Stio

**nutmegchoi** · 10-16-2017, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by galibier_numero_un

So, opposite personality from MiCol at Freeride Systems.

... Thom

I did only hear great things about him and his products.
That’ll be the next brand I would like to give it a try.

**galibier_numero_un** · 10-16-2017, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

I did only hear great things about him and his products.
That’ll be the next brand I would like to give it a try.

I'm biased in favor of small manufacturers, as long as they're dedicated to quality. Of course, I'm one of them (in a different business) so that might have something to do with it ;-)

... Thom

**hutash** · 10-16-2017, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

Year ago I purchased two Environ pants.
One got a small tear on the first day and the other got some unexpected wear.
I contacted customer service to see if there’s any repair option and they told me to return for exchange or refund.
They even suggested to keep them for the rest of season and exchange with the next year items or get refunded if I don’t want them anymore.
I kept the emails we exchanged and wasn’t quite confident about their promises.
A year later when I contacted them back, they delivered.
They sent me the return shipping label, put two colors I wanted aside and sent me two pairs with refund form and return label if I change my mind.
I’ve dealt with some good customer services, but this is next level!
Because of this experience, now I am a royal customer who will return over and over.

I would be sold if and when the new ants hold up to normal conditions. Sure their customer service is great, but you shouldn't need great customer service with every pant you buy and wear once that needs repair. Hopefully this is just a one off issue, but I would be concerned.

Now, a Patagonia jacket that the seam tape peeled after 18 years that gets a full replacement with the newest top of the line jacket...that is great customer service.

Glad they did you right, and I hope then new pants work. My only Stio product is a soft shell pant. Very nice, work well, but nothing exceptional.

Off topic, but I just bought my first Arc'teryx jacket, I hope it does as well as my Patagonia shells.

**Ted Striker** · 10-16-2017, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

Because of this experience, now I am a royal customer who will return over and over.

typo?

**hutash** · 10-17-2017, 09:29 AM

^^^Good catch, and kind of my point, will she return (pants) over and over?

**Timberridge** · 10-17-2017, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by galibier_numero_un

So, opposite personality from MiCol at Freeride Systems.

... Thom

Fyi, he hates Chinese people, Vietnamese and Guatamalans.

**nutmegchoi** · 10-17-2017, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by hutash

^^^Good catch, and kind of my point, will she return (pants) over and over?

I sure hope not.

Originally Posted by Timberridge

Fyi, he hates Chinese people, Vietnamese and Guatamalans.

Good that I don’t fall into those categories.

**Micol** · 10-20-2017, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Timberridge

Fyi, he hates Chinese people, Vietnamese and Guatamalans.

You are a bad human = fail

you are slandering me
you are a liar
your statements are untrue

an anonymous slanderer, with no backbone

**nutmegchoi** · 10-20-2017, 10:51 AM

I don’t think anybody’s taking Timberridge seriously, MiCol.
Your reputation is untainted in anyways.

**Micol** · 10-20-2017, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

I don’t think anybody’s taking Timberridge seriously, MiCol.
Your reputation is untainted in anyways.

thanks

this place is a great community 99% of time (and outside PAH) but this person slanders and hides ,if timberridge types it in public, it is what it is.... by legal definition... slander

**galibier_numero_un** · 10-20-2017, 01:02 PM

I read Timberridge's comments as focussed at Steve of Stio - piling on to the comments made about him by the JH locals. Pronouns can be confusing.

... Thom

**gregorys** · 10-20-2017, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by galibier_numero_un

I read Timberridge's comments as focussed at Steve of Stio - piling on to the comments made about him by the JH locals. Pronouns can be confusing.

That is how I read it too.
[Even so, making those kinds of accusations really should include some evidence or background, not just empty claims - even when it appears to be /snark.]

Is this something @timberridge has done in the past? [Or more hopefully, a one off misunderstanding?]

