Ridge Merino Inversion Midweight Bottoms
Reviewed by
Sean Van Cleve
GUIDE/OUTFITTER
REVIEW CORPS
+13,919
February 9, 2017
These high quality, high performance mid-weight base layer bottoms perform without adding unnecessary bulk! Unrestrictive and warm, Ridge’s new base layer line is ideal for people who have an active outdoor lifestyle. Whether skiing, backpacking, or even doing outdoor chores, the merino wool Inversion will help regulate temperature regardless of the conditions!
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Not restrictive
- Provide warmth when wet
- Excellent odor control
Cons
- Longer dry time
A winter afternoon walk with Otto
SPECS
- 18.5 micron merino wool
- 190g weight
- UPF 50+
- 100% recycled polyester waistband
- Flatlocked seams
- Fly opening
Founded in 2014, Ridge Merino is a relatively new brand to the outdoor industry. Deep savings can be made with this brand because the California-founded company cuts out the "middle-man," and only offers its product line through online sales. Merino wool can be an extremely pricey buy, and this young company is finding a way to get their products into people’s hands!
The Inversion bottoms fit great during testing; Size Medium fit perfectly for a 5'10" 155lb build. The fitted measurements were neither a tight or loose fit, which eliminates a chance of feeling restricted. This also allows these bottoms to be more easily layered.
Like all of the merino wool I’ve encountered, these bottoms are extremely soft to the touch, and comfortable!
Getting comfortable in the backcountry
As expected for a base layer, there are no bells or whistles; a simple elastic waistband, elasticized cuffs, and a fly opening.
The recycled waistband feels high quality and comfortable
One of merino wool’s best attributes is breathability. On warmer days, or during high output activities, moisture management was unsurpassed.
Although warm, the 190g weight bottoms vent well in heat
The coldest weather noted during testing was approximately 15°F, and the 190g weight base layer performed extremely well. For as thin as these bottoms are, it was very surprising how warm they performed.
Lots of testing has shown that these bottoms do a great job resisting odor. During daily use, even a five-day backpacking trip reflected surprisingly little smell…
Little or no wear has been noted after washing the garment approximately six times, with zero pilling.
The Ridge Merino Inversion Mid-weight Bottoms were tested nearly every day between November 2016-February 2017 in the mid-Atlantic USA area. These base layers have seen everyday use from dog walking, running, many day hikes, several overnight backpacking trips, and an extended backcountry trip to West Virginia. Temperature range during testing was between 15°-75°F.
Many thanks to the people out at Ridge Merino for the opportunity to test this product for the Trailspace Gear Review Corps!
Source: received for testing via the Trailspace Review Corps
(Sample provided by Ridge Merino for testing and review)
