Arc’teryx Olia Shirt SS Women’s
Review by Erin Trail
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt SS is a shirt that can literally do it all, with sun protection, premium construction, and stretchy breathable fabric.
Details
- UPF 50+
- 20d Recycled Nylon stretch plain weave, 77gsm – 72% Nylon, 28% Elastane
- Low bulk bonded seams
- Snap closures
- Gusseted underarms
- Regular fit
- Drop hem
- Lightweight, quick drying, and abrasion resistant
Fit and Function
The TLDR: I love everything about this shirt. It is SO well made and I am incredibly impressed. This quickly became one of my favorite items from my gear testing roster this summer.
The details….
I am a size medium on the Arc’teryx size guide and found that the Olia Shirt fits true to size. The fit is “regular” and I found that to be accurate. The shirt isn’t cropped or boxy. The sleeves are also longer than other front closure active shirts – the sleeves hit me about 2 inches above the elbow.
Immediately out of the box, the construction of the Arc’teryx Olia Shirt stands out. All of the seams are bonded, which is a higher end feature typically found in cycling kits, swimming speed suits and sports bras. This feature immediately stood out to me and screamed “premium construction”. But what’s the benefit to bonded seams over sewn seams? Bonded seams lay flat and don’t have any bulk. This means that chafing, rubbing, and discomfort from seams is completely eliminated. I also find that bonded seams are more durable and last longer than sewn seams. A sustainability bonus is that bonded seams are easier to repair, should they break down.
I also love the front snaps and the hidden placket. The snaps are small, but easy to use. The snaps are easy to close and easy to open, but they also don’t open unexpectedly. The hidden placket is a nice design touch, giving the Arc’teryx Olia Shirt a little bit of a formal collared shirt vibe.
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt performs as well as it looks. The fabric is incredibly light and stretchy. It’s also super breathable. It’s hard to describe what wearing the Arc’teryx Olia Shirt feels like. The shirt looks like it might be bulky, but it’s actually like wearing a featherweight shirt that keeps you dry and cool. I have other lightweight, breathable shirts, but this one is definitely the nicest feeling and best performing of the lot.
I’ve been wearing the Arc’teryx Olia Shirt for a variety of activities. I like a lightweight collared shirt for mountain biking. I also prefer a front snap closure on these shirts. For hiking, I typically wear a pull over shirt, but I’ve been wearing the Olia lately, with and without a pack. I’ve also been wearing the Olia for daily use, wearing it to the office or for hanging out. I love it when I can wear a shirt to work and then keep wearing it for my after work bike ride. In every one of my use cases, the Olia shirt has knocked it out of the park.
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt is easy to wear. I don’t even really notice the shirt as I’m wearing it, which is about the highest compliment I can give a garment.
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt feels comfortable with a variety of packs. I’ve worn it with a traditional bladder mountain bike hydration pack and with a low profile hydration pack. In both cases, the shirt played well with the pack: no bunching, riding up, or chafing. I also tend to get pretty sweaty on my backside (under the pack) and the Olia dried very quickly once the pack was off.
I have also found the fabric of the Arc’teryx Olia Shirt to be very durable, which is not always a feature of super lightweight shirts. I haven’t noticed any amount of wear from pack contact points or daily use.
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt also packs for travel well, releasing any wrinkles quickly. This makes it a versatile option for those who like active vacations but also want a nicer looking shirt to wear to dinner.
Closing Thoughts
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt is an excellent sunshirt that works well across a wide variety of activities. The construction is top-tier and the fit + feel is fantastic.
The Arc’teryx Olia Shirt is available only for women, in both long sleeve and short sleeve forms. The short sleeve version comes in three colorways (Sea Salt, Dark Stratus, and Pinkberry). Due to the lightweight nature of the fabric, the Sea Salt and Pinkberry are somewhat see through. If you want a more opaque looking fabric, opt for the Dark Stratus. The Arc’teryx Olia Shirts are available in women’s sizing ranging from XXS to XXL.
Erin Trail
Trail Boss of Stoke
Erin is a former Montana park ranger with a degree in environmental engineering. She loves getting into technical details while putting her gear (and herself) through the paces. She shares her home in Colorado with her husband, Will, and her 3 cats (Zipper, Brewtus, and Simcoe).
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