Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms Review

The Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms are high quality, warm Merino bottoms perfect for cold weather duties. In fact, we saw few other options equal to their quality in our entire lineup! They also breathe well for such a thick wool layer, and we wouldn't shy away from some impromptu dawn patrol fast-uphill laps with friends. Being so thick, they could just be too much bottom for when the weather turns warmer. Constructed out of gorgeous, stretch knit, 100% Merino wool fabric sewn throughout with low profile flatlock seams, we found them extremely comfy while on the move in the backcountry or when sleeping in underneath our down comforters back home. The semi-loose fit is perfect for lanky marathoners and CrossFit junkies alike. They may take a bit longer to dry than a lighter-weight layer, and Merino can be more delicate than synthetic. Still, these bottoms will shine behind the scenes, particularly when protected underneath your favorite tough snow pants.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

Warmth and coziness are by far the strongest traits of the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms. “If you are looking for a pair of long underwear to help keep you warm in wintry conditions above all else, these are a pair you want to consider seriously,” suggests Justin Simoni, our lead reviewer. After testing them and comparing them with others, we rated them among the warmest pairs in our test lineup due to the 235 g/sm, 100% Merino wool knitted fabric used throughout their construction.

The waistband of the Kancamagus sits a bit higher than usual to help with overlapping your upper and lower layers ever so slightly — and even its stretchy elastane is covered in wool fabric. The ankle cuffs are also generously tall to help prevent these bottoms from riding up while you're skinning up the slope, preventing you from dumping all that hard-earned warmth. “High cuffs can also help keep the Kancamagus from interfering with a thick high sock,” adds Simoni.

We used an indoor bike trainer in controlled conditions to test how much warmth was produced during a high-intensity workout. The Minus33's kept us warmer than the vast majority of bottoms we've tested.

Out of doors, we took the Kancamagus on a very early Spring trip on the Continental Divide Trail's “Argentine Spine” segment, which covers some of the highest and coldest parts you'll find in Colorado. “I'll admit to being a bit too comfy wearing them at night — so much that I slept late, neglecting my early morning water-making duties!” admits Simoni.

Breathability

Bottoms using such thick wool fabric won't land at the very top of the list when it comes to breathability in the lineup. Still, the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms performed admirably well, especially given their 235 g/sm weight. “You'll want to use the Kancamagus Midweights primarily for cold-weather excursions rather than moving through more temperate climes or when trying to race your buddies back to the lodge,” says Simoni.

The wool knit is just loose enough to add a fair amount of loft, allowing both warm air to be trapped and water vapor to wick away and evaporate into the next layer or the air if no additional layer is present. We barely remember feeling any moisture against our skin after a full day of difficult backpacking or waking up from a toasty bivy. “Wool is known to pull moisture away from the skin, which helps you feel dryer,” adds our reviewer.

Comfort and Fit

The Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms are champions of comfort, given how soft the 100% Merino wool fabric really is. “At home, I'll unabashedly wear these around the house on lazy mornings and on the trail, I'll wear them until it's just too hot to do so otherwise,” says our reviewer. We also find they help keep warm on those extra-early alpine starts. Velvety wool even covers the top waistband, hugging our hips with floccus goodness. Fit is a little looser than an athletic fit.

Knitted wool, like found on the Kancamagus, is also seriously stretchy, allowing these Minus33 bottoms to move with us rather than fight against us dynamically. We also loved the tall ankle cuffs that kept these bottoms from getting lost halfway up our ankles when we put on a top layer. Low-profile, flatlock seams are found throughout the construction of these bottoms. “I'm not normally very sensitive to wool, but itchiness was not even a passing concern for me, given the quality of the wool utilized,” says our lead reviewer. The only design detail we missed was a gusseted crotch pattern, which is clutch on any sport you're saddling up: cycling or riding a snow machine, horse, etc. Simoni also pointed out the diversity in sizing available, “I am stoked to see the Kancamagus available in a very wide variety of sizes, from XS to 6X, and with many tall sizes available throughout.”

Durability

100% Merino wool fabric used in pieces like the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms won't ever win the prize for the most durable bottom. But the thickness of these bottoms helps them endure a bit more abuse than most other purely wool options. Still, we'd keep these as a layer underneath other more durable outerwear — like ski pants or running tights — when you're outside.

Our outdoor adventuring did produce some noticeable wear and tear, including a small hole near the butt, probably from sitting on a rough granite rock while changing. We also noticed a few of those flatlock seams beginning to fuzz, which we postulate is from simply washing them in a machine. We don't suspect this fuzzing impacts the structural integrity or strength of the seams themselves.

Drying Speed

The Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms weren't speed demons when drying on the line. The 235 g/sm can simply hold onto a lot more moisture even when spun dry in a washing machine compared to other long bottoms made of much thinner materials. “With any wool, consider washing them sparingly. They won't hold onto odor like other materials and can be worn many times before honestly needing a wash,” suggests Simoni.

The 100% Merino wool should keep moisture from your skin, making you feel more comfortable even when not dry. Wool also should retain more warmth when wet than synthetic, so you shouldn't get overly chilled even if you're wet from exertion or climate activities. One detail that surprised us is that Minus33 OK's these bottoms to be dried in a dryer on low, rather than only au naturel.

Layering Ability

Thick woolies like the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms live their best lives underneath a more durable and water-resistant layer, being too delicate to be useful as a layer all alone outside of a snowed-in cabin or nestled deep in your favorite sleeping bag. Thankfully, these bottoms worked well with everything we threw over them. The uber-soft Merino wool feels absolutely fantastic next to the skin, and the outside shouldn't catch on anything but the roughest outer layer you own.

The stretchy knit fabric does a great job moving with you, and the high waistband and tall ankle cuffs keep these bottoms from creeping into places that are hard to fix mid-ski run.

Should You Buy the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms?

Holistically, the Minus33 Kancamagus Midweight Merino Wool Bottoms score near the very top compared to nearly every pair in our lineup while also being competitively priced. “If you're looking for a pair of long bottoms that keep you extra toasty in wintry conditions, how could you not but suggest the Kancamagus?” Simoni proclaims.

What Other Long Underwear Should You Consider?