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Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Bottoms - Women's Review

A high-performing long underwear bottom that traps a ton of warmth while releasing any excessive moisture created during cool to cold weather activity
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patagonia capilene thermal weight bottoms for women long underwear review
This is one of the most comfortable synthetic designs thanks to the stretchy recycled polyester and Polartec fleece lining.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Price:  $99 List
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Manufacturer:   Patagonia
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 22, 2023
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 14
  • Warmth - 25% 8.0
  • Breathability - 20% 9.0
  • Comfort and Fit - 20% 9.0
  • Durability - 15% 6.0
  • Drying Speed - 10% 8.0
  • Layering Ability - 10% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight bottoms are our favorite pair of synthetic long underwear bottoms. Though the see-through design lacks long-term durability and sacrifices some versatility, we're really impressed by this modern take on a thermal weight design. The superior warmth is more effective when combined with the extraordinary breathability, allowing you to work up a sweat in the backcountry while quickly releasing moisture so as to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable during a wide range of temperatures. Speaking of comfort, these bottoms are the most comfortable pair of synthetic long underwear bottoms we've worn, thanks to the soft and supple Polartec Power Grid fabric.
REASONS TO BUY
Supersoft Polartec fabric
Superior breathability
Excellent warmth
Great fit that enhances mobility
Recycled fabric
REASONS TO AVOID
Questionable durability
Fabric holds odor

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Pros Supersoft Polartec fabric, superior breathability, excellent warmth, great fit that enhances mobility, recycled fabricExcellent warmth, soft elastic waistband, odor-free, high waisted design for additional coverageLightweight, versatile, ample warmth, great fit and waistband, soft synthetic fabric, thigh pocketSmooth and silky fabric, easy to wear alone or when layered, cute and fitted style, affordableVery breathable, ultralight construction, quick drying, great snug fit
Cons Questionable durability, fabric holds odorThicker fabric doesn't breathe as well in warm climates, fabric shows signs of wear after minimal use, longer drying speedPricey, merrow seams accumulate fuzz from frictionAbsorbs and holds moisture, fabric retains odor immediatelyNot as comfortable as merino fabric
Bottom Line A high-performing long underwear bottom that traps a ton of warmth while releasing any excessive moisture created during cool to cold weather activityThese heavyweight 100% Merino wool bottoms offer superior warmth and comfort at a fraction of the costThis lightweight synthetic long underwear bottom can do it all, thick enough to perform on its own or within your cold weather kitThis synthetic base layer option features a soft and stretchy polyester fabric that offers moderate levels of warmth and breathability for an affordable priceA highly breathable layer that dries quickly, making it exceptional for intense cool to cold weather activity
Rating Categories Patagonia Capilene... Ridge Merino Invers... Arc'teryx Rho Light... REI Co-op Midweight... Odlo Performance Li...
Warmth (25%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
4.0
Breathability (20%)
9.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
9.0
Comfort and Fit (20%)
9.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Durability (15%)
6.0
8.0
6.0
7.0
5.0
Drying Speed (10%)
8.0
5.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Layering Ability (10%)
7.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
9.0
Specs Patagonia Capilene... Ridge Merino Invers... Arc'teryx Rho Light... REI Co-op Midweight... Odlo Performance Li...
Material 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex 100% Merino wool 84% polyester, 16% elastane 92% polyester, 8% spandex 69% polyester, 27% polyamide, 4% elastane
Fabric Weight (g/m²) 129 g/m² 270 g/m² 190 g/m² Not disclosed Not disclosed
Weight Class Midweight Heavyweight Lightweight Midweight Lightweight
Measured Weight (size small) 4.90 oz 7.36 oz 4.80 oz 6.40 oz 3.84 oz
Cuts Avaliable Full length, boot length Full length Full length Full length Full length
Smelly Over Time? Yes No Yes Yes No
Odor Control Fabric HeiQ Fresh Naturally odor resistant Yes, Torrent N/A N/A

Our Analysis and Test Results

Perhaps one of the first considerations with the Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight bottoms is that this is not your traditional thermal weight design. We think of these bottoms as a high-performing midweight that offers superior warmth when combined with body heat and an exceptional moisture-wicking capability to keep you warm and dry. Throw in a great fit with soft and supple Polartec fabric designed to move with you, and we're sold.

