Stio Dawner Hooded Jacket Review

Active insulation has now taken on many forms — with some performing better than others. Using a Teijin Octa liner, the new Stio Dawner Jacket is built for versatile insulation under active conditions. With a soft, cozy liner wicking moisture away and a stretchy nylon shell to keep back all but the worst elements, the Dawner caught my attention as a great all-rounder that could handle high-output activities in cold weather.

Stio Dawner Hooded Jacket Features:

• Stretch nylon outer shell with DWR
• Teijin Octa Knit lining throughout
• Adjustable hood
• Drop tail hem for added coverage
• Double-adjustable hem toggles
• Articulated sleeves and angle-cut cuffs
• Hand and chest pockets
• Can stuff itself into the left pocket
• MSRP: $229

An excellent active insulator

Stio’s home base is in Jackson Hole, WY and all their products are built for life in the mountains.  Everything is purpose-built and the Dawner Hooded Jacket is a versatile, all-rounder that can see year-round use — depending on the activity and layering. As an active insulator, the Dawner sports a knit lining that maintains loft and facilitates moisture transfer. While it’s not necessarily a trail running jacket, the bulk of my testing has been for winter trail running.

From the outset, the “regular fit” is easy to live with. With a good cut and lengths throughout, coverage is great without being overly baggy or tight. That Goldilocks fit is one of the primary reasons why I appreciate the Dawner as a go-to jacket for active adventures and around-town activities.

I have tested plenty of jackets using Primaloft Alpha (Marmot Alpha 60, Santini Alpha Trail, Velocio Alpha Merino Air), but this is my first time testing a jacket using Teijin’s Octa Knit liner. Both look very similar — with exposed fibers to facilitate moisture transfer.  However, Octa Knit follows a grid pattern that’s similar to the best fleece jackets on the market. That grid and the exposed fibers work in concert to both capture and expel moisture while still helping maintain warmth. If you’re wearing a tight-fitting base layer or one with a smooth face fabric (like the Arc’teryx RHO Hybrid Crew), the sleeves slip in without bunching. But, if your sleeves are loose, they can get bunched up when putting on the Dawner Jacket.

The Dawner features a lightweight, stretch nylon outer shell that cuts down on wind and offers lightweight water-resistance. Water does bead up, but a heavy rain will saturate it. And, while it does knock down the wind, it does allow air to penetrate through the fabric. That airflow is intentional as it aids in moisture transfer. If you need a water and windproof shell, this one may not be the best. But, for cold-weather, high-output activities, it checks a lot of boxes.

Out on a trail run, the breathability is noticeable and the warmth feels just right. When stopped, cold winds quickly remind me that the outer shell isn’t windproof. But, a few minutes after stopping, the ecosystem is back in equilibrium and the proper warmth and breathability is maintained. I didn’t feel the need to unzip the jacket to dump heat — even as run duration and temperatures increased. But, as it got warmer, I did have occasion to saturate the Octa Knit fabric and see it also saturate the outer fabric. It didn’t really get saggy and droopy, but I did saturate it.

After being saturated, the Dawner does dry out fairly quickly. But, if you find yourself in a windy/cold situation after a run, a hardshell would be appreciated. The hood is the perfect size both alone and on top of a running hat (like the Patagonia Airshed Cap). The fabric is quiet with movement and both the adjustable hood and hem are great for providing customized weather protection. The collar sits right below my mouth for added coverage, but doesn’t block breathing when the hood is in use. A mini zipper garage would be appreciated to cover the zipper when zipped-up.  I do like the angled cuffs for added wrist coverage with or without gloves.

While Primaloft has infused Merino Wool into their Alpha material to help reduce body odors, Teijin Octa Knit doesn’t have that and does get stinky after a long trail run.  Multiple uses on the trail are okay, but if you want to wear it around town after a trail run, your significant other may not appreciate the smells.

The front hand pockets aren’t great for warmth because they sit outside the knit lining. My hands are protected by the thin, stretchy nylon shell alone, which can become mighty chilly on a cold night. The chest pocket is nice to have and allows me to slip my iPhone 13 mini in there while hiking or trail running.

Durability has been good so far and laundering is easy. The Octa Knit fabric doesn’t shed with initial washings (unlike Polartec Alpha) and it’s family friendly for our family of six.  The Dawner is an excellent active insulator and I have worn it on a variety of activities to test its capabilities. As a bonus, the jacket can be stuffed into the left hand pocket for compact storage.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 173 lbs. wearing the size medium.

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