REVIEW: Pistol Lake Eudae Minimalist Performance Henley and Sweat Shorts

It’s hard to find travel clothing that does everything you want – something that’s lightweight, easy to wash, keeps you dry, is comfortable, and looks good.  I didn’t think it was possible and so when Pistol Lake reached out to review their Eudae line of clothing I was hesitant about their outlandish claims that this is “most comfortable fabric in the world”.

After multiple weeks of testing their Minimalist Performance Henley and Sweat Shorts at home and while travelling, I must say that I am most impressed with Pistol Lake’s Eudae fabric and the henley in particular.

This is a must-have piece of travel gear for a guy that belongs in every backpack or suitcase!

Pistol Who?

I’ve heard of Sex Pistols but Pistol Lake??  You may not have heard about them but they’ve been around since 2012.  They’re a men’s fashion company from California with a focus on recycled fabrics, ethical manufacturing, and ultra-functional gear.

Everything is manufactured in California.  While their product line isn’t extensive, they take pride in all of their clothing and it shows in the final product.

So What’s This About Eudae?

I won’t pretend to understand the science behind it all but they’ve invented some sort of magical fabric called Eudae.

Scientifically it’s composed of 76% polyester, 19% tencel, and 5% spandex which actually comes from recycled plastic bottles and also eucalyptus pulp.

I must admit it’s a funny name but honestly, it is LEGIT one of the most comfortable fabric that’s ever touched my skin.

It’s weird because I know quick-dry type fabrics from the likes of other outdoor athletic gear that I own and that always has a very synthetic feel.  I am almost tempted to say “plastic-ey” but it’s the property that makes it feel quick drying but it’s not soft to touch.

This on the other hand is the complete opposite.  It’s a fabric that’s ridiculously soft but when you put your fingers over it, you’ll notice is that it’s very thin and flexible.  It’s incredibly stretchy and forgiving which adds to the comfort.

I think the only thing that is a little different about this to standard quick-dry fabric is that it has a bit more insulation properties to it so it does retain a bit more heat but that’s not to say it’s not breathable.

The culmination of all of this is that it’s a fabric that is inherently odour-resistant, moisture-wicking and very easy to wash – all mandatory qualities of travel gear.

Indeed The Most Versatile Shirt I Have

Having super awesome fabric is one thing but when you combine it with a the classic look of a long-sleeve henley, you have a shirt that I can easily add to my arsenal of travel clothing that I pack for every single trip.

I dig the fact that it’s so versatile.

I think we’ve beaten this one to death but if you watch the video I talk about the 5 reasons of what properties all travel clothing should have.  This shirt checks all of those boxes.

The big difference of this minimalist performance henley is that it doesn’t look like any other quick-dry shirt out there which is often in a bright sporty colour and haves a bit of that reflective sheen to it because of the fabric.

Instead, this is the ultra in incognito shirts.  You have a fabric that looks like cotton and the henley design is so classic and modern that you can wear it in honestly any situation while you’re on the road.

It’s also a long sleeve which means that you can use it as a base layer or in cooler climates or roll up the sleeves for the summer.  I dig the fact that it’s so versatile.

The last thing I’ll mention is that there’s no branding on this shirt.  This means that there’s no obnoxious logo printed on the fabric and so it truly is an any-brand shirt that won’t attract attention and again, can be used in any setting.

Like the ExOfficio underwear that I tout all the time, the Pistol Lake Eudae Minimalist Performance Henley is easily one of those things that will automatically get thrown into the suitcase every time I pack for a trip.

Can’t Forget the Sweat Shorts

Like I mention in the review video, the sweat shorts were a nice bonus to complete the outfit this summer.  While it’s not a special fabric, they’re a well-designed, and high quality sweat shorts that I quite enjoyed wearing because of the burgundy colour.

Another unique feature of the shorts is that it has its own buttoned up compartment on the right which is perfect for a smartphone to keep it safe and secured.

Update:  It looks like this was recently discontinued.