Performance Comparison


patagonia capilene thermal weight bottoms for women long underwear review - the patagonia capilene thermal weight is the perfect layer for big...
The Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight is the perfect layer for big spring objectives when you need the added warmth on the summit in addition to exceptional breathability during the climb.
Credit: Trish Matheny


Warmth


In this section, we'll attempt to clear up some confusion due to the naming of the Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight bottoms because it's unorthodox that a traditional thermal weight would also appear to be see-through. The performance is in the lower bulk micro-grid fleece interior combined with exceptional breathability. The 92% recycled polyester and 8% spandex fabric combination can only provide superior warmth when combined with the loft of the open-grid pattern that wicks away moisture and keeps skin dry, even while pushing the pace in the mountains.


Now is this your sedentary thermal weight base layer for the coldest months of the year? Absolutely not. The layer must work with your body heat to trap warmth and release moisture; therefore, we highly recommend this layer for year-round use. The exceptional breathability will help fight those cool mornings in the fall while keeping you dry and comfortable as the day begins to heat up — just don't forget to layer appropriately above or below these see-through bottoms. The Capilene Thermal also works great for high-output winter activities like skinning uphill or layered below some puffy pants when you're out shoveling snow. We love these bottoms for their modern spin, and we find their warmth sufficient when layered effectively.

When skiing from the sage to summit as they say, we were happy we selected these bottoms (worn beneath our bibs) for their added insulation on the summit and incredible breathability on the effortful climb.
Credit: Lisa Coleman

Breathability


We've already touched on the remarkable breathability these bottoms have to offer. The fabric's open grid pattern allows air to easily permeate, effectively wicking away sweat from the skin before releasing it through the synthetic panels between the Polartec Power Grid design. This technology is similar to the ventilation panels offered on other models and achieves a similar goal of keeping the body dry through an air-permeable design to increase warmth and comfort during high-output cold weather activity.


During one of our testing days, we skinned uphill in the spring sunshine and worked up a sweat before opening up our ski bibs to observe the moisture evaporating from this layer. When exposed to fresh air, the bottoms literally start releasing steam from the fabric, offloading any excess moisture to keep your body dry and cozy. The Capilene Thermal offers some of the best breathability that we've had the pleasure of testing, and we highly recommend them for a variety of cool to cold weather activities thanks to their high-performing technology.

These bottoms (worn beneath our ski bibs) were perfect for a fun spring objective with friends thanks to their quick drying speed and highly breathable performance.
Credit: Lisa Coleman

Comfort and Fit


The Thermal Weight is hands down one of the softest and most comfortable synthetic pairs of long underwear we've tested. Patagonia's Polartec Power Grid fabric felt exceptionally cozy next to our skin, and we love the added spandex stretch to allow for a better range of motion within the recycled polyester material.


These bottoms also feature one of our favorite fits out of all the synthetic base layers tested for this review. We consider the fit true to size and find the 4" wide waistband to offer a clean design, similar to a modern high-waisted yoga pant. Within the 4" waistband is another flat elastic waistband that truly holds these bottoms in place, and on our lead tester's 5'6" frame, they sit right above the belly button. While out for a run or skiing in the backcountry, this double waistband stayed in place, but while doing yoga, we noticed it could roll over itself and require some adjustment. Since we like to spend a ton of time moving in the mountains, we love that this design features a gusseted crotch for enhanced fit and a better range of motion for a variety of activities. We're confident these bottoms will provide ample comfort and an incredible fit for most body types, thanks to the soft Polartec fabric, stretch spandex, and flattering waistband.

