Today’s Merino wool isn’t your grandma’s wool. Merino wool clothing now goes far beyond just winter wear to keep you comfortable year-round. We hear from customers all the time that purchased Merino wool gear for a specific use – like base layers for skiing or snowboarding – and then find they love wearing it for everything else they do too. Why is that?
Merino wool clothing works well for so many activities.
Unlike a lot of technical gear you have to buy for mountain pursuits, good Merino wool clothing can be worn for all of your hobbies and objectives.
“Another great all-season piece by Ridge,” Christina wrote about our Solstice Sun Hoodie. “It’s so versatile and comfortable, I wear it when running errands as well as mountain biking.”
Another customer, Lourdes, loves the versatility of our Wander Tees: “I can use them for workouts, paddling and as a top for my skirts if I want to go out afterwards.”
Wirecutter has repeatedly named our Aspect Base Layer top for men and women the best thermal underwear (aka base layer). In the latest edition, they wrote,
“[The Aspect top] is our most versatile pick, due to its breathable, Merino-based blend and understated look. This is a city-to-trail shirt because it can navigate cold-weather running, skiing, backpacking, and work (plus dinner out afterward) equally well. Also, it’s reasonably priced.”
Our Aspect base layer (left) and Inversion base layer (right) are made with winter in mind but they make amazing 3- or 4-season tops.
For WIRED Magazine’s list of the best winter base layers, senior associate editor Adrienne So described our Aspect Base Layer top as “a versatile layer that could nicely handle the transition from walking around in 30-degree-Fahrenheit temperatures to a hot and crowded house party.”
Merino wool does an incredible job regulating your temperature whether conditions are changing or you’re moving from outside to inside.
But our clothing isn’t only for mountain recreation. Our Aspect line has also been recognized as one of the best base layers for golfers. In recent customer feedback, our customers said they love wearing Ridge clothing for playing pickleball, horseback riding, working out, hunting, shooting and more.
Here’s what a Ridge customer and new farmer had to say about wearing an Inversion Crew base layer to work outside throughout the winter:
“I’m always cold, even when it’s not so cold outside, but I can really heat up as I work. I was wearing layer upon layer of clothes to keep warm, only to be drenched with sweat after being outside under all those layers. Not to mention being uncomfortable with all the bulk of 3-4 pairs of leggings/fleece tights. … I could tell immediately after I put [the Inversion] on that it can hold in the heat, but it threw me because it also feels breathable? I didn’t know that was possible. … I didn’t overheat like usual and didn’t sweat. I couldn’t believe it.”
Our clothes are made for performance, but they look good too.
Merino wool gear can be worn in almost any setting. We consider how each item we make looks when worn out and about, not just tucked away under an outer layer.
In a list of 10 Awesome Merino Wool T-Shirts for Men featured in Carryology, the Journey Tee was praised for both its function and look.
“Ridge Merino serves up a tough, versatile piece for work and play with their Journey V-Neck Merino Wool T-Shirt. … The t-shirt offers a slightly slimmer and longer fit and adapts easily to urban and outdoor settings.”
Customers often remark on this too. Ridge customer Louis described the Men’s Inversion Crew Shirt, one of our base layers: “Nice heavy weight and quality feel. Versatile for outdoors or business casual look.”
Another customer, Amy, loves the Hyde Dress and notes: “It is comfortable, versatile and adjusts to body and weather temperature. I can wear it for everyday living or dress it up.”
The Hyde Dress can be dressed up or down. Add a pair of leggings and it transitions to cold weather wear.
And the Crowley Tights fit the bill for this too in a customer review:
“These are literally the most incredible tights/leggings I’ve ever owned. They kept me warm when I skied. They cleaned easily with just a wet wipe when I got all muddy gardening. And they looked super sleek with a t-shirt and sneakers when I run errands. … Beautiful, functional, versatile and totally worth the investment!” - Nika
Merino wool clothes don’t get smelly.
Odor resistance is one of our favorite traits in Merino wool gear. It’s helpful for daily wear but even more of a benefit for traveling so you can pack light by wearing each item multiple times. Take it from our customers:
“I took three of these shirts for a full month backpacking trip to Spain. They fit great, washed by hand, dries in a flash. Stink free for days, versatile as you can wear them all day and still look great for dinner.” - Lourdes
“The results after a full calendar year: I slept in this [hoodie] every night for four months straight through the desert and Sierras of the PCT. It ended up being my town shirt as it was the only thing that didn’t smell… Wore it in Glacier NP, Smokey’s NP and many day hiking adventures. An essential part of my backpacking kit. I wear it at home when I’m not on adventure.” - Anonymous Ridge Customer
“I wore this bra on a 7 day bike packing trip and only washed it once in the sink. It never got stinky or lost its stretch/support.” - Rachel
The Women’s Wander V-Neck and Crew Neck Tees are odor-resistant and great for travel.
You’ll wear it year-round.
With good Merino wool gear, you won’t be packing it away when the season ends. Even our heaviest base layers get used in the summer on cold nights backpacking, car camping or catching meteor showers. Our lighter Aspect base layers can be worn year-round too. The quarter zip top is a great layer to throw in a bag in case the weather cools down while you’re out.
Our Solstice Sun Hoodie technically belongs to our summer collection, but our employees and athletes love wearing it all winter long as a backcountry skiing layer – Nick Cahill said it was “the most worn clothing item for each of our crew members” on a splitboarding trip to 12 volcanoes.
Another fan of the Solstice as a layer for backcountry snowboarding - Danila Shipilov in Alaska.
Customers love our Natural Tencel Collection since it’s comfortable in both warm and cool weather. The tank top is a great standalone top when it’s hot and also makes a nice base layer in colder weather.
“Have worn this hoodie all year round… a great weight for all seasons.” - Allison
“I cannot say enough about these joggers. … It’s amazing because the Merino wool is versatile in cold and warm weather.” - JL
Another favorite for year-round use: our Hyde Joggers, which Ridge customer Rafael described as, "So soft and no matter the climate you are always regulated, whether cool or warm."
The right Merino wool clothing is durable and worth the price.
Merino wool clothing doesn’t tend to be more expensive than other natural fiber clothing – especially luxury fibers like cashmere. But it is a bit more expensive than all the fast fashion clothing out there.
Its versatility makes it well worth the price, and we find that the price motivates people to test it out for activities they might not grab it for otherwise. It’s a pleasant surprise when the Merino wool shirt you bought can keep you comfortable doing things you didn’t think you’d wear it for.
And for being a natural fiber, Merino wool clothing tends to hold up well over time, especially items in our line featuring our (m)Force™ Technology, which wraps Merino wool around a tiny nylon filament for added durability.
The Ridge Cami Tank features (m)Force Technology to make it more durable.
"These tanks are so great that I’ve bought multiples despite being frugal with my clothing budget — so far they have staying power through multiple washes, so I see them as a long term investment." - Katie
"The Merino in the Solstice seems to be significantly more durable than other Merino pieces I've used, because I would have worn through most Merino shirts after 800 miles with a heavy pack. I was surprised to find that by the end of the trip, I hadn't come close to wearing through the shoulders or lower back where my pack touches. Big fan and would thru hike again with it!" - Tim
Once you start wearing high quality Merino wool clothing, it’s hard to go back. Comfort, odor resistance, temperature regulation plus incredible versatility will make Merino wool slowly (or quickly) take over your closet.
