Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″
Review by Erin Trail
The Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ is up to the task for summer hiking trips and everyday wearing.
Details
- Lightweight
- Wind resistant
- Versatile
- Water repellent
- Superlight (SL), durable softshell fabric resists snags, tears, and abrasions
- Two hand pockets with zippers
- Two cargo pockets with flaps
- Hook waist closure and back waistband elastic for adjustable fit
- Fabric: Fortius™ DW 1.0 – Woven Double Weave, 125gsm – 86% Nylon, 14% Elastane
- PFAS free
- Made from bluesign® approved material
Fit and Function
I am a women’s size 10 on the Arc’teryx size guide. I have found the Sonii L Skort 4″ to be fairly true to size, leaning on the slightly too big side. The shorts part of the garment fit excellent across the waist, hips, and rear. I do have to hook the skort attachment on the smallest loop for the best fit, making me wonder if they are a smidge too big for me.
The Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ is kind of like a reverse mullet, with the skort option being a wrap-around the front and shorts in the back. The skort feature is a panel of fabric (2 layers) that wraps across the front and hooks into a looped section of the waistband. The mechanics of the skort are great – the hook is secure and doesn’t move. I do wish that the skort panel was cut a little shorter. The corner of the flap hangs down below the hem of the shorts and is a little annoying when you’re actively hiking. I ended up tucking the flap up into the waistband to reduce the flapping (and my annoyance) while I hiked. I think if the skort flap was a single layer and/or cut so the bottom hem was flush or slightly higher than the short hem, this would have felt less annoying.
From a style perspective, the askew bottom hem of the skort does look visually interesting and I generally wear it in skort mode when I’m doing less active things.
The pockets of the Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ are very well done. There are two zippered side hand pockets, each big enough to fit your phone. My favorite pocket is the cargo drop in pocket which lays across the front right hip of the skort flap. It perfectly fits a phone; your phone doesn’t move around and it doesn’t way down that side of the skort.
The fabric of the Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ is on the heavier side. It’s a “superlight” softshell fabric, and I definitely get some outerwear vibes from how it feels and moves. The fabric is slightly stiff and slightly heavy – it doesn’t move like lightweight running or hiking shorts. The payoff for the softshell fabric’s weight is durability. Any dirt or dust easily brushes off of the fabric. You can also be confident sitting on rougher surfaces (rocks, logs), knowing that the Fortius™ won’t snag or scuff.
I am also super happy to report that the leg inseams do not creep up as you hike, likely due to the heavier weight of the fabric. The seams are well done and I haven’t experienced any rubbing or chafing, even after a 3 hour hike. I also loved the 4″ inseam and found that to be the perfect length to avoid any skin rubbing.
Closing Thoughts
The Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ is a fun option for hiking or hanging out, purpose built with durable fabric and plenty of storage pockets.
The Arc’teryx Sonii SL Skort 4″ is available for women in three colorways (Moondrop, Black or Habitat) in sizes ranging from 00 to 16.
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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