Smartwool Women’s Midweight Bottom Review

By Shannon on Dec 31, 2010 in Women's

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SmartWool’s NTS Midweight Bottom is made from, yes you guessed it, merino wool! These bottoms are the warmest option from Smartwool’s baselayer collection and have been a great addition come this winter. I have used these bottoms under my ski pants on the slopes in temps raging from 0 to 30 degrees, by themselves while running in temps around 20 degrees, around the house in temps around 60 degrees (no joke!), under a sweater dress with my Sorel’s, and under jeans around town when the temps are well below freezing. No matter the outing, these bottoms have been a real delight.

The NTS Midweight Bottoms are super soft against the skin, which makes it hard to take these off. I have worn them for 2-3 days in a row and can safely say that the 100% merino wool still performs and smells ok, thanks to merino’s natural anti odor properties. The merino wool provides excellent warmth in a lightweight package, while also being a wash and wear product. My bottoms, however, are pilling more than other 100% merino wool products previously tested. I am typically wearing these under other garments, so this hasn’t been a major point.

These bottoms are more generously cut then their lightweight counterparts. They do stretch out while wearing and are a tad baggy on me in the backside and around the knees on me; I am 5’9″ and 138 lbs and have been testing the mediums, however according to the size chart I should be wearing a size small, which I would tend to agree with. Therefore, take it all back, they run true to size! The waist band is super-soft and not at all constricting, hitting 2-3 inches below my true waist. The length is great too and the ankles feature a generous cuff with flatlocked seams to eliminate any pressure or squeezing points. When wearing with ski boots, I typically roll the bottom up towards my knee a touch to avoid too much fabric under my top buckles. If you don’t like doing this, or only plan on using your bottoms for skiing or riding, then you might like to check out SmarWool’s NTS Midweight Boot Bottom, which hits at mid calf.

Overall, the NTS Midweight Bottoms by SmartWool are an extremely versatile bottom for temperatures all across the board, weather worn alone or under other outerlayers. They are available in basic black, aegean stripe (featured above), and deep purple heather.

MSRP 75

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Brands: SmartWool

About the Author

Shannon, our fabulous female tester, takes gear testing to a new level for women. When not at work or school, she is most likely training for a marathon, climbing one of Colorado’s tallest peaks, riding her road bike, or skiing down a mountain slope. Like many women, Shannon gets cold easily, therefore, we try to test the best all weather gear to help her stay warm and dry during all day outdoor pursuits. In the warmer months, Shannon enjoys exploring the Colorado backcountry with her friends and dogs and attempts to escape for as many trail runs as her schedule allows. Shannon is a great women’s tester because she gives readers true insight into how a product may perform for an active woman.