Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Crew vs Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Crew
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Merino Wool Base Layers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Smartwool Classic All-Season 150 is the most versatile pick: light enough to move in, warm enough to layer, and its core-spun yarn solves merino's biggest weakness, durability. The Ridge Aspect Midweight is the value runner-up and the smarter buy if you mostly need cold-weather warmth.
Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Crew
Buy itA light ~150 gsm top with a nylon-core-spun yarn that keeps merino's odor resistance while surviving real-world abuse.
- Lightweight ~150 gsm knit is the most versatile weight: cool enough to move in, thin enough to layer under anything
- Core-spun construction wraps merino around a recycled-nylon core (88% merino / 12% nylon), so it is built to resist pilling and holes better than pure merino
- Flatlock seams and offset shoulder seams sit smoothly under pack straps with no chafe
- At ~150 gsm it is not warm enough on its own for cold, static days
- Premium price for a lightweight top
Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Crew
Buy itA midweight 180 gsm merino-nylon blend that trades a little odor resistance for durability and undercuts the big names on price.
- Midweight 180 gsm hits the sweet spot for cool-to-cold hiking, skiing and everyday winter wear
- 84% merino / 16% nylon blend is noticeably tougher than pure merino while keeping much of the odor resistance
- Priced below the flagship brands, so the value-per-wear is excellent
- Cut close to the body; size up if you want a relaxed fit or plan to layer over it
- A smaller brand, so in-store availability is limited compared to the majors
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Crew Our pick | Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Crew | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Hikers, runners and travelers who want one do-everything base layer for active use and layering. | Value-minded buyers who want a durable cold-weather base layer and don't need a big-box brand name. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Fabric weight | Lightweight (~150 gsm) | Midweight (180 gsm) |
| Blend (% merino) | 88% merino / 12% nylon (core-spun) | 84% merino / 16% nylon |
| Best use | Active + mild, all-round layering | Cool-to-cold hiking, skiing, daily |
| Odor resistance | Excellent | Very good |
| Durability (pilling / abrasion) | High (nylon core) | High (nylon blend) |
| Fit | Regular, layer-friendly | Close to the body |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Crew if
hikers, runners and travelers who want one do-everything base layer for active use and layering.
Know before buying: at ~150 gsm it is not warm enough on its own for cold, static days.
Pick the Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Crew if
value-minded buyers who want a durable cold-weather base layer and don't need a big-box brand name.
Know before buying: cut close to the body; size up if you want a relaxed fit or plan to layer over it.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Crew - A light ~150 gsm top with a nylon-core-spun yarn that keeps merino's odor resistance while surviving real-world abuse. Choose the Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Crew instead if value-minded buyers who want a durable cold-weather base layer and don't need a big-box brand name.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Merino Wool Base Layers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).