Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS: Quick-Drying Sun Shirt

Who is This For

Anyone looking for excellent moisture management for hiking, running, cycling, and other medium- to high-energy activities.

Field Testing

Scenario 1

Urban hiking | 40°F | Gothenburg, Sweden

I’ve been wearing Stio’s Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt for two months for walks, exercising, and urban hikes of up to an hour. It’s been the ideal top for sweaty pursuits because it wicks moisture well and dries quickly. (Also available in men’s sizes.)

The sun-blocking, honeycomb patterned fabric is designed to breathe, wick, and resist odors. It’s so soft and light that I barely notice I’m wearing it. I like the round neck, which feels a bit more open than the more conservative crew neck tops in my outdoor gear wardrobe. Generous side panels and a bit of stretch in the fabric give the shirt a roomy feeling that allows a range of movements. All of the seams are flat-locked. I have never experienced any chafing.

No matter what types of activity I do, the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt is virtually dry by the time I get home, which feels a bit miraculous. I walk or bike everywhere, and I almost always wear a daypack so I can run errands on my way home. With my pack full, my workout gets more challenging, and I sweat a ton. I appreciate staying dry so I don’t get a chill from the cold wind. It doesn’t seem to matter how hard I work; the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt is always a step ahead of me.

I usually peel off my damp layers and hang them over a chair when I return from exercising, but when I wear the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt I don’t feel like I have to remove it the minute I finish moving. Yes, it dries very fast on the clothes line, but it also dries very fast while I’m still wearing it.

I’m a bit obsessed with wearing thin wool layers, but I have to admit that Stio’s Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt has expanded my horizons. I’m reconsidering how to dress for sweaty activities because this shirt dries faster than my favorite wool tops. There’s a small tradeoff: I need to wash this shirt much more frequently than I wash wool tees. It’s worth it. (I need to wash the shirt after about three outings lasting one to two hours.)

I wore the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt under a merino hoodie and an insulation vest in very cold temperatures down to freezing. In warmer temperatures I paired it with Stio’s Women’s Second Light Windshell.

Scenario 2

Cycling | 50°-70° F | Malmö, Sweden

I have been commuting by bike for months, and even on days that I would normally think the air was warm, a cool breeze pulls the temperature down. My usual uniform is the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt under a merino wool hoodie. It’s been an ideal combo for me that keeps me warm and still allows lots of breathability. 

It’s easy to get a chill when it’s cold outside and my first layer is wet, but I don’t have to worry about that with the Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt. It dries so quickly that I don’t feel clammy when I stop to do grocery shopping at the end of the long bike ride. It’s also more comfortable to have a dry first layer when my return journey is against the wind.

The Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt is so effective at wicking that I sometimes notice that my merino hoodie ends up a wee bit damper and heavier on long outings because it doesn’t wick or dry as quickly as the shirt.

On warm days, I appreciate having the sun coverage of a long-sleeved shirt. Thanks to the stellar moisture management, I don’t feel too warm. The Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt has also become my post-swim top for beach days.

Fit

Other than the cropped length, I loved the fit. It feels much roomier than it actually is, and I appreciate that because I don’t like snug shirts. Had I known before testing that the women’s shirt was slightly cropped in front I would have opted for a men’s L because I have a very long torso.

Too small

Slightly small

Fits well

Slightly big

Too big

Materials & Construction

Material/Fabric: The Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt is made out of reHelion™ fabric, which contains 90% recycled polyester and 10% Spandex.

Sustainability Creds: recycled material

Bottom Line

I was pleasantly surprised by The Stio Hylas Women’s Crew LS shirt. It does a superior job of managing moisture and drying quickly, it has just enough stretch in it to allow freedom of movement, and it has a regular fit that somehow feels roomy. I also loved the bright pink color. I mostly wear black, so I’m enjoying having a bold shirt for spring.

I’m not used to having a dry shirt at the end of any activity, and I’m pretty excited about that. It’s rare to find a top I like so much. The lightweight, quick-drying fabric packs small; it’s a must-have item for workouts and travel.

Specifications

Other items in the Hylas collection include: a hooded pullover for men and woman and a women’s hooded tunic.

• Men’s Sizes: S-XXL in Mountain Shadow, Morning Frost, Picnic Clouds, Quiet Gray, Boundless.
• Women’s Sizes: XS-XXL in Bold Bloom, Luminous, Mountain Shadow, and Windchill
• Weight: 5.6 oz.
• Price: $89

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Main image from Stio site.