Stio Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt Review

Looking for an insulating layer seems easy. Until you have to choose from among hundreds.

The Stio Skycrest Snap Shirt is one which stands out in the crowd.

Most insulated jackets have the normal setup: full zip front, 2 hand warmer pockets, 1 chest pocket and a scuba style hood. The Skycrest shirt takes a different approach. The shirt has a snap button front closure and two snap chest pockets – not to mention the eye catching blue exterior.

I had the chance to try out the Stio Skycrest Snap Shirt in Moroccan Blue for about a month so far. Here are my thoughts:

Pros:

• Very lightweight
• Packable, easy to pack and stuff down when traveling (I was able to stuff it into it’s own pocket)
• Warm, insulated with Thermore Ecodown (better warmth to weight ratio than most fleeces and sweaters)
• Wind resistant
• Unique snap closure, casual design

The Skycrest shirt is warm, yet incredibly lightweight. That’s mainly due to the technical materials used to make the shirt. The shirt is Thermore Ecodown insulation, which is lightweight and environmentally friendly. Also, the shirt’s exterior is made of Pertex Microlight, a durable and lightweight material.

From my experience, the shirt is wind resistant. I’ve tested the shirt alone and as an insulating layer under a shell during the recent snowstorm in New York (we got around 2ft of snow). In strong winds, air could blow through the gaps between the snap fasteners although that didn’t prove to be a major issue. The jacket isn’t water resistant but dries fairly quickly.

Is the shirt as warm as a down jacket? Not quite, but I’d say it’s around as warm as a fleece.

The two chest pockets are useful for items you need to quickly access, like notes or boarding passes. It can also hold a phone, although I believe the pockets are a bit too small for an iPhone 6. I usually don’t store things in the chest pockets since heavier items such as phones can weigh the pocket down and cause it to sag.

Used more frequently are the two hand warmer pockets. One feature I’d like for Stio to add would be making those two pockets zippered, or closable in some way. Right now, the pockets are basically slits on the side of the jacket, and I’d feel more secure if I could close them so nothing would fall out.

While the Stio Skycrest shirt is filled with technical features, it still maintains a casual look, ideal for travelers looking to blend in.

Fit:

When wearing the Skycrest shirt, I’ve felt that the fit was a bit boxy and baggy on me. I wear size small and am 5’9″, 135 lbs. The shirt wasn’t as close fitting as I’d like, allowing some heat to escape. The sleeve length was perfect though.

According to other reviewers on Stio.com, the Skycrest shirt’s fit was “spot on” in medium for a reviewer who was 5’11”, 160 lbs. Another reviewer who was 6′, 165 lbs wrote that medium was “[t]rue to fit, not too slim and not too baggy”. And an additional reviewer who was 6’1″ and 190 lb described the large fit as “spot on”.

Cons:

• Fit was a bit baggy on me

Other than the fit being baggy on me as I mentioned in the fit section, I didn’t have any major issues with the Skycrest shirt.

The Verdict:

The Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt from Stio is a possible fleece replacement with a casual, warm and lightweight design. The shirt’s packability and weight make it ideal for travelers, although one downside was that it didn’t fit my body shape ideally.

The Skycrest Insulated Shirt comes at retail $155, which is reasonable for an insulating layer.

Where To Get It:

• You can find the Skycrest shirt on Stio.com

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below.

The Stio Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt was provided for this review. As always, this Stio Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt review contains only my honest views and opinions. 🙂 Find out more about me and this site here.