ROWDEE SHINDIG SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT REVIEW

COMFORTABLE AND CASUAL, YET FUNCTIONAL

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Max Rhulen

Rowdee is a company aiming to offer comfort and style for mountain bikers on the casual end of the spectrum. With their Shindig shirts, Rowdee hopes to offer a functional garment that will hang happily both on the trail and at the barbeque. We’ve enjoyed wearing the Trails and Tacos Shindig shirt on the trails on the hotter days of this spring in Oregon, let us share why.

ABOUT THE ROWDEE SHINDIG SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT

The Rowdee Shindig Shirt is designed to blend casual styling with performance to keep riders comfortable on the trail. Available in a range of seven designs with short and long sleeve options, Rowdee hopes to offer a versatile shirt for on and off-trail use. The shirts are made from a 90% Polyester and 10% Elastane mix, offering four-way stretch for comfort and sweat stain resistance. The Rowdee Shindig shirt has a slim fit, with an extra-long rear hem to keep riders covered when leant over on the way down the hill.

The Rowdee Shindig shirt features snap fasteners to make for easy fitment and removal. When removed, the shirt can be packed into the hidden zip-up chest pocket for easy carriage. And of course, the zip pocket can be used to keep the essentials safe when on the trail.

Rowdee’s Shindig Shirt is available in men’s sizes S-XXL. The short sleeve shirts – like the Trails & Tacos we tested – retail for $89.95, whereas the long sleeve options go for $99.95. All of the shirts are offered with a 60 day return.

THE DIRT

I’ve been hitting the trails with the Rowdee Shindig shirt sporadically over the last couple of months in and around Bend, OR. For my 220lbs (100kg) and 6’2” stature, I opted to run the XL, and was provided with a comfortable fit that struck a nice balance of slim and casual. As a thin synthetic short sleeve shirt, the Shindig could be comfortable for certain riders down to the 50F mark (10C), but was most comfortable once temperatures climbed to 60F (15C) and above.

The snap fasteners were a solid solution and never came undone unexpectedly, which was a concern initially. Having the hidden zipper pocket was much appreciated to stow a car key or small wallet safely, and the packability aspect was nice to have as an option. The extended rear hem kept things well covered, avoiding ride-up and exposing my derriere. The collar was quite stiff, and though it didn’t result in any discomfort during testing, it could make for some rubbing on a long pedal epic.

On the trail, the Rowdee Shindig shirt was a comfortable item to wear, and received a couple of compliments for “bringing the party”. With plenty of stretch to let you move freely, and material that dealt with sweat reasonably well, there was little to complain about when riding casually. It was only when pushing hard and sweating profusely that the Rowdee shirt became a little sticky and hot. But even so, I wasn’t afraid to put in an effort on the pedals or open it up on the way down the hill.

The Wolf’s Last Word

If a party shirt is your style, then the Rowdee Shindig is sure to provide a pleasant experience for on and off the trail. The Shindig shirt has been holding up well on the trails so far, and has shrugged off stains and abrasion without many complaints. So if you’re looking to bring the party to the trails, then this shirt may be worth a purchase.

Price: $89.95 (Short Sleeve)
Website: Getrowdee.com