Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″
Review by Erin Trail
The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ is the perfect short for any kind of active adventure this summer.
Details
- Primeflex Ripstop, 30 denier Microfiber Mechanical Stretch Ripstop, 100% Polyester, 60 g/m2
- PFAS free DWR finish
- Brief style liner built with 100% recycled knit
- Encased elastic waistband with drawcord
- Hanger loop on center back waistband
- Two drop-in pockets for stashing essentials
- Hidden zippered security pocket secures on-mountain essentials
- Regular Fit
- Inseam: 5″
Review
The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ have become my favorite go-to short this spring and I know I’ll be wearing them all summer long.
I generally prefer shorts with a built in brief liner, mostly for efficiency, especially when camping or traveling. Most shorts with a built in liner are running-focused shorts and typically have pretty short inseams. These kinds of shorts are fine when you’re moving around (running, hiking), but they do end up feeling too short when I sit down or in social situations. The 5-inch length of the Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short seems to have found the sweet spot for me – efficient functionality and made so I can wear them on and off the trail without feeling exposed.
The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ fit true to size with a slightly relaxed and baggy fit. But, unlike many relaxed shorts I’ve tested, these fit VERY well across my whole body without any awkward puffing or pooching or creeping up. I recently came across another woman on a trail who was wearing a different style of Stio shorts. As she put it “Stio just understands a woman’s body.” I couldn’t have put it any better.
During my testing of the Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″, I’ve worn them on my favorite incline trail (~120 steps up, steep return trail down) and most recently, I’ve worn the shorts during a visit to Zion National Park. Most of my testing has been hiking with some running mixed in.
The fit of the Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ is fantastic. The waistband is wide, yet comfortable. If you need additional adjustment, there’s an encased elastic waistband. The waist stays put as you run, no migrating up or down.
The inseam of the shorts is near perfect. I have larger thighs and inseam creep is a problem that I experience with most active shorts, especially when running. The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ didn’t migrate upwards at all when hiking and only creeped up along the inseam a small (and very tolerable) amount when running. I also never experienced any rubbing or chafing along my inner thighs as I wore the shorts.
The pockets are well designed. There are two drop in pockets (one on each side). These pockets are plenty big for your phone or keys. The pocket lining doesn’t poke out below the hem of the shorts as you move or sit. The inner zipper pocket (located inside the right drop in pocket) is also large enough to store a phone. Thanks to the waistband design, the shorts don’t sink down or end up lopsided from the additional weight when the pockets are being used.
The built in brief is also comfortable. There’s no riding up, bunching or chafing. I honestly never really noticed it, which is about as good as it gets. However, I do wish that the liner was a dark colored fabric instead of white.
Finally, the fabric of the Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ is purpose made for movement. The fabric is soft to the touch. It’s light but not too light. It has a nice stretch to it, making it great for gaining vertical or scrambling over things. It also breathes really well.
Closing Thoughts
The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″are my perfect shorts when I’m packing for warm weather adventures. I know they’ll be comfortable on any hikes or runs and look good off the trail.
The Stio Women’s Bounder Lined Short – 5″ is available for women in six colorways in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. The Bounder line also includes a women’s 3″ inseam option and two men’s options (5″ and 7″ inseam choices).
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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