**Micol** · 10-20-2017, 04:17 PM

Timberridge has made a point of taking shots at me in the past. Some time back I communicated I'm available for face to face for discussion on EC wherever he is and he was not interested. He's no asset to these boards

**alpinevibes** · 10-21-2017, 08:19 AM

Stio has continued to be great for us. Very easy to work with on returns, product issues, etc. Our household buys a lot!

My only complaint is that their waist bands (on my pants and shorts) really like to stretch out after a little use. 31/32 quickly becomes a 33/34 during the day.

**Nobody Famous** · 11-17-2017, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by axebiker

... As far as comparing it to Cloudveil, the better stuff from early in CV's lifecycle would be akin to today's Stio. "New" CV stuff (post Spyder, post bankruptcy) was absolute rubbish.

...

Every season I always miss CV, the early CV. They had great innovation with textiles and designs, the examples are numerous, stuff you'd see from maybe one or two other brands if any, even to this day.

Originally Posted by nutmegchoi

I'm just worried the founder does the same thing again.
Starts a great company, grows it and sells it to an equity firm.
Firm takes over, quality drops to drop sales and the company shuts down.
I hope this is not a repeat.

Agreed. In some circles this is called building a brand and selling at the top. Good on him. Bad for consumers late in the brand's lifecycle who thought they were getting early-in-the-brand's-lifecycle quality, and bad on the corporate owners who passed it as such.

I got a Stio catalog in the mail today. The pictures and descriptions of the people, the ambassadors, JH life and landscape, are just like the old CV catalogs.

**nutmegchoi** · 11-17-2017, 02:21 PM

Use Take15 for 15% off.
I got in email, so I’m guessing it’s okay to share.

**trex_9** · 11-19-2017, 11:22 AM

The Dermizax nx fabric blows away event, neoshell, paclite, h2no, etc. Mine has been very durable over the last 3 seasons (trew gear and kuiu products). Gore pro probably compares, never worn it though.

Sent from my SM-G955U using TGR Forums mobile app

**MiddleOfNight** · 10-20-2019, 10:17 AM

A couple years later, anyone have updated thoughts/gripes on Steve's gear? I'm specifically interested in Environ shell pants and insulation stuff.
Wondering if/how quality has changed over time, how people's stuff is holding up? Updated warranty or customer service experiences?

Their stuff seems pretty nice - but I don't personally know anyone who's logged hours in it.

All the FS Stio stuff in gear swap (and there isn't much of it) seems to sell pretty quick and be sold more due to individual fit and application, as opposed to general dissatisfaction.

Thoughts?

**Meadow Skipper** · 10-20-2019, 11:40 AM

My Stio Environ gear - jacket and bibs - rocks. More breathable than goretex, excellent construction and durability, great fit on my more-or-less slim bod, and chicks dig it. I ski mostly in NM/CO so I haven’t worn it in wetter climes.

Oh, and I have an Azura hoodie jacket that I love. Stio gets checked against Patagonia when I need gear these days and almost always is equal if not better.

**plugboots** · 10-20-2019, 04:20 PM

Mrs. Plug has a ~3 season old Environ, (non-insulated hard shell), and likes it. She uses it inbounds and out, (meaning it’s been in and out of her pack a lot), and walks the dog in it. Looks new. Striper slime doesn’t stick:

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**Abol98** · 10-23-2019, 10:30 AM

I suck at skiing but I'm awesome at picking out gear, and my Stio stuff is 10/10. I've told this Stio story here already but the short version is that I went full send while trying to downclimb a rocked out chute last season and after a 25 foot slide and landing on my own gear... not a mark on my Environ stuff. Couldn't believe it. I swapped over because where I'm a medium across the board in nearly every brand, I was always in between the small and medium on patagonia. Stio hits better in that department. I'm 5-10, 160 and climbing, currently using a medium environ pant and environ XT shell. Will be picking up the pinion jacket for town and layering this year. Not even a sliver of a doubt for recommending their stuff.