I am lucky enough to have had some pretty unique travel experiences growing up. My parents weren’t wealthy by any means—firmly middle class—but they knew how to make the most of a summer trip. My dad took on the responsibility of coaching and getting us to national baseball tournaments, while my mom somehow managed to build the rest of the trip around them, usually tacking on a few days before or after.
And while I loved baseball, some of my fondest memories don’t actually come from any particular game. They come from the places those tournaments took us. National parks, weird roadside stops, and outdoor experiences that I probably didn’t fully appreciate at 13 but still think about today.
Thanks, Mom.
One of those places was White Sands National Park in the middle of New Mexico. I still vividly remember miles upon miles of white sand contrasting against an impossibly blue sky. It was so unique that part of me genuinely thought I could grab a snowboard and start carving down the dunes. The other thing I distinctly remember is just how bloody hot it was.
Which brings us (weirdly) to the White Sands Sun Henley with Hideaway Hood from Terlingua Threads, a new apparel company that is taking a slightly different approach to outdoor clothing.
The Company
Terlingua Threads was born in a place where heat isn’t exactly an afterthought. The company’s founders were spending time at Big Bend National Park and asking a pretty simple question: Why does so much outdoor apparel seem designed around protecting us from the cold?
There are plenty of companies making gear for Glacier, Denali and other places where the primary concern is staying warm. But what about the places where the thermometer is pushing 90, 100 or even higher? Terlingua Threads is focused on that side of outdoor adventure.
The White Sands Sun Henley is a good example of that philosophy. It is made from 55% hemp and 45% Lyocell, a plant-based cellulose fiber made from wood pulp. The fabric is lightweight, offers chemical-free UV protection, long-coverage sleeves over the hands, and a built-in hood can be stowed away when you don’t need it.
Basically, it is designed to help you spend more time outside without feeling like the sun is actively trying to end your adventure.
Construction & Fit
The first thing I noticed when putting the White Sands on was just how pleasant the fabric feels against the skin. It is soft, lightweight and comfortable without feeling delicate. There is a little bit of heft to it, but I wouldn’t call it heavy. And the fit is definitely on the relaxed side. That looseness isn’t simply a style decision. There is some actual planning behind it.
The extra room between your body and the fabric helps create an air gap, encouraging airflow and allowing the shirt’s cooling properties to do their thing. Instead of wrapping itself tightly around you and trapping heat, the White Sands gives that heat somewhere to go.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a running top. Could you run in it? Absolutely. Would I choose it for a summer tempo run? Probably not.
The relaxed, slightly baggy fit just doesn’t feel like a traditional performance running piece. But that’s also not really what Terlingua Threads seems to be going for. Use it for hiking, tossing on after kicking butt on the trails, or just working around the yard. It is much more of an outdoor lifestyle piece that happens to have some serious performance characteristics than a traditional running shirt.
The White Sands comes in four colors—black, white, green and pink—and the overall design is pretty understated. There is a simple logo on the chest, but otherwise the shirt lets the fabric and construction do most of the talking.
There isn’t a giant logo screaming for attention or a bunch of unnecessary design elements. It feels like a piece of gear designed to actually be used.
Final Strides
Terlingua Threads is not trying to compete with every running apparel company out there. The White Sands Sun Henley occupies a slightly different space. It is built for people who want to spend time outside when the weather is doing its best to convince them otherwise.
For runners, I see this being particularly useful before and after a run, on hiking days, during trail adventures, or anytime you’re going to be outside for hours and would rather have some protection from the sun than continually slather yourself in sunscreen.
And yes, the price is going to be higher than what you might find hanging on a big-box store rack. These aren’t products coming from a billion-dollar company cranking out millions of pieces of apparel. Terlingua Threads is a small team producing its gear in small batches.
But you can feel the quality. The White Sands feels like a shirt designed to stick around for a while, which makes the price a little easier to swallow.
Having spent a memorable afternoon baking at White Sands National Park as a kid, I’m pretty happy someone finally decided to focus on that.
