Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe Top

100% merino base layers for men and women

Finely knit, ethically sourced, and constructed from 100% merino wool, Icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and 200 Oasis LS Crewe offer close-fitting, breathable, fast-drying base layers adeptly designed to regulate body temperature while wicking moisture away from the skin.

Merino wool is naturally kind of high tech. It has a resilient internal coil structure that helps fibers maintain their shape and regulate temperature. Wool is also odor resistant. Icebreaker’s Men’s 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe were both soft against my skin, a far cry from itchy wool tops in my past.

I’ve worn the Men’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe on their own in moderate temperatures and under insulating mid-layers, and I have been happy with how well they performed. I should no longer be amazed by merino wool’s uncanny ability to wick moisture and help me stay comfortable in temperatures ranging from 20 F to well above freezing in intense altitude sun, but it still feels quite special to be able to enjoy skiing and winter hiking with apparel that helps me stay warm and thermoregulated. Icebreaker’s 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe are especially helpful in activities where I am stopping and starting. Even before the fibers can dry, they keep me warm when the activity pauses. 

I first tested both items in a series of storms, hiking what will soon become backcountry ski runs once winter settles into the Sierra mountains. I tend to get wickedly hot while climbing uphill. If it’s cold enough and windy enough, I have an easier time staying comfortable. I generate lots of heat, and the wind and cold temps help the heat and moisture evaporate. The real challenge for me is when the sun comes out and I’m still not done gaining elevation. I can wind up soaking wet if I can’t shuck extra layers quickly enough. But then the high elevation, combined with wind and snow, presents a new scenario, sending me scrunching through my pack for dry layers. Wearing Icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe is ideal for these scenarios because they wick, breath, and provide thermoregulation. I can stay on task and not have to worry about changing gear en route. 

I also tested Icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe for a couple of 10-hour days, coaching skiing. Both items worked hard at wicking moisture, and I felt that they dried fairly quickly, too. It’s important that the layers work even after skiing some fast laps in the morning sun because sometimes I end up sitting on a chairlift getting blasted with snow when the snow guns suddenly start working when I’m riding up the mountain.

I found Icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe to be easier on my skin than some technical synthetic base layers I’ve worn. The Icebreaker layers were warmer, more insulating, and less funky after a long day of skiing than polyester/nylon/polypropylene layers I’ve worn. I was surprised to find that Icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis Leggings and LS Crewe top dried almost as quickly as thinner, lighter synthetic base layers I have. The Icebreaker layers also showed zero evidence of wear after several washings, making them perfect for early ski season coaching sessions which, sadly, focus more on the sweaty technical side of skiing (practicing balance and timing fundamentals) and working in the hot sun on hard man-made snow rather than on floating downhill through bottomless powder.

Icebreaker’s 200 Oasis LS Crew and Legging feature tightly woven flat seams and gussets that prevent chafing. Care is simple: machine wash on cold/gentle. Do not use softeners or bleach. No not tumble dry. I hang mine in a shady place, forget about them, then grab them (sometimes the same day) for another activity. 

The 200 Oasis series remain Icebreaker’s most popular garments because they are light enough to wear alone during moderate temps but also ideal as wicking base layers under a mid-layer fleece. Icebreaker’s merino wool layer’s provide a ton of comfort and versatile performance for all my outdoor activities. They keep me warm and I don’t feel soaked if the activity or heat goes to 11 on the Spinal Tap scale. They are my first pick for winter skiing and hiking or for a quick trip up to the mountains around Lake Tahoe in late fall or early spring.

The Thermal Leggings are available in men’s sizes S-XXL (three colors) and women’s sizes XS-XXL (four colors). Men’s leggings have a fly. $105 at Amazon.

$105, Shop Men’s. Shop Women’s.

The LS Crewe sizes and colors: men’s sizes XS-XXXL in ten colors, including undyed, black, several blues, a striped blue, green, and more. The women’s LS Crewe is available in sizes XS-XXXL in eight colors, including black, undyed, and a red striped pattern. $105 at Amazon.

$105, Shop Men’s. Shop Women’s.

Images from Icebreaker’s website.