more cold protection you the piece. T.5 gear dials in around the 90ยฐ mark, meaning this is hot weather workwear. Hereโs the general breakdown:
- T.5: 80ยฐ โ 100ยฐ
- T1: 60ยฐ โ 100ยฐ
- T2: 30ยฐ โ 80ยฐ
- T3: 0ยฐ โ 50ยฐ
- T4: -20ยฐ โ 32ยฐ
Of course, thereโs a wide range here and everyone has their own personal comfort level.
Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody Fit
Truewerkย focuses on the โIndustrial Athleteโ โ Pros that have a more athletic build than the stereotypical tradesman. That means they fit more like something youโd get from Nike than Carhartt. The fit guide pointed me towards Large and itโs a perfect fit for my 6โ2โณ, 195-pound frame. The sleeve and overall lengths donโt fall short like they do on most of the workwear I try on.
In general, the sizing matches up with my typical shirt sizing (large) thanย my workwear sizing (medium). I normally have to get large for the length but have to deal with chest and stomach areas that are too loose.
The fit is solid for my type of build and the fit guide is dead on.
Style
The Workhoody has a loose, breathable fit that looks more like a soccer or basketball warm-up shirt than workwear. Of course, thereโs also a hood that you wonโt see on that gear.
There are some differences between the shirt I received and the one currently on Truewerkโs website. Thereโs no clasp around the neck, which I didnโt find particularly useful on the first season T1.
The bigger change comes around the wrist and waist where the loose cuffs are replaced with a stretchyย trim. These give a little hold in those areas so the sleeves donโt fall away and the waist doesnโt creep up when youโre reaching.
Wearing the Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody
I really like and still wear the original B1 Sun Hoodie and T2 Werkpants. As comfortable as it is, the T.5 takes it up another notch. The material is lightweight and the loose fit is very breathable. When you get to the point where you want long sleeves and possibly a hood for high UV days, itโs about as comfortable as you can hope for.
The hood fits pretty loose. It stretches a bit if you want to wear it over your hard hat, but I find itโs a bit more comfortable to wear under it.
The material is a soft, relatively thin polyester. Itโs designed to resist picking when you rub against anything abrasive. However, itโs not armor, so it will damage if youโre rough on your outerwear.
Pricing
At $44, the Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody is priced very competitively against similar athletic gear from Nike or Under Armour. Itโs an unusual shirt in the world of construction workwear, so thereโs not much direct competition. However, the price doesnโt seem out of line for a premium brand.
The Bottom Line
If youโre looking for an incredibly comfortable, long sleeve solution for UV protection, the Truewerk T.5 Werkhoody is a very fine option. Just keep in mind that itโs not going to hold up as long in environments where youโre constantly finding snags or rough material to rub against.
Truewerkย T.5 Werkhoody Highlights
- 100% polyester K115 WerkFacric is UPF 30+ rated to block more than 95% of UV rays
- Engineered to resist picking around abrasive materials
Truewerkย T.5 Werkhoody Specifications
- Material: 100% polyester (except trim)
- Sizes: Small (36โณ โ 38โณ chest) to XXL (49โณ โ 52โณ chest)
- Colors: Viz Green, Wolf Grey, Black
- Price: $44
