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Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants - Women's Review

Great wicking capabilities in a lightweight and stylish design, but with some questionable durability
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Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants - Women's Review (These short pants really shine in the layering metric, we love their ability to keep bulk out of our ski boots.)
These short pants really shine in the layering metric, we love their ability to keep bulk out of our ski boots.
Credit: Trish Matheny
Price:  $100 List
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Manufacturer:   Ortovox
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 22, 2023
71
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#12 of 22
  • Warmth - 25% 7.0
  • Breathability - 20% 8.0
  • Comfort and Fit - 20% 8.0
  • Durability - 15% 4.0
  • Drying Speed - 10% 7.0
  • Layering Ability - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

Our testers love the Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants for their niche design that is perfectly compatible with your high winter ski socks and boots. While not the warmest layer we tested, we noted that these short pants offer a surprising amount of warmth within their lightweight 100% Merino wool design. Notable for their sufficient thermoregulation during high-output activities like backcountry skiing and shoulder season trail runs, just be prepared for some stretch in the design. While their initial price tag may feel like more of an investment, we know you'll appreciate the ultrasoft next-to-skin comfort, enhanced by the durable flatlock seams and a thicker, stylish waistband. These short pants are perfect for those looking to prevent fabrics from bunching under their ski boots without sacrificing warmth or wicking capabilities.
REASONS TO BUY
Super soft
Great thermoregulation
Stylish thick waistband
Odor-free
Ski and snowboard boot compatible
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Fabric and waistband stretches significantly
Questionable durability
Editor's Note: This review was updated on May 22, 2023, after retesting these bottoms for two additional metrics.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Synthetic Women's Long Underwear
Best Buy Award
Best Value for Merino Bottoms
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Best Value for Synthetic Bottoms
Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
Price $69.73 at REI
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Check Price at Backcountry
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$80 List
$79.99 at Amazon
$55 List
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$36 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A lightweight design that is perfectly compatible with your ski socks and bootsWhile not recommended as a stand-alone piece due to the see-through polyester fabric, we love the superior breathability that helps keep us warm and dryThese bottoms offer a ton of warmth and substantial comfort at a more affordable priceThese lightweight tights feature a soft and stretchy fabric that is easy to layer and maintains substantial warmth when dryWhile these bottoms lack warmth for the coldest months of the year, they are a great option for those seeking a three-season stand-alone legging
Rating Categories Ortovox 185 Rock'N'... Patagonia Capilene... Minus33 Franconia M... REI Co-op Midweight... Baleaf Fleeced Line...
Warmth (25%)
7.0
8.5
9.0
7.0
4.0
Breathability (20%)
8.0
9.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
Comfort and Fit (20%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
Durability (15%)
4.0
6.5
8.0
7.0
7.0
Drying Speed (10%)
7.0
8.5
7.0
8.0
7.5
Layering Ability (10%)
8.0
7.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
Specs Ortovox 185 Rock'N'... Patagonia Capilene... Minus33 Franconia M... REI Co-op Midweight... Baleaf Fleeced Line...
Measured Weight (Size Small) 4.80 oz 4.90 oz 7.52 oz 6.40 oz 8.80 oz
Material 100% Tasmanian Merino wool 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex 100% Merino wool 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex 87% polyester, 13% spandex
Insulation Weight Class Midweight Midweight Midwewight Midweight Midwewight
Smelly Over Time? No Yes No Yes Yes
Odor Control Fabric Naturally odor resistant HeiQ Fresh Naturally odor resistant No No
Cuts Avaliable Full-length, 3/4-length, hot pants Full-length, boot-length Full-length Full-length Full-length
Listed Fabric Weight (g/m²) 185 g/m² 129 g/m² 235 g/m² Not disclosed Not disclosed

Our Analysis and Test Results

The 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants quickly became a favorite of our testing team thanks to their super soft 100% Merino wool fabric, lightweight performance, and niche design that reduces bulk. They are great at thermoregulation, efficiently wicking moisture away from the skin and releasing through the 185-gram virgin wool fabric. The shorter length helps to keep bulk out of your ski or snowboard boots, and the thick waistband is stylish and keeps your pants in place when layered in a system — just be prepared for some stretch between washes. While these bottoms lack the durability required for everyday layering, they are the perfect insulation to reduce bulk when layered below your Gore-tex for winter days when you're out earning your turns.

Performance Comparison


ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - these short pants really fill a niche category in terms of their 3/4...
These short pants really fill a niche category in terms of their 3/4 length which prevent excess bulk in your ski and snow boots. We like to tuck them into our socks to keep them in place.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Warmth


Though the 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants are only a 3/4 length, we found them to offer enough warmth to be worn alone during the shoulder seasons and to provide ample warmth when layered below our ski bibs while exploring the backcountry. Since the 185 g/m² fabric is at the lower end of midweight, they have more of a lightweight feel. Our testers stayed comfortable and dry throughout their cool and cold weather activities.

We would not recommend the Short Pants for sedentary cold weather activities, though they did a great job at keeping our testers warm during a fall season of training runs in Yosemite Valley. Some days were difficult to leave our sleeping bag as the campsite rarely saw the sun, but these pants provided enough warmth to get us moving without a heavyweight thickness that would cause us to overheat as the sun rose. Perhaps their best application is for those cold weather days spent backcountry skiing or snowboarding where you're continually moving and generating body heat.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - warm enough to kick it in the shoulder seasons, but best suited as...
Warm enough to kick it in the shoulder seasons, but best suited as the base of your cold weather layering kit.
Credit: Claire Maurey

Breathability


The 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants offer great wicking capabilities, especially compared to other 100% Merino wool garments tested for this review. Superior thermoregulation allows them to effectively trap body heat while releasing moisture through the fabric. These pants boast a 19-micro Merino wool that enhances breathability due to its ultra-fine construction.

