 This Product
Ridge Merino Aspect High Rise Bottoms | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Value for Merino Bottoms | Best Value for Synthetic Bottoms | Best on a Tight Budget | ||
| Price | $75 List | $80 List $79.99 at Amazon | $55 List $38.39 at REI | $40 List $27.93 at REI | $36 List $27.74 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Bottom Line | These affordable Merino bottoms feature a sleek and flattering fit that offers full coverage and structure that doesn't stretch out | These bottoms offer a ton of warmth and substantial comfort at a more affordable price | These lightweight tights feature a soft and stretchy fabric that is easy to layer and maintains substantial warmth when dry | Lightweight, breathable, and highly affordable, these tights unfortunately lack warmth and require constant adjustment due to the stretchy fabric and wide waistband | While 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 | Ridge Merino Aspect... | Minus33 Franconia M... | REI Co-op Midweight... | REI Co-op Lightweig... | Baleaf Fleeced Line... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Drying Speed (10%) | |||||
| Layering Ability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Ridge Merino Aspect... | Minus33 Franconia M... | REI Co-op Midweight... | REI Co-op Lightweig... | Baleaf Fleeced Line... |
| Measured Weight (Size Small) | 6.74 oz | 7.52 oz | 6.40 oz | 5.44 oz | 8.80 oz |
| Material | 80% Merino wool, 14% nylon, 6% spandex | 100% Merino wool | 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex | 92% polyester, 8% spandex | 87% polyester, 13% spandex |
| Insulation Weight Class | Midweight | Midwewight | Midweight | Lightweight | Midwewight |
| Smelly Over Time? | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Odor Control Fabric | Naturally odor resistant | Naturally odor resistant | No | No | No |
| Cuts Avaliable | Full-length | Full-length | Full-length | Full-length | Full-length |
| Listed Fabric Weight (g/m²) | 240 g/m² | 235 g/m² | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
The Ridge Merino Aspect High Rise Bottoms are a flattering pair of long underwear that perform well on their own or within a layered cold weather kit. Standout features include the reinforced 240 g/m² Merino wool body, a full-coverage, high-waisted design that aids in warmth – and adds style points – and a slim fit that is easy to layer. Whether you're hitting the slopes or want a super cute pair of bottoms for training and yoga, these affordable long underwear bottoms are worthy of the hype.
The Aspect High Rise features a 240 GSM, midweight construction of 80% Merino wool, 14% nylon, and 6% spandex. Although they are marketed as midweight, these bottoms have the look and feel of a lighter-weight long underwear bottom, though they are not see-through or thin. Our testers love the five-inch thick waistband that provides a flattering and functional fit and keeps the core warm, closing off any potential for air to wick heat away from your skin.
During our fall testing period, temperatures ranged from the high 60 °Fs to the low 30 °Fs. When worn as a stand-alone piece, these bottoms offered sufficient warmth down to the low 40 °Fs as long as we maintained a good pace – anything below that, and you'll want to include more layers over the top. We also greatly appreciated the additional warmth provided by the thick waistband that kept our core toasty during training.
The Aspect High Rise doesn't feature any fancy ventilation panels or perforated fabric to aid in breathability, but the majority Merino wool blend naturally wicks sweat away from the skin. The built-in climate control harnesses body heat when it's cold and releases sweat once you warm up.
We were especially impressed with the wicking performance of this layer during hard, uphill efforts in humid conditions. Even though some sweat does build in the crotch and waistband, it is wicked away from the skin and dried quickly once our intervals were complete. Since the Aspect High Rise has more structure to its design and effectively balances warmth and breathability, they are a great pair of bottoms to be worn just on their own.
The Aspect High Rise offers a slim-fitting profile with a flattering high-rise waistband. The inseam of the updated fit is 29 inches for a size Small and adds 3/8 inches for the next size up. Our lead tester is 5'6" and found the size small to be full length, extending appropriately to the ankle. The five-inch waistband offers full coverage and effectively holds the bottoms in place. These bottoms required very little adjustment, even during yoga and physical therapy sessions.
Though the custom-developed Merino wool blend features ultra-fine, 18.5-micron fibers, our testing team could definitely tell the difference between this fabric and a 100% Merino wool design. Ultimately, it is a worthy trade because the bottoms really hold their shape and structure, unlike some saggy-bottomed Merino tights we've tested previously. Features like a gusseted crotch and flatlock seams keep these bottoms comfortable while offering a full range of motion – a reasonable tradeoff, even if they aren't quite as soft next to the skin.
The Aspect High Rise delivered a solid performance in durability thanks to its custom-blended Merino wool, nylon, and spandex construction. We noted the difference in the 240 GSM Merino wool reinforced with Ridge Merino's (m)Force Technology, especially compared to other 100% Merino wool options. However, it is not quite as durable as other thick, synthetic bottoms in our lineup.
The Aspect High Rise bottoms hold their structure very well, even after several uses between washing. We suspect this is because of the addition of spandex, which can help fabrics bounce back after being stretched. And speaking of consecutive days of use, we never noticed any smells or odor, even after wearing these bottoms for a week straight during a fall trip to the Yosemite Valley. The odor-resistant properties, without any potentially harmful chemicals, allowed our testers to layer these bottoms confidently next to the skin, regardless of whether they were wearing them on their own or at the base of a cold weather kit.
Even though the Aspect High Rise doesn't feature any fancy ventilation panels or lofted open grid technology, the blended fabrics provide a relatively fast drying speed on your body or a clothesline. During our high-output performance tests, sweat would pool on the waistline and the gusseted crotch. This is especially worth noting if you sweat a lot and are considering purchasing a lighter colorway. That said, the bottoms dry rather quickly on the body, successfully preventing clammy discomfort.
We conducted the other portion of our drying test in Bishop, California, on a sunny fall day with temperatures in the 60 °Fs, no wind, and 9% humidity. For this test, we dunked the bottoms in water, wrung them out, and tossed them on a clothesline in direct sun to dry. After only 43 minutes, the Aspect High Rise Bottoms were completely dry – not bad for a 240 GSM Merino wool blend.
The slim fit and flattering waistband of the Aspect High Rise and the smooth Merino blended fabric make these bottoms easy to layer. Even though they are technically considered midweight, they have the feel of a lighter-weight garment.
Rock climbers may especially love this waistband when layering below their harness. The thick waistband protects the skin from any chafing or discomfort, both above and below the waistbelt, which makes these bottoms perfect for those colder days at the crag. Our testing team also moved in ski pants, puffy pants, and rain gear to double-check this smooth interface.
We can't say enough good things about the Aspect High Rise Bottoms. These flattering long underwear bottoms offer great performance from the slopes to the yoga studio. They are warm enough to layer into your cold weather kit and breathe without additional ventilation panels. The sleek fit is easy to layer, and the Merino wool blend is strengthened by Ridge Merino's (m)Force Technology for increased durability. These are high-performance bottoms at an affordable price point and come in a number of fun colorways.
If you love the versatile design of the Aspect High Rise Bottoms but want to compare these to a fully synthetic bottom, the Arc'teryx Rho Bottom also features a thick waistband and can be worn as a stand-alone legging. If you have a strict budget but want a warmer pair of 100% Merino wool bottoms, consider the Minus33 Franconia Midweight Wool. The midweight design offers a ton of additional warmth and the softness of 100% Merino wool. And if you'd like to invest in an even higher performing pair of bottoms, check out the body-mapping technology on the Icebreaker 200 ZoneKnit Merino Leggings. A great option that offers versatility and strategic ventilation is the Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Bottom. This is another Merino wool blend that is perfect for cold-weather performance.
