Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum
Burgeon Outdoor is a New Hampshire based company with a manufacturing and retail location in Lincoln, NH, worth visiting when in the White Mountains to experience first-hand their homegrown line of apparel and onsite stitching stations, along with their friendly staff.
Founded in 2019 by Rudy Glocker, the mission of Burgeon Outdoor is to create connections between the local economy and the outdoors by producing quality outdoor apparel. As coined by the name Burgeon (to flourish), the company aims to “help mountain communities flourish,” by manufacturing technical apparel for hikers, trail runners, and outdoor enthusiasts, through a sustainable and holistic approach.
Inspired by the trail culture of the White Mountains, their line of apparel features 9 Collections – Polaterc® Alpha™ Direct; Collaborations; Sunseeker Polaterc® Delta™; Highlander; Flume Baselayer, Tuckerman; Bond Mid Layer; Campfire; and Hearthside.
In addition, Graphic T-shirts (30 products) made of luxurious 50/50 blends of organic cotton and recycled polyester, are available for custom order, featuring themes from the Granite State and the White Mountains, including a print on the back of a t-shirt with a list of the NH 48 4000 footers.
The “Hoodies” category includes 9 different products, all made of high-tech performance fabric that are designed for summer or winter outdoor activities, including those by the campfire.
Burgeon Outdoor Sunseeker Hoodie ($110)
A lightweight hoodie with UPF 30 made with Polaterc® Delta™, a fabric with cooling and wicking properties, to help keep you comfortable and protected under the sun and in the heat.
The fit is perfect, and the overall feel is very comfortable, especially as the fabric is cool to the touch and does not cling to the skin. Under 6 oz in my size medium, I appreciate the lightweight feel of the hoodie and its knit structure that is specifically designed to enhance cooling.
Hiking Mount Cardigan, not far from Burgeon in Lincoln.
At the core, this is a sun hoodie made from a fabric, Polaterc® Delta™, that has been engineered to keep you cool via its high breathability, superior wicking, and by dispersing perspiration across the fabric surface.
What I also noticed is that the fabric is odor-resistant after wearing my Sunseeker Hoodie multiple times without needing to wash it.
Polaterc® has added a new technology - Fresh Face - a natural, renewable, and odor reducer, to its Delta fabrics, which is a recent evolution in the textile industry (2023). Fresh Face is derived from a naturally sourced mint oil and has been extensively tested by Polaterc®, including its long lasting effectiveness through 6 weeks of wear, 50 wash cycles, then 6 weeks more wear (here for more information).
Flatlock stitched - at their Lincoln NH workshop - the hoodie has a seamless structure to reduce chafing and improve layering. Another great feature is that the inside of your Sunseeker Hoodie is free of sewn labels, with all the info about the product, printed on the inside: “Made in America” and “Imported Materials”, a New Hamsphire state logo, along with the size of the product.
You can easily identify the brand by way of the “Burgeon Outdoor” label, which is sewn on the bottom right of the Sunseeker hoodie along with its abbreviated version - a big “B” - in the back.
Be mindful that the Polaterc® Delta™ is made of a knit structure fabric that may be subject to a pulled thread, something I experienced from the velcro on my trekking poles. On the upside, the velcro pulled a thread, however, it did not damage the fabric.
Though other brands offer hoodies with higher UPF ratings, at UPF 30 it provides good sun protection and such a rating is considered effective by The Skin Cancer Foundation for sun-protective clothing.
The design is simple yet provides great coverage. I tend to wear sun gloves when hiking so I don’t mind the fact that the Sunseeker Hoodie is not equipped with thumbholes. Likewise, there is no kangaroo pocket, which is not a minus for me. However, I find the hood to be a tad too large even as I tend to wear a hat or a cap for sun protection. This said, the hood works well over a cap when in need of added protection.
I noticed that the hood easily flips forward in the front of my body as opposed to staying in the back.
Available in 8 different solid colors and six different sizes, from xs to xxl.
Certainly, the price of the Sunseeker Hoodie is on the higher side at $110, yet there is great value in a product that is part of a movement “to help mountain communities flourish.” In addition to healthcare benefits (100%) for all employees who average 30+ hours/week, 5% of the purchase price of each product will benefit the community and environmental efforts.
I feel good wearing my Sunseeker Hoodie whether I am hiking, walking, or at the beach in need of sun protection. I like top to bottom coverage when hiking and staying cool and dry as much as possible along with smelling “fresh” – something the Sunseaker Hoodie has been delivering for me. It is a top that I will be packing for our 7 day trek - Le Tour des Combins - in the Swiss/Italian Alps in early September and prior to that I will be getting plenty of wear when hiking in the White Mountains.
Burgeon Outdoor Sunseeker T-Shirt ($65)
Sam: I have the T-Shirt version of the Sunseeker. About the same weight as the hoodie in terms of fabric weight, this Polartec Delta fabric T differs in having a smoother inner raised construction while Dominique’s hoodie has tiny raised dots on the inside. In both, the inner surface wicks moisture while the outer smoother surface helps evaporate it to produce the cooling effect. So the wicking and cooling is mechanical with no chemical additives.
But there is an additive, and it is natural, the Fresh Face mint oil anti odor treatment which was tested for 6 weeks, 50 washes and then 6 weeks more by Polartec.
To date, I have worn it for a day of walking and hiking in Montreal, the 5 hour drive back to NH, 2 days around the house and 3 sweaty runs and it remains as fresh as day one with no wash as of yet. No kidding! Amazing!
The implications for hiking, travel, running and everyday wear are powerful, and I am not talking about odor! Never mind fewer washes and less water consumption. It for sure will be my go to tee for our 8 day Combin trek.
The fit in my medium is generous and easy going. I am 5’9” and 162 lbs This is not a “fitted” tee and the generous fit clearly also helps with its comfort in heat. My white and light gray is a nice neutral color with its subtle color patterning suitable for multiple activities including casual wear.
On the run and hiking I found the Sunseeker very comfortable, decently temperature regulating in our high heat and humidity, not sticky when wet and quick drying. For me the key differentiator from other technical tees is the Fresh Face odor regulating aspects.
Polartec Delta Sunseeker at Burgeon Outdoor
Visit to Burgeon: Sunseeker Polartec Delta Sunseeker and Polartec Alpha Direct Hoodies
Dominique has run for over 45 years, consistently about 25 miles per week at paces between 11 and 12 minute miles and once a week down in the mid 9 minute miles. She races rarely, but always surprises more hard core runners in her age group when she does. She has a 1985 marathon PR of 3:16 in her second marathon which at the time put her on the top 10 Swiss women’s lists. An avid hiker and trekker, she has been around Mont Blanc 3 times, hiked Chamonix to Zermatt, organizing all our treks including last year the Tour du Queyras (France) and completed the 48 New Hampshire 4000 footers. She is the mother of two grown children, both runners post college, and also enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, tennis, and gardening.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2025 Sam’s 54th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s
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