I might be talking about worn, used undergarments, but first and foremost, I’m a lady. A tough chic, to be more honest, that’s always pushing her boundaries, but still a lady. I don’t do the smell test like so many of my guy friends. I’ll wear it then wash it. I like to be, smell, and feel clean. I like the general word clean a lot. But here’s where things get tricky. I’m also an outdoor travel junkie. And when I have a 10 day itinerary laid out, I don’t get to live the luxurious life of a different outfit everyday and then a Greyhound bus to carry it all. I have to pack light and never see a washer. So how do you manage that and not hate waking up each day and getting dressed? The answer is so much simpler than I thought. The best womens ski base layer I own is classic SmartWool. That’s it, and I didn’t believe it till I tried it.
The Quick ‘n Dirty Verdict
Smartwool’s Classic Thermal base layers are not a one-hit wonder. They kept me a lady for 8 days straight… twice actually. No washing. No airing out or dousing them in Febreze. Just fresh, cozy, stinkless, itch-free glory in the backcountry of Idaho and all across northern Japan. To me, the $115 price tag earned its keep in my duffel. Of course any favorite piece of gear has its minor wish list for perfection, but if you want to rely on a single winter base layer, this Smartwool line will be the one you reach for every time.
The Smartwool Classic Specs
Before my opinion takes over the conversation, here are the official details for the Smartwool Classic Thermal line.
- Material: 100% Merino wool
- Midweight: 250g/m
- Fit: Slim
- Moisture control; Odor Resistance; Body Temp Regulation
- Activity: Start-Stop
- Temperature: Cold
- Price: $115
- Where To Buy: Smartwool | Backcountry | REI | EVO
But What’s the Price?
I really don’t like the saying “You get what you pay for”… and here I am about to say it. Not everything falls in this category, but when it comes to high quality outdoor gear, it’s true more than not. If you only have one base layer to get you through a travel season and full winter lineup, what you choose is important. Really important. In general, I like to overpack. Lots of choices for any condition. But realistically, I’ll end up wearing the same thing everyday till I get home.
Why does this happen? Because when you find what works, that’s all you want to wear. And I have my gear locked down, that I may add or take away layers… but the base always stays the same. If you’re going to make a commitment like that though, you cannot skimp on quality. Your choices must take the daily beating for you and never show weakness back. And for that, you’ll pay a price. As in $100+ a piece unless of course you’re a fantastic bargain sale shopper.
No Itch Please
Long ago I bought an Airblaster Merino wool Ninja suit, and I could never wear it. It made me so itchy I couldn’t stand it. And because of that one piece of gear, I swore all wool was awful and never wanted to wear it again. The part that was the hardest is that everyone I knew loved Merino wool and wore it all the time. But like we just talked about, price is part of the equation when you’re talking Merino wool, and I wasn’t chancing wasting my money again. I decided to stick with my non-wool base layers but had to pack numerous sets as sweat and stink always played their part. And if you have to pack three of everything, I don’t care how cheap they are, the bill adds up fast!
Then last season, Smartwool reached out and asked if we would be interested in reviewing their base layers for the upcoming winter. It couldn’t have been a more perfect opportunity. This was my chance to give Merino wool another try with a popular, trusted company that so many of my friends raved about. It couldn’t be the itchy nightmare I remember from 10 years ago, right?
Keep It to the Classics
If you read Alex’s latest article, he’s been sporting the Smartwool Intraknit base layer lineup. It’s not the classic line. Think innovative fancy-pants technology with performance written all over it. What did he think? Check it out – Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Review: Sweat, Snow & Zero Stink
For me, I went the Classic route. Just give me a base layer, top and bottom, that’s going to earn its price tag and not let me down on Day 8. Yes, I said Day 8! That’s a lot of days sweating, rubbing, stretching, riding, sitting… you name it, I’d be doing it in these layers. Did I have confidence before the full travel test to only bring one womens ski base layer top and bottom? No way. I’m a skeptic and still scarred from the Airblaster incident. So I packed everything as usual, except now I had another outfit to shlep around. So I actually packed more than I normally would. Alex rolled his eyes on this, but lovingly carried my million bags in and out of the 4Runner.
My test was simple to complete. Take one pair of Smartwool Women’s Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Crew and Bottom, and see what happens after Day 8 in the backcountry of Idaho and Japan. That was the mission, and I came up with it myself. Smartwool didn’t ask me to wallow in the same base layer outfit for over a week on the other side of the world and see if I was happy. I figured I’d really put these higher-end outdoor gear pieces to the ultimate test and see if you’ll get your money’s worth in a carry on bag to boot.
