Men's Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms

The double-layer construction of the men's Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms combines the moisture wicking of polypropylene with the natural warmth of merino wool, keeping you dry and warm whatever your activity level.

Body measurements (cm)

Men	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Waist	81–87	88–94	95–101	102–110	111–119
Hips	98–104	105–111	112–118	119–127	128–136

How to take your measurements

All you need is a tape measure and two measurements. That way, you'll get your size right first time.

Before you start
For the most accurate result, measure yourself in your underwear. No tape measure? Use a piece of string and a ruler.

B. Waist
Measure your waist at its narrowest point. Don't hold your breath.

C. Hips
Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your hips.

Measuring waist circumference with a tape measure — B. Waist

Measuring hip circumference with a tape measure — C. Hips

Two tips
The most reliable way to find your size is to measure yourself rather than guess from what you've bought before. If you need to, ask someone to help – it makes measuring easier.

Remember that these are body measurements, so ideally measure yourself in your underwear. Use your measurements together with your height and weight to find the size that fits you best.

Dispatched the next working day after you order.

Delivery from €5.90. Free delivery on orders over €120.

100-day satisfaction guarantee.

“On wilderness trips, hunting, fishing and around the campfire, Merino Extreme is my go-to. Merino wool works well in changing conditions, and dirt and smells don’t cling to it easily. Around the campfire I also appreciate that wool stands up to sparks better than many other materials.”

Sakke Raappana, wilderness hiker and expedition leader

Merino Extreme – warmth that lasts all day

The men's Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms solve one of the toughest challenges of dressing for exercise and the outdoors in colder weather: how to stay dry and comfortable when your body keeps warming up and cooling down. Ordinary merino long johns hold warmth even when damp, but feel clammy on your skin once you've been sweating. Polyester long johns dry quickly but don't hold warmth. Merino Extreme combines the best of both.

The secret of Merino Extreme is the two-layer structure of its 200 g/m² knit. The polypropylene on the inside moves moisture away from your skin, while the merino wool on the outside holds warmth and breathes naturally. Your skin stays dry as your heart rate rises, and your body stays warm during breaks too. The fabric feels soft and light on your skin, almost as if you weren't wearing the bottoms at all, yet it still regulates your temperature.

Merino wool is naturally odour-resistant, so when you take the bottoms off in the afternoon, you're not greeted by that familiar stale base layer smell. They feel as fresh as when you put them on. On long trips, airing the bottoms is often enough to freshen them up, which is a big advantage when washing isn't an option.

Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms come with a 100-day satisfaction guarantee. We want to give you time to try them properly: wear them as you normally would for 100 days. If you're not happy with them for any reason, you'll get your money back.

Pro-tested Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms for any situation

These close-fitting but stretchy men's base layer bottoms move with you without feeling tight. Squat, lift your leg or take a long stride, and the bottoms follow your movements instead of stretching or holding you back. The anatomically shaped front panel adds comfort and freedom of movement, so the bottoms feel natural whether you're moving or standing still. All seams are soft flatlock seams that lie flat and won't rub your skin, even with repeated wear.

The full-length legs protect your whole lower body from the cold, from waist to ankle. This is especially important on long trips, when your lower body has time to get as cold as your upper body. Merino Extreme keeps your legs warm even when you're not moving, whether you're sitting at a rest stop or waiting in one place.

The soft but firm elastic waistband with the Svala logo keeps the bottoms securely in place, so you don't have to keep pulling them back up as you move or reach under your layers to adjust them. The elastic won't leave a red mark on your waist, even if you wear the bottoms all day under thicker workwear or outer trousers.

You can wear the Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms as a second layer over Airbase mesh bottoms, or as your first layer in severe cold. In the Svala AIR System™, these bottoms are the Base Layer: the warming layer you wear over Airbase, the moisture-wicking Zero Layer. Pair them with the Merino Extreme 200 top of your choice to keep your whole body warm and dry.

Thoughts from the designer

“The layer under your trousers is often the one that gets forgotten – we think about the jacket and the top, but overlook the legs. Yet when you're standing still, your legs get cold just as quickly as your upper body. I wanted to design men's base layer bottoms where two materials work together: polypropylene carries moisture away, and merino wool holds warmth even when the bottoms are damp.”

