We love a good activewear shirt that protects us from the sun on extended outdoor excursions. And they don’t get any better–or more sustainable–than the Helly Hansen LIFA Active Solen Shirt (with coffee-infused recycled fabrics)!
The Helly Hansen LIFA Active Solen Shirt
Say whaaaat? Coffee in clothing? You betcha! Turns out, not only can it help prevent odors, but it provides natural UPF, too! Helly Hansen isn’t the only one using coffee technology in their fabric, of course (check out our Sustainability Spotlight on Coalatree here), but we can’t get enough of their LIFA Active Solen shirts, just the same.
Why? Because when we’re spending hours or days paddling or backpacking in the brutal summer sun, we like to keep our delicate epidermis covered. But we also like sustainable fabrics that dry quickly after we douse them with water to stay cool (like when backpacking in the Grand Canyon). Bonus points if we don’t smell like a sweaty gym bag after just a few hours. That’s where this eco-friendly line of shirts (available in long sleeve, short sleeve, even hooded) comes in.
The Deets
Ready for the breakdown? Here we go. These shirts are:
- UPF 50+ without the need for harmful chemical treatments during production and care
- Naturally Odor Resistant
- Excellent moisture management breathable
- lightweight but durable
- Our favorite application: kayaking
S.Café® technology is the reason behind the 50+ UPF sun protection. Through a low-temperature, high-pressure and energy-saving process, recycled coffee grounds are infused during fiber creation to boost UPF protection to 50+ UPF that will never wash out. Huzzah! Most UPF clothing involves chemical treatments and only lasts for so many wash-wear cycles, so this is a win.
The micro-pores on S.Café® coffee grounds also absorb odors and maintain the UPF value both when wet and dry. They offer up to 200% faster drying time when compared with cotton, which is obviously a plus on long outdoor excursions with fluctuating temperatures. Helly Hansen’s LIFA line, too, is designed to aid in evaporation to keep you dry.
So yeah, the make-up of these shirts and fabric is pretty cool. And fun fact: every garment in the LIFA Active Solen line uses 3 recycled plastic bottles and 3 cups of used coffee grounds. Dope, right? Check out the whole line of LIFA Solen shirts for men and women here.
And read our Sustainability Spotlight with Helly Hansen here.
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Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com