Ex Officio Air Strip Lite
First Impressions
For the past 20 years or so, Ex Officio has been manufacturing some very solid travel-oriented and outdoor-lifestyle apparel. Great products for sure, but not necessarily one of the top-of-mind brands when thinking about fly fishing gear. That explains our very pleasant surprise when testing the company’s Air Strip Light Long-Sleeve Shirt. With an excellent combination of features and killer styling, the Air Strip was the best in our test.
Features
Ex Officio knew what they were doing when they designed the Air Strip. They used a nylon/polyester blend fabric allowing the shirt to come in around eight ounces, the lightest weight of the shirts in our test. And the company didn’t scrimp on the fishing-specific features.
At the top of feature list sit two cavernous bellows-style chest pockets. They blend seamlessly with the body of the shirt making them appear far less substantial than they really are. Open them up and they swallow mid-size fly boxes and other gear with ease. Underneath the right-hand pocket is a second zippered pocket for securely holding items like car keys and cash.
Specs
Fabric: 56% Nylon / 44% Polyester
Weight: 8 oz
Ventilation features are also substantial. There are two hidden side vents and a large back vent that can be left wide open for maximum ventilation.
Other features include a hook-and-loop tab for securing your rod, roll-up sleeves and a three-stage collar for keeping the sun off your neck.
In addition to the Air Strip, we also had the chance to try a pair of Ex Officio’s Nio Amphi shorts as part of this trial. Equally great product with multiple pockets, thigh cinches to keep the shorts in place while wading and many more fishing-oriented features.
Fit
Ex Officio describes the fit of the Air Strip as relaxed. It looked great on and fit perfectly, no need to size up or down.
Final Verdict
Dynamite fly fishing shirt. That’s what we think of the Ex Officio Air Strip. It boasts a killer combination of cooling, storage and fit. Pair it with the Nio Amphi shorts and you have a great set of fly fishing clothing that’ll get you through the Summer and early Fall.