Ninni Pohto, designer at Svala

Merino wool and polypropylene: a fabric refined over decades

The two-layer structure of the Merino Extreme knit is the result of years of development at Svala. The inner layer is polypropylene, which moves moisture efficiently from your skin to the outer layer. The outer layer is SuperWash-treated merino wool blended with a small amount of polyamide to make it more hard-wearing. In practice, this means your skin stays dry and the bottoms keep you warm even when they're damp.

Merino wool is naturally excellent at holding warmth and moving moisture. Its natural odour resistance helps prevent unpleasant smells, and you can often freshen the bottoms by airing them instead of washing them. That means you can pack one pair for a trip instead of five. Long-fibre merino wool doesn't itch like ordinary wool, so the bottoms feel soft and comfortable on your skin, even when you wear them for long periods.

Merino Extreme works very well as a first layer in severe cold or as a second layer over Svala Airbase mesh bottoms. In temperatures from −30 °C to +15 °C, the bottoms keep you warm even when you alternate between activity and rest.

The men's Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms are made from 75% mulesing-free merino wool, 22% polypropylene and 3% polyamide. The materials are OEKO-TEX 100 certified, which guarantees the product is safe against your skin. The bottoms are designed and made at the Svala factory in Kärsämäki, Finland, with skills honed over decades.

Developed in Finland for Finnish weather

Packing your rucksack for a week in the wilderness, where temperatures change from morning to evening? Mountain biking and enjoying the climbs and descents? Working a long day in the cold, with the temperature never rising above freezing? Merino Extreme is made for moments like these.

Merino Extreme products suit almost any hobby on land, on water and in the air, as well as leisure time outside. Your gear no longer decides how much you enjoy being outdoors.

Merino Extreme 200 base layer bottoms are at their best:

At work
Hiking and trekking
Running
Cycling
Cross-country skiing
Snowmobiling
Canoeing or boating
Fishing and ice fishing
Hunting
Everyday wear
Clearing snow

Svala's Merino Extreme was developed in Finland and has been tested in professional use for decades. In other words, it has proven itself on people who show their clothes no mercy: on long shifts, on week-long wilderness trips, and in wet, cold conditions where your gear decides how comfortable your day is. If the bottoms have stood up to them, they'll stand up to you too.

Clothing layer	1 Base Layer
Temperature-range	−30 °C to +15 °C, as part of a layering system or on its own
Season	winter, spring, and autumn
Colour options	Black, Curry, and Olive green
Material	75% mulesing-free merino wool, 22% polypropylene, 3% polyamide
Fabric weight per square metre	200 g/m²
Yarn origin	Germany (OEKO-TEX 100)
Manufacturing	Svala, Finland
Origin of the knitted fabric	Finland
Material origin	Finland / Germany
Labels & certifications	Key Flag Symbol and OEKO-TEX 100 certified yarn
Care instructions	Read the merino wool care instructions here.

100-day satisfaction guarantee

Our products have been developed over many years by leading professionals in collaboration with experts in various activities. We are so confident in the quality and comfort of our products that we can offer a 100-day satisfaction guarantee on all our products.

Use the product as normal for 100 days. If you are dissatisfied with the product for any reason, you will receive a refund.

Frequently asked questions about the product

How do Merino Extreme base layer bottoms differ from Airbase mesh bottoms?

Merino Extreme base layer bottoms and Airbase mesh bottoms belong to two different product families designed for different purposes.

Airbase mesh bottoms are single-layer polypropylene bottoms that work especially well for active use and as the foundation of your layering. They are extremely light and breathable and suit year-round use.

Merino Extreme base layer bottoms have a double-layer construction, with polypropylene on the inside and merino wool on the outside. They are warmer than Airbase bottoms and particularly suited to cold conditions when you alternate between activity and standing still.

In hard frost, the ideal combination is Airbase mesh bottoms next to your skin and Merino Extreme base layer bottoms as a second layer. This gives you the best of both: Airbase efficiently wicks moisture away from your skin, and Merino Extreme holds warmth even when the layer underneath is damp.

Do base layer bottoms need to fit close to the skