Smartwool 3D Knit Baselayer Review: Testing Ski Layers in VT's Backcountry

How Intraknit Baselayers Feel Uphilling in the Backcountry

Pulling into the local ski area parking lot, temperatures were near zero, meaning a good day out was going to have a lot to do with good socks and long johns. Fueled by grocery store breakfast sandwiches and canned coffee (any ski day's ideal first "layer" in terms of calorie consumption), fellow Field Mag contributor and photographer Chase Pellerin and I booted up at the car, slapped climbing skins on our skis, and slid our way into the woods. Now, successful layering requires self-awareness, and over the years I've learned that even on frigid days I tend to run hot. I shed my wind shell 10 minutes in, bringing me down to the Intraknit top and Smartwool's Second Cut Fleece Jacket ($175) for the duration of our hour-long ascent.

The Second Cut is a classic fleece jacket; 50/50 polyester and wool with a full-length zipper and shell chest pocket. It's trim enough to wear as a midlayer and extremely soft, and was plenty warm for a cold and mostly protected climb—though moments of direct wind that seemed to cut straight to the bone were sharp reminders of the limits of fleece in true alpine conditions. All this might belie the fact that the jacket is made with recycled materials and scrap wool from the manufacturing of other Smartwool base layers—more proof, though we shouldn't need it at this point, that more responsible production practices can create great gear.

After reaching the top of our run—an inconspicuous high point where the trees give no hint of opening up into a path clear enough to ski—we transitioned to head down. If we'd only planned to ski this one line and then head home, I would've been tempted to overdress for the chilly climb, sweat be damned, knowing my car's heater was a nearby salvation. But we planned this day to go till sundown, so I was happy to find myself dry at the summit.

The Intraknit top appeared to have fulfilled its promise. The 3D knit design adds extra ventilation on the shoulders, upper chest, down through the back, and in the armpits where we dump excess heat (these zones are gender-specific, so they'll differ between men's and women's versions). The bottoms have breathable zones on the thigh and the knees are reinforced for articulation and durability. It’s worth noting Intraknit baselayers are not 100% Merino wool, though for good reason.

With Merino percentage cresting 50%, the wearer benefits from natural warmth, breathability and moisture wicking. The remaining percentage is polyester with 2% each elastane and polyamide resulting in a more durable, stretchier fabric. The blend may make them slightly more prone to odor, though not even close to fully synthetic baselayers I've worn that get smelly after one use.

Intraknit baselayers are also form-fitting, and I didn't notice any bunching behind the knee or near my boot cuff, small things that can become big, annoying things during full days with thousands of feet of vert to climb. Another small, consequential detail: the tags rip clean off so you don't have to have them rubbing against your skin. If you ask me, any baselayer that harbors a non-removable tag is failing at its job.

Shells on, walk mode disengaged, and bindings set to "ski," we weaved through the line of trees to find the clear, steep hallway I'd known from many days exploring this zone was waiting for us. Our run was untracked, and there was enough fresh snow on top of a lurking ice layer to make for a fun and all-too-short ride down, the kind that makes you agree it was worth all that upward effort.

Insulation for Chairlifts and Barstools Alike

Pro snowboarder Ben Poechman has a similar assessment of the baselayers. "Intraknit is my secret weapon on cold long days in the mountains," he says. "The breathability is unmatched when I'm slogging through the treeline or pushing for a summit. The unique fabric knit manages moisture to keep me cozy waiting for clouds to clear or just stopping for a lunch break. You can't beat the versatility of Intraknit to keep you warm and dry in every situation the mountain has to throw at you."

Baselayer versatility should extend to the resort, too. Buoyed after a solid morning in the backcountry, we ditched our skins and packs at the car, topped off our energy supply with Japanese rice balls and a couple of Hi-Chews, and headed to the nearby chairlifts. Without uphill exertion to warm us, I added a down jacket to the layering system for extra warmth as we stacked run on run until the light turned gold and the lodge's pizzeria flipped its sign to "open."

Booting down, I realized I hadn't paid much attention to the Intraknit socks all day, a good sign. You don't want to notice your socks when you're hiking and skiing. That doesn't mean this pair isn't noteworthy, though—they're thin, the way ski socks should be, but with extra cushion in the shin and a breathable panel behind the calf and over top of the foot. There's no weird little bump near the sixth toe like some socks have, and a nice tight knit at the top kept them from sliding down my leg. It's no surprise Smartwool can make a great wool ski sock, though; they've been doing it since the get-go in 1994.

Posted up at a stool in the classic old ski lodge, I thought about how the Intraknit baselayers seemed appropriate for the setting. The varying panels of the 3D knit create a clear visual sweater-like look. With the last segment of the sun diminishing through the frosty windows, we enjoyed the final layers of a good ski day: a slice of pizza and a beer at the bar, and then a chair pulled up close to the woodstove back at home.

The Verdict on Smartwool 3D Knit Baselayers

It's continued to be cold and wintery in Vermont, and I've continued to ski in the Smartwool Intraknit baselayers—and to Nordic ski in them, and ice skate in them on the pond up the road. You can bet I'll keep wearing at it as long as the winter does, too. They're comfy and warm across activities, and I like the sweater-like look. I can't speak to the fabric's long-term durability just yet, but those old Merino Smartwool baselayers I bought after high school? I still have them. So I’m optimistic.

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