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Showers Pass Men’s Scout Shirt Short Sleeve

8
£65.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A great-looking casual shirt with a bunch of bike-tech features to aid comfort
Weight: 
157g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Showers Pass Scout Shirt is a sharp-looking option for hitting the trails, lanes or cafés. Part-merino, with two pockets and reinforced bits, it's likely to be a warm-weather favourite – just check the sizing lest ye Hulk-out the look.

  • Pros: Casual design doesn't scream 'cyclist', while tech bits work on the bike, very fast to dry
  • Cons: Size is a bit out – comes up small, defo order larger

Warm weather means cruising to a country pub or café, looking sharp and not arriving a sweaty mess. Maybe via a favourite trail, or a few choice lanes. If that's your bag, then the Scout shirt might be what you need. Made from a merino-synthetic blend (30% baa-baa), the fabric is super-light and ever-so-slightly translucent in the reviewed 'Glacier Grey' colour.

> Buy this online here

The standout tech features are the shoulder gussets with inlaid mesh panels, and the stretchy knit underarm panels. My only gripe with the design is the darker underarm colour here, which does seem to me to draw the eye to what could be a sweaty patch if you've been warm for a bit. (It looks to be slightly less obvious in the darker 'Dark Shadow' option.)

showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_underarm_material.jpg

The shoulder gussets allow for comfort on a dropped-bar bike while not having to look baggy when upright. Often, fitted cycling clothes aren't that comfy upright whereas the Scout needs to work in all situations, hence needing the articulation which also doubles as cooling vents across your back. They're pretty much invisible off the bike.

showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_back_vent.jpg
showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_back_detail.jpg

The snap buttons are set into a reinforced strip of material, and are easily opened or closed one-handed: handy when on the bike. The same material reinforces the V-cut at the hip for leg articulation. The hem's ever-so-slightly lower at the back, and there's a wallet-and-mobile-size hidden zipped pocket on the right.

showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_back.jpg

The chest pocket is perfectly positioned for sunglasses when reaching the bar. A small reflective tag rounds out the features at the lower left hem.

showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_chest.jpg

Fit-wise it was a bit on the snug side – my 38in chest should be more than accommodated for by the reviewed Medium, which is listed as 40-42in – but standing straight, the buttons over the sternum were ever-so-slightly stressed, meaning the front overlap didn't sit flat. Also the feel around the shoulders and back was snugger than you'd expect for a casual shirt like this. Definitely go a size larger. This fit seems an anomaly, as other Showers Pass kit has been bang on chest size for me. (It's not me in the photos.)

On a bike – mountain bike, Dutch or road – the Scout ticks the boxes you'd expect: feels great, breathes well, doesn't flap, easily opened or closed as needed. Off the bike it's a good look and ideal for kicking back getting rays in a pub garden (okay, next year maybe).

showers_pass_mens_scout_shirt_short_sleeve_-_riding.jpg

The value of being able to make that transition from decent bike ride to town and back in both comfort and style is entirely in the eye of the beholder. A 100% cotton shirt would likely take a while to dry out, due to work effort or if you get caught in a bit of rain en route. The Scout will be dry in minutes, assuming you got sweaty in the first place. Having someplace secure to stash wallet, phone and keys is a bonus, as is a pocket for sunnies.

> Buyer's Guide: The best casual cycling kit for commuting

Is it worth £65? You can certainly spend less on 'a shirt', but I doubt it would meet the spec here (Rapha's Air Cotton Shirt is £85). Showers Pass excels at making functional, good-looking premium kit, and the Scout ticks those boxes. Just watch the fit.

Verdict

A great-looking casual shirt with a bunch of bike-tech features to aid comfort

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Showers Pass Mens Scout Shirt Short Sleeve

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Showers Pass says: "This trail-worthy feather light snap shirt provides the natural benefits of merino wool combined with the durability of nylon. Knit underarm panels provide stretch and ventilation"

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Showers Pass:

Merino-wool blend fabric is lightweight, moisture wicking and breathable

Back shoulder gussets for better articulation on the bike

Back pocket with hidden zipper

Reflective label on back

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

It's really well put together.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Not flappy, lots of cooling across the back.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

It's reinforced and should last well.

Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10

in the right size it would sit just right for a sharp look.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
5/10

A whole size out – go bigger.

Rate the product for weight:
 
10/10

Superlight.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
10/10

Multi-panel build means a great feel, in the right size.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

£65 is a hefty bit of cash, the value of arriving cool, dry and happy is over to you.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

In a wool wash, no problems.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really good – hit the road or trails in 20+ degrees and this feels great.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The cut – it's snappy.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The fit, and the underarm colour.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Assuming you get the size right, this is a great shirt; £65 isn't cheap by any means, but what price style, breezy comfort and security for your stuff?

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 183cm  Weight: 72kg

I usually ride: Merida Ride 5000 Disc  My best bike is: Velocite Selene

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking, Dutch bike pootling

Living in the Highlands, Mike is constantly finding innovative and usually cold/wet ways to accelerate the degradation of cycling kit. At his happiest in a warm workshop holding an anodised tool of high repute, Mike's been taking bikes apart and (mostly) putting them back together for forty years. With a day job in global IT (he's not completely sure what that means either) and having run a boutique cycle service business on the side for a decade, bikes are his escape into the practical and life-changing for his customers.

Add new comment

11 comments

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
0 likes

FFS take the photo of the McDonalds fours-star general down. When I look at it I can't decide whether I feel sick or cold: it was 4 degrees on my morning ride today! 

Avatar
Dr_Lex | 5 years ago
0 likes

That armpit “patch” - I’m out. Shame, as otherwise I liked it.

Avatar
davel | 5 years ago
0 likes

Looks like something your CDT teacher designed for himself in CDT.

Avatar
vonhelmet | 5 years ago
2 likes

It’s not a casual shirt, though, is it? It’s a a cross between a cycling jersey and a casual shirt and it’s worse than either.

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
2 likes

I have a pair of Swrv jeans shorts and they are shockingly comfy, only worn them on the bike a couple of times, for which they did work very well, but they are my go to summer shorts for everything else.  I think there is a big market for cross over wear.  Stuff that can be good on the bike can be very good off it.  A couple of Vulpine rideable t shirts too.

Avatar
alexb replied to ktache | 5 years ago
2 likes
ktache wrote:

I have a pair of Swrv jeans shorts and they are shockingly comfy, only worn them on the bike a couple of times, for which they did work very well, but they are my go to summer shorts for everything else.  I think there is a big market for cross over wear.  Stuff that can be good on the bike can be very good off it.  A couple of Vulpine rideable t shirts too.

I agree. When I'm touring I want to carry minimalist kit and some of it has to do dual function from time to time. If I'm carrying shorts or a shirt, it has to work on the bike as well. The classic case is accommodation to ferry/airport at the start or end of a ride. 

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
1 like

 I would imagine that there is limted appetite amongst the roadcc readership for this ill-conceived product...How about setting up a 'casualriderscc'website and see how many readers/viewers it attracts? 

Avatar
Deeferdonk replied to Chris Hayes | 5 years ago
4 likes
Chris Hayes wrote:

 I would imagine that there is limted appetite amongst the roadcc readership for this ill-conceived product...How about setting up a 'casualriderscc'website and see how many readers/viewers it attracts? 

Not all of us get dressed in full Team Sky kit and bib shorts when we're cycling everywhere!

Someone riding a bike, in a casual shirt....whatever next!

Avatar
Chris Hayes replied to Deeferdonk | 5 years ago
0 likes

 

 

[/quote]

Nothing wrong with Team Sky, they pour millions into our sport and have given us 3 Grand Tour champions.  But still, you don't see many Sky jerseys where i live.  

But this isn't a casual shirt: it's a bike-specific shirt and rather pointless at that. If you like it so much, buy one and post a picture for us... and I'll buy a Sky jersey and wear it until it wears out because I know which I'd rather have  1

Avatar
Freddy56 | 5 years ago
1 like

Not enough drop to the back of the shirt. Even going to the pub, back would be exposed.

Did the reviewer even wear it?

Avatar
iso2000 replied to Freddy56 | 5 years ago
0 likes
Freddy56 wrote:

Not enough drop to the back of the shirt. Even going to the pub, back would be exposed.

Did the reviewer even wear it?

But it is supposed to be a summer shirt not something that protects you from rain in the middle of winter.

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