REI Co-op Merino Midweight Bottoms - Women's Review
Cons: Not durable, less cozy features
Manufacturer: REI Co-op
Our Verdict
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REI Co-op Merino Midweight Bottoms - Women's | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ||
Price | $54.93 at REI | $88.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $89 List | $95.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $59.00 at REI |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Warm, great thermoregulation, simple, great value | All season wear, breathable, will keep you dry, warm, improved fit | Fleece lining is comfortable, elastic fit, amazing value, cute style, very durable, wicking ability | Durable, wide range of thermoregulation, comfortable, cute colors | Amazing breathability, comfortable on the skin, great fit, good warmth, affordable, cute colors and designs |
Cons | Not durable, less cozy features | Lacks durability when worn alone | High water absorption | Not super duper warm | Less durable than previous version |
Bottom Line | Great merino wool performance for a great price | A top performer offering comfort and breathability for all activities | Versatile performance and cozy design, we can't stop reaching for this model | Great durability and great performance all the way around | A favorite synthetic base layer bottom for its amazing value and performance |
Rating Categories | Merino Midweight Bottoms | Merino 250 Bottoms | Rho LT Bottoms | 200 Oasis Leggings | Capilene Midweight Bottoms |
Warmth (30%) | |||||
Breathability (30%) | |||||
Comfort And Fit (30%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Merino Midweight... | Merino 250 Bottoms | Rho LT Bottoms | 200 Oasis Leggings | Capilene Midweight... |
Material | 100% merino wool | 100% merino wool | Torrent fleece (84% polyester/16% elastane) | 100% merino wool | 100% recycled polyester |
Fabric weight (g/m²) | 200 g/m² | 250 g/m² | 150 g/m² | 200 g/m² | N/A |
Our weight class assessment | Midweight | Midweight | Midweight | Light to midweight | Midweight |
Measured Weight (size medium) | 6.0 oz | 7.3 oz | 5.8 oz | 5.7 oz | 5.6 oz |
Cuts avaliable | Full length, boot length | 3/4 length, full length, onsie (full body w/ hood) | Full length | 3/4 length, full length | Full length |
Smelly over time? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Odor control fabric | Naturally odor resistant | Naturally odor resistant | Polygiene anti-odor finish | Naturally odor resistant | HeiQ Fresh |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This high-value 100% merino wool contender earns high points across most metrics for its fantastical performance in cold weather. If you seek an affordable merino wool option, this is one to consider.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
Loaded with 200-grams of Merino wool, this baselayer provides sufficient warmth both while heading uphill and hunkering down for a meal. As a versatile base layer, it provides great warmth and offers a wide range of thermoregulation. The fibers are naturally hydrophobic and do a great job wicking away moisture and moving it to the outside of the fabric. When worn with a sufficient insulating layer, it can perform well in everything from deep polar temperatures to warm summer nights (on its own). This is a warm baselayer bottom with a wide range of thermoregulation.
Breathability
The REI Merino Wool bottoms offer a great level of breathability in addition to quick drying times and sufficient wicking power. Merino wool does a fantastic job of wicking away moisture and repelling water. In our tests where we ran up several trails in varying conditions, the fabric kept our skin dry even when sweating.
In our drying tests, it proved to have a similar speed of drying as the rest. Of the merino wool contenders, it absorbed only 6.75 ounces of water, proving to be a less absorbent piece. This is in part because the fabric is lighter than other models. We also noticed that this fabric didn't readily absorb water, but repelled it until agitated underwater. This in addition to our in-field tests proves that this fabric is incredibly breathable and offers an average level of drying capabilities for a merino wool layer. Where it during high or low output activities or lounge around the campfire on cold days with a sufficient insulating layer.
Comfort & Fit
Like all bottoms constructed of Merino wool, this contender feels comfortable and plush against the skin. It has a lightweight construct (5.95 oz) that layers well underneath a pair of skinnier work pants. The elastic waistband is sewn in and doesn't offer any additional cushioning or comforts, but still feels good to wear all day. Overall, this offers a sufficient amount of comfort with a good fit.
The fabrics are stretchy and provide enough room to accommodate many body types that range from thick to thin. The ankle hem is nicely elastic, stretching a broad diameter to accommodate all shapes and sizes. While the fabric is thinner than our Editor's Choice winner, it still provides decent comfort that is good enough for lounging around all day long. The fit is true to size, with the legs providing enough length for even our taller testers.
Our only caveat runs the same for most merino wool products. After running in this piece for 8 miles, we noticed that the fabric didn't retain its shape and seemed to have stretched out. While it did return to its "tighter" configuration after washing, we wish that it would maintain its form while in motion. Aside from that, we appreciate the comforts of this nicely fitting base layer bottom.
Durability
Being constructed of merino wool, durability is about sub-par. Through our testing period, we noted some minor pilling but no stitching fly-aways or holes. We were surprised when we went running through some sharp, bushy terrain and the fabric didn't catch, which meant that the face fabric provides some level of durability. While we didn't note any holes throughout our period, the fabrics are much more fragile than a synthetic contender. Overall, given its thinner construction of merino wool fibers, this contender provides a decent level of durability, but certainly not the best on the market.
Value
This is the highest value merino wool contender tested. It costs less than other merino wool products and offers an exceptionally high level of performance. It is durable and comfortable without accumulating smells over time. If you are a person who loves merino wool and a good price, this is one we'd consider.
Conclusion
This high-value merino wool contender is a perfect option for pretty much any winter activity. It's perfect for any cool to cold weather activity with its ample range of thermoregulation. Wear it all day for awesome comfort and warmth.
— Amber King