Powder Review: Stio Women’s Environ XT Anorak Jacket
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In A Nutshell
Stio’s Environ XT Anorak is a durable shell that holds up for long mid-winter days of resort skiing.
Size Tested: Small
Materials: 100% Recycled Polyester
Stated Waterproofing / Breathability: PeakProof™ Membrane 20,000mm Waterproofing, 10,000 g/m2/24hrs Breathability, DWR finish
Vents: vented underarm on the left, full zipper for venting and pulling on and off on the right side, left side chest pocket
Weight: 680.4 g
Pockets: zippered kangaroo pocket on the front, small pocket on left forearm
Stio's Environ XT Jacket is available now.
Intro
I have to say I’m a little skeptical of jackets that don’t fully zip because they can feel tight and hard to get on and off. But I loved the style and colorway of Stio’s anorak jacket and, upon first try, it was easy to get on and off so I decided to give it a shot. This shell ended up being my go-to piece of outerwear for most of the winter, with a few caveats.
I found this jacket to be a great option for most mid-winter in-bounds skiing. Utah had an epic winter with tons of snow and this jacket held up well on stormy days and kept me warm and dry while lapping deep powder runs. This jacket is a durable, strong shell that works well to protect you from the elements throughout the winter.
Fit
I’m a relatively petite person and usually wear an XS but decided to size up to a size small for this jacket so I could fit a lot of layers underneath and easily get it on and off. This was a great decision. On particularly cold days, I would wear multiple base layers and a fleece under the jacket without feeling like a total marshmallow. But on warmer days, the jacket didn’t feel overly baggy,
The jacket is a pullover and you can unzip a right sided zipper that runs from the waist up past your armpit. This zipper creates a lot of space and makes it easy to pull the jacket on and off (really helpful when transitioning from descent to ascent in the backcountry). The hood fits well over helmets and I certainly found myself pulling the hood up on all the snowy days we had in Utah this winter.
I liked how easily it fit over my helmet without being so big as to impede peripheral vision. The cuffs of the jacket are a classic velcro and were great for cinching down over mittens before deep powder turns. That being said, I’m still not sure what the benefit of a pullover jacket is compared to a shell with a full zipper (aside from the fact that it seems to be in style).
Pockets and Features
This jacket doesn’t have tons of pockets but it has the pockets you need. A large kangaroo pocket on the front of the jacket is great for small snacks and mittens and a left side forearm pocket is the perfect spot to stash your ski pass, credit card, and chapstick. Alas, it wasn’t quite big enough to comfortably fit my skins so not a great option for those who like to store skins in jackets.
The left side chest pocket is another great spot for stashing a granola bar, chapstick, or other small items. All the pockets are easy to access and I could effectively manipulate both zippers while wearing big mittens.
The deep front zip is great for venting when you need to and for loosening the jacket while taking it on and off. I did have to play around with my beacon while wearing this jacket in the backcountry. I wear my beacon on a harness across my chest and had to wear it higher than usual in order to be able to efficiently access it through the front zipper pocket of this jacket in case of emergency.
Between the front zipper pocket, a left underarm vent, and the full zipper on the right side, this jacket offers plenty of options for temperature regulation, though it’s important to note that the material isn’t super breathable. Given all of this, Stio’s Environ anorak is a great option for days where you want to stay warm and dry – it’s warm and cozy and I felt quite protected when all the vents and zippers were fully zipper up.
Performance
When skiing deep powder and storm days, having a strong shell is vital to staying warm, dry, and happy. This jacket totally fits the bill. Stio’s Environ Anorak is waterproof enough to keep you dry in a light drizzle and can definitely buffer some pretty strong winds. While I did actually use this jacket for some frigid backcountry days, its low breathability doesn’t make it ideal if you think you’ll be sweating a lot (though I did find venting with the front and side zippers wasn’t a bad option in a pinch).
The jacket isn’t the smallest or lightest out there, but it’s certainly able to pack down if you want to stash it in your bag while on the skintrack (and, given that it’s a full hardshell and not super breathable, I wasn’t keen to wear it on the uphills).
Because this is a full hardshell, it definitely didn’t carry over into my spring skiing pursuits but was great for the bulk of the winter and awesome for deep powder days and long, cold, stormy days in the mountains in the middle of winter. This definitely will continue to be my go-to shell when I’m hitting the resort in mid-winter and on backcountry days that are uber-cold where I’m likely to be working quite hard to stay warm.
I’m still not sure where I stand on anoraks in general. Sure they’re stylish but the performance benefit of the pullover isn’t super clear (and often feels like a hindrance). Stio’s Environ XT anorak was certainly easier to get on and off than other anoraks I’ve tried, so kudos to Stio there. However, this still isn’t as easy to get on and off as a full zip shell so may not be the best option for an efficient backcountry jacket.
It’s just harder when you have to pull the jacket all the way over your head. Furthermore, because this jacket has pretty low breathability, it’s not ideal on days that start cold and get progressively warmer. It’s awesome for storm days or long days with Arctic-like conditions, but if you anticipate a day with fluctuating temperatures, you may want something more breathable.
If you ski in a relatively cold climate, like being super warm and air tight against the elements, and have a sense of style, this jacket is a great option for you. If you’re someone who frequently plays around with layers or likes to wear breathable shells with a lot of venting, this may not be the jacket for you.
What would a perfect day in Stio’s Environ XT Anorak look like?
Picture this: your local ski area is experiencing a massive storm. There are already a few feet of fresh powder blanketing the mountain and it’s still nuking snow. You layer Stio’s Environ XT Anorak over your favorite base layer and fleece combo, stashing some granola bars in the kangaroo pocket. It’s going to be a full day of powder skiing and you don’t want to miss a moment.
The Environ XT Anorak is the perfect shell for someone looking to stay warm and dry through long days out in cold, stormy, snowy mountains.
