Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS

Review by Erin Trail

The Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS is technical a mountain biking shirt, but the shirt is so stylish and fun, that you can wear it nearly everywhere.

Features

• Ultra lightweight, stretch fabric that moves with you
• UPF 50+ rating for sun protection
• Action gusset for range of motion
• Reinforced collar for structure
• Laser cut perforation at underarms for ventilation
• Sunglasses loop hidden behind front placket
• Hanger loop on center back neck
• Chest pockets with western inspired flap closure

The Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS is a relaxed fit – that’s code for it intentionally fits a little larger.  The result is that I found the shirt to fit a little larger than I preferred when  I ordered according to the size chart.  I got a replacement shirt in one size smaller and the fit is still relaxed but much more appropriate for my preference and body type.

The fabric of the Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS is probably the best I’ve experienced in a mountain bike button down shirt. It is INCREDIBLY lightweight, but not in a way that feels flimsy or cheap.  The fabric also has a two-way stretch, which allows for a wide range of movement. The fabric is light, breathable, dries quickly, and doesn’t wrinkle.  These features make it ideal for active wear, but also for travel and casual wear for when you want a fun, collared shirt.

The chest pocket flaps are secured with a single button, as is the shirt placard down the front.  My husband reviewed the men’s version of this shirt and there were a few notable differences.  Mainly, the buttons on the women’s shirt are snaps on the men’s shirt and men’s shirt also gets a small rear zippered pocket. This leaves me wondering why the women’s shirt didn’t offer zippered side pocket, as that’s a really nice feature to have, especially since the men’s and women’s Shifter shirts are offered at the same price point.

Detailed Review

I have been wearing the Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS weekly since receiving it.  It’s become one of my favorite shirts in my vast collection of shirts. I LOVE the pattern of the shirt – cowboys on bicycles.  This pattern must have been popular because it is no longer available on the website in the colorway I received.  The other patterns are equally fun and playful.

The Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS is equally at home on the bike as it off the bike. I’ve been wearing the shirt to work and it actually passes the work casual wear test.  I’ve also worn it to family gatherings (my extended family are cattle ranchers, so the pattern was a big hit), and to breweries.  It makes a great casual wea- to-trail, or trail-to-apres-ride option.

But how does it perform on the bike? Like all Stio clothing, they’re made with the intent to not only look great but also to function well.

The lightness of the fabric is amazing.  I did a test ride in 90 degree heat and the shirt wicked and breathed.  The lightness was especially evident on zoomy downhills, but I never felt overly hot while climbing.  The lower hem pairs well with a hip pack, offering just enough fabric to stay tucked in under the pack.

I also appreciate how the collar is a good balance of having a shape but also not being super stiff.  I’ve had other collared shirts whack me in the face as I ride, similar to how a flag snaps in the wind.  The collar stays put, but it’s also soft enough, where if it waves around as I ride, I wouldn’t really notice it.

The cut and fit of the shirt, combined with the super-stretchy fabric felt really nice when I was on my mountain bike. I do prefer the cut of the shirt in the smaller size; the shirt is still plenty relaxed to allow for a full range of movement and a stay far out of roadie-lycra territory.

Closing Thoughts

The Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS is a great option for both on and off the trail.  This mountain biking shirt is everything you’d want in a technical riding shirt but has the added bonus of not looking like a mountain biking shirt when you’re off the trail. The Stio Women’s Shifter Shirt SS comes in a variety of patterns in sizes ranging from XS to XL.

Erin Trail

Trail Boss of Stoke