During our fall testing runs in a very humid and chilly Yosemite Valley, we noted the efficiency with which the Short Pants were able to dry after working up a bit of sweat as we gained elevation and sunshine towards the rim of the Valley. Though some sweat was able to collect around the thicker waistband, it dried quickly before any notable discomfort occurred. This layer offers some of the best breathability out of all the Merino wool long underwear garments we've tested, thanks to a lightweight design that allows air to permeate the thin fabric.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - the ultra fine merino wool construction offers great breathability...
The ultra fine Merino wool construction offers great breathability and efficiently wicks moisture even when trapped inside the thicker waistband.
Credit: Claire Maurey

Comfort and Fit


One of the first things we noticed about the 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants is their stand-out style. The European-inspired design is a split, asymmetric design with bright colors, stripes, and a thick, multi-colored waistband. After trying them on for the first time, we were impressed by how soft and comfortable they felt next to our skin, perhaps because of the unique and ultra-fine Tasmanian Merino. We can also appreciate the labels are either screen-printed or removable rather than a permanent tag that can cause itching and discomfort due to irritation. This top-notch comfort made this layer one of our favorites for everything from rest days to long multi-sport days in the backcountry.

We love the fit and would consider it true to size, though we did notice a little bunching in the crotch. The fabric is stretchy enough to move with you during activity without limiting your range of motion. Unfortunately, we noticed over time that the design is prone to stretching both in the legs as well as the waistband, even after washing to restore the structure. Extra stretch aside, the 3/4 length of these short pants helps to increase comfort inside your ski or snowboard boots by reducing bulk and preventing any friction with your ski socks.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - the 100% tasmanian merino wool fabric is super comfortable next to...
The 100% Tasmanian Merino wool fabric is super comfortable next to skin.
Credit: Claire Maurey

Durability


Although the 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants offers what appears to be a high-quality design, complete with reinforced and durable flatlock seams, in addition to a thick and functional waistband, we had to reduce their overall durability score to issues experienced throughout our rigorous testing window. Even though we've also tested the matching base layer top and experienced no issues with the durability of that design, we noticed that once the short pants had a hole in the fabric, it would then grow lengthwise as you would imagine with a pair of pantyhose. It became obvious to our testers that this ultra-fine Merino wool layer would not be able to offer anywhere close to the durability of other synthetic or even merino wool options in this review.

We also noticed that the fabric tends to lose its shape when worn multiple times between washes, and we found some minor piling in high-traffic areas when the wool rubbed against another layer. We speculate that some durability is sacrificed in exchange for an ultra-soft and itch-free design. That being said, we can appreciate the odor-free Merino wool, but we'll continue testing these short pants and will report back with any further quality issues.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - while we love the comfort offered by this merino wool design, its...
While we love the comfort offered by this Merino wool design, its ultra fine fibers are easily snagged and will continue ripping down the short pant.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Drying Speed


Our testers gave a lot of thought to the drying speed metric and wanted to consider the length of time required to dry in the sunshine, dry on the body after rigorous activity, as well as the length of time required to dry overnight so as to avoid any damage from the dryer. Though the design is only 3/4 in length, the thicker waistband and 100% Merino wool design had one of the slowest drying speeds that we recorded. After soaking, wringing out, and hanging on a line, these short pants took one full hour to dry.

After skinning uphill in the Eastern Sierra, our testers recorded 40 minutes for these short pants to dry on the body, the thicker waistband requiring the longest amount of time. While not the slowest drying speed in the bunch, we hoped they would offer a faster drying speed than their full-length competitors.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - even though these short pants have far less material, their 100%...
Even though these short pants have far less material, their 100% Merino wool fabric and thicker waistband did reduce their drying speed.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Layering Ability


The 3/4 length sets the Short Pants apart from the competition due to its ability to reduce extra bulk and material below your Gore-tex outerwear and ski boots. They perfectly meet the top of a ski sock, with a little extra length to tuck them in. Tucking the pants into the sock prevented any air from permeating the layer in order to maximize the warmth of this relatively light layer.

The high waist fit also allowed for layers that feature a natural waist to sit on the waist without any bulk or friction. The lightweight fabric leaves a little extra room for better range of motion when layered with rain pants or ski bibs over the top.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - the ease of layering the ortovox short pants isn't limited to the...
The ease of layering the Ortovox Short Pants isn't limited to the 3/4 length, the lightweight Merino wool also easily zips into our ski bibs.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Should You Buy the Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants?


The expensive price tag and added durability issues make the Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Short Pants tricky to recommend. While our testing team love the ultrasoft Tasmanian wool, we also speculate that the softness sacrifices some overall quality, especially considering that the 3/4 length is specially designed to be compatible with ski and snowboard boots, not exactly sedentary activities. All that said, these short pants offer superior comfort, great breathability, and are one of the easiest to layer within your cold weather kit.

What Other Long Underwear Should You Consider?


If you dig the 100% Merino wool construction but are after a full-length option, check out the Ridge Merino Inversion Heavyweight Merino Leggings. These heavyweight leggings are perfect for cold winter months. If you're interested in a Merino wool blend that offers ample warmth and exceptional breathability for those high-intensity winter pursuits, look to the Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Bottom.

ortovox 185 rock'n'wool short pants for women - printed and removable labels such as this enhance the overall...
Printed and removable labels such as this enhance the overall comfort of the exceptionally soft 100% Merino wool fabric.
Credit: Trish Matheny

Trish Matheny