Patagonia Merino 3 Pant : If You Can Only Pack One

I'm a natural fibers fan, so I'm loving that merino wool is becoming more popular. I love a nice cotton exercise pant, but truth is that cotton holds on to sweat so it's not ideal for intense workouts or endurance events. But merino wool is!

Before you can start whining that "wool is itchy," "I'm allergic to wool," "isn't wool too hot," just stop it for a minute and open your mind to the many possibilities of nature's original technical fabric. It's naturally odor-resistant, it breathes well (which helps with temperature regulation throughout a workout or hike), it wicks well, and it dries quickly. Those are hard-core benefits.

Merino wool is not the thick scratchy wool of your childhood. It's not even the less scratchy wool of your faire isle sweaters from the 80s. It's thin, soft, finely woven, and lightweight. When properly constructed, it drapes like nobody's business and has enough natural give to hug certain body parts without squeezing them. So, you can't beat it for performance or appearance. (Patagonia uses their Merino 3 fabric, which is 100% merino wool, in both men's and women's pants and tops.)

I love my Patagonia Merino 3 pants. They sit perfectly at my hips, with a low-rise front and a slightly higher rise in back--which means I get the comfort and active fit I want and full bum coverage. The fabric waistband is two or three inches thick on the sides, then tapers into an inch-high notch at the front of the pant. There's a thin piece of elastic running inside the to of the waistband. I like the loose, low-slung fit (although I have to admit that when I wear the pants all day, I have to pull them up quite often.)

As with all of Patagonia's wool garments, the pants have flat-seam construction so there's no chafing or hot spots. The pants have a straight leg cut, so they're suitable for hiking or yoga. Short women may want to hem them because the inseam is 32", although at almost 6' tall, I'd love it if they came in 34" length.

Patagonia did an excellent job on the colors: black or a brownish aubergine. Both go well with a variety of tops and jackets in my casual/exercise wear drawer. What I like most about these pants is their versatility. I wear them for yoga and power walks, and recently took them on vacation with me, where I wore them around the house, for my hikes and walks, and for an afternoon at the beach. I've worn these pants in 60 degree weather and 40 degree weather. They do a great job of regulating my temperature no matter what I'm doing or what the weather's doing.

Finally, it's not lost on me that they hang really well and make my butt look cute! At my age, that's a real achievement.

Available in sizes XS-XL. Patagonia also makes Merino 3 Bottoms (which are more like a baselayer) for men and women. Same soft, lightweight material.

Bottom LIne: Wanna know a secret? I've only washed these pants once since I received them a few weeks ago. I've been wearing them for exercise and outdoor activities, but they just don't smell yet. That means I save time and water and my pants will last longer, too.--E.D. (Nov 09)

BUY ONLINE : $100, click to shop at amazon.com, click for men's and women's merino 3 bottoms ($90), shop at patagonia.com , free shipping at moosejaw.com

Manufacturer's Site: www.patagonia.com, click here to learn more about Patagonia's Common Threads garment recycling program.

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