Review: Merino Pant Base Layer for Women

Product: Merino pant base layer – Women’s

Price: $115

Store: Smartwool Buy it Now

This Merino pant base layer for women is perfect for cross-country skiing when the temperatures are below zero to minus fifteen. The base layer offers an abundance of warmth ensuring that the legs don’t get stiff and move with ease. If your body runs colder than most people, like our tester, the pants can also be used at the start of spring or fall when it’s chillier. When the temperature gets colder, they might not provide enough warmth.

Colours and Size

The colours of the pants vary. The pants above are twilight blue heather, although they sometimes look green in different lighting. The pants online can differ in colour compared to buying them in person. Online at Smartwool, they provide grey, blue, and black. Note that colours come and go regularly, and the availability can change.

Available sizes range from XS to 4X. A size chart is provided to help you buy them online. The Merino wool base layer is a slim fit and could be uncomfortable for some people by potentially compressing their legs and stomach.

Tip: Measure yourself with a measuring tape and compare it to the online chart to ensure you buy the right size. Stores have different size measurements.

How It Was Tested

Our tester used them for cross-country skiing. They noticed the movement of the pants, the warmth and the feeling around the waist.

Movement

Wearing the pants allows for awesome movement. The Merino pant base layer descends to the ankle, stays in place, and doesn’t rise. Sometimes pants are two to three centimeters short. It can be frustrating when they rise unable to stay tucked under the thick cross-country skiing socks. The bottom base layer fits nicely along the entire leg without constricting it. When adding another pant layer on top, the layers move simultaneously.

Warmth

The Merino pant base layer provides an abundance of warmth cross-country skiing on cold winter days. The wind doesn’t go through two layers of pants. The Merino 250 Top Base Layer has the same efficiency as the bottom layer. Both are made of the same merino sheep wool material providing sweat and smell resistance with its wicking fabric allowing your body to exercise in cold temperatures.

Conveniently, the top and bottom layers come in the same colour making you look like a professional skier instead of wearing mixed-matched clothing. The zipper for the top base layer provides comfort while skiing as it has a wonderful fabric lining between the zipper and the skin.

Waist

The pant fits below the belly button. The waist is comfortable, and not too tight like many other bottom base layers. Most often other pants feel constricting around the waist causing the stomach to bulge and consequently making it uncomfortable to breathe. Buying a larger size can offer more breathability but it could be loose, which isn’t ideal.

Be assured that if you’re a slim fit, there’s a higher chance that this product will be a better fit for you.

Overview of the Merino Pant Base Layer

Pros

• The pants keep you warm during colder weather cross-country skiing.
• It makes a wonderful warm base layer.
• The pant leg extends down to the ankle while exercising in cross-country skiing socks.
• The pants don’t constrict the waist.
• It’s comfortable to wear and move while doing outdoor activities.

Cons

• It’s a slim fit that could cause discomfort for some people.
• Sizes and colours could be limiting.
• They might be a bit pricey for some folks.

Merino Pant Base Layer is Best for:

• Exercise in the cold or cooler temperatures, depending on your body temperature.
• The Merino pant base layer is a fantastic pant for cross-country skiing in Canada and in La Féclaz, allowing great movement.
• Wearing two pants layers while they move simultaneously.

Additional Links

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