The Test Case
January 2025 had a stacked lineup. First there was a 10 day backcountry Idaho trip (seven touring days) locked in, and then 48 hrs after getting home, we were off to Japan to go skiing in Hokkaido (eight ski/ride days)for another two weeks. If there ever was a time to put my Smartwool base layers to the ultimate test, this was it. Since we were driving to Idaho, I could bring backups in case my Smartwool test failed but I’d have to commit for Japan as suitcase space was precious. Neither trip would involve laundry options as we would move between locations too quickly for washing and our accommodations were less mainstream for amenities like that.
The Smartwool Classic Thermal base layers I wore were rated for cold weather. But you need to take that more as a suggestion and know if you are a cold or hot person and if your outerwear is insulated or not. I never wear insulated outerwear. I like my jackets and bibs as shells only. Gore-Tex or waterproofing of high caliber, windproof, breathable and durable in any weather. I prefer to control my heat level by the layers underneath. If you’ve ever traveled through Idaho in the winter, it can get really cold. I always say like Wyoming cold! So besides my Smartwool base layer, I always have additional layers on hand when the temps drop below 20 degrees: vest, puffy, quilted knickers, neck and head gaiters, gloves and liners, and top quality socks.
Results: Did the Stink Take Over?
One Smartwool Classic Thermal base layer is all I had, top and bottom. The only question is do I still feel and smell like a lady eight days later? I’m not kidding… I smelled like Day 1 every single day. I was shocked and still think I need to wash them immediately, but I don’t! Every morning I put the same base layers on for those two trips and every day I took them back off, did the sniff and skeptical stare, and it was as if I didn’t even wear them. I might have been stinky and in need of a good scrub, but my base layers didn’t. And the itch? Nope, not a single scratch. The month of January was the most comfortable, stink free experience of my life. Are expensive base layers worth it? You’re damn right they are… but only if you buy the right pair.
Some days were colder than others on the trips so extra layers were worn over the top. My temperature line for needing more layers is consistent for me. If the temps are in the 30s, I can just wear the single Smartwool layer and then my outer shells. Once the temps drop into the 20s, I will add a puffy on top as a mid layer. And if we drop into the teens and lower, I’ll add quilted knickers on the bottom and then a vest and puffy on the top. When you get into the negative digits, I can keep putting on more layers, but it becomes more of a mental game than physical for me.
I Still Have a Few Wishes
Even the most perfect rated gear has its flaws. I’ll first say that I continue to ONLY wear my Smartwool Classic Thermal base layers all winter long. I have not found another brand that can hold up to its durability, stink-free, itch-free, comfort profile and warmth profile so these base layers are here to stay. But to make them perfect, I have a few wishes even though they are my go-to winter lineup.
Neck
The neck line is too wide. Personally, I like my neck wrapped up like a turtleneck so no cold, chill, snow, wind or anything else can creep down the back of my neck. The Thermal crew neckline leaves a bit too much skin out there for my liking. In the spring, I can appreciate the extra airflow and don’t worry about snow blowing in. But for the winter, I need my neck covered. So I have to either add my vest which has a full neck zip or a long buff that I can confidently tuck into the base layer top.
Arms
A bit more length in the arms would be lovely. I’ve never thought of myself as a gorilla, but the arms feel a bit short for me. I like when there’s no skin gap from my sleeve to my gloves so that takes a little more fabric to pull off. I got a size M which is in line with the normal size I wear, but perhaps the slim fit makes everything a little tighter and shorter. The top gets tucked into the bottoms so nothing moves but I wouldn’t mind a little more length all around. So this could just be a case of a L would have been a better choice.
Rump
My last desire is for more height in the rear. I’d call myself an athletic build so my booty holds a bit more shape then some. With that, I feel the bottoms pull lower on my back than I like. The Classic Thermal is rated as a mid-rise waist and with a curvy figure, many times I don’t have as much height in the back as I get in the front. They don’t offer a high-rise option so mid-rise is what you’ll get. Since I tuck in my top, I don’t feel the shortened back height as much as I would if my shirt was moving. I never feel it’s uncomfortable while riding so while I wish I had more fabric back there, it doesn’t impact my activities.