patagonia capilene thermal weight bottoms for women long underwear review - these bottoms are the most comfortable synthetic option that we...
These bottoms are the most comfortable synthetic option that we tested thanks to the Polartec fleece lining on the interior.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Durability


While our testers reported no durability issues during testing, we can imagine that these see-through bottoms may not withstand the test of time, especially when compared to some of their competitors that feature a more rigid, tightly-woven fabric. The grid pattern of the Polartec makes for an uneven and delicate surface that may be prone to rips and snags. Since they are also see-through, it is less likely that you'll be wearing these on their own, though they could be paired with shorts over top or underneath.


And while Patagonia advertises an HeiQ Pure odor control as an additional treatment to the polyester fabric, we did notice that these bottoms can retain some odor over time. This is true of most synthetic fabrics and is often a trade-off for their increased durability when compared to Merino wool.

patagonia capilene thermal weight bottoms for women long underwear review - though the highly breathable design does sacrifice some durability...
Though the highly breathable design does sacrifice some durability, we can appreciate the sturdy waistband and flatlock seams for reinforcement in high traffic areas.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Drying Speed


We soaked the Capilene Thermal in water, wrung them out, and hung them on a line to dry in the sunshine. We anticipated a faster drying speed due to the see-through and lightweight design, and we got it — these bottoms took just 44 minutes to dry.


After working up a sweat skinning uphill in the spring sunshine, we noticed that sweat would pool at the waistband — a common occurrence. After we returned from testing, we started the stopwatch and noted a time of only 30 minutes to dry on our body. While this isn't the overall fastest drying speed of the synthetic competitors, it's still respectable.

patagonia capilene thermal weight bottoms for women long underwear review - these bottoms only required 44 minutes to dry on our climbing rope...
These bottoms only required 44 minutes to dry on our climbing rope and 30 minutes on body post ski.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Layering Ability


We tested the Capilene Thermal bottoms in a variety of layering systems and found that even though they are considered a "thermal weight," the high-performing Polartec fabric is easy to layer thanks to a smooth interface. Though these take up a bit more space, there is no friction, and no re-adjusting is needed as you move.


The waistband sits above the belly button, so it's out of the way of other layers that fasten at the natural waistline. Since they are see-through, we do not recommend the Capilene Thermal as a stand-alone piece. When layering underneath, we found a slick bike short to layer best, no matter the length. When considering other layers in this review that feature a design with a lower profile, we had to reduce the score of the Capilene due to the added bulk of the Polartec fabric, which is somewhat to be expected with bottoms that feature a thicker weight or open grid design.

Even though the fabric is thicker than other synthetic options due to the rise from the Polartec fleece, we found it easy to layer with our ski bibs.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Should You Buy the Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight?


If you're looking for a high-performing synthetic pair of long underwear, the Capilene Thermal bottoms are at the very top of our list. For a little extra investment, they offer a superior fit that includes flatlock seams and a gusseted crotch to enhance overall comfort. The soft and supple fabric is some of the most comfortable material that we've tested, and we love how it feels next to the skin. The only caveat with this layer is the potential for the see-through fabric to break down faster than other rigid synthetic fibers and its ability to hold onto some body odor post-activity. But if you're after a pair of long underwear bottoms that offer ample warmth and superior breathability, these won't disappoint.

What Other Long Underwear Should You Consider?


If you're interested in another high-performing pair of long underwear bottoms that can be worn as a stand-alone piece and are available at a more affordable price, check out the Patagonia Capilene Midweight. These bottoms have a very similar fit and the exact same waistband but feature a more rigid design due to their tightly woven polyester construction. If you're interested in a more traditional version of a thermal-weight long underwear bottom, check out our favorite affordable Merino option, the Ridge Merino Inversion Heavyweight. And for optimal cold weather performance, complete with ventilation panels within the blended fabric, consider the Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Bottom.

Trish Matheny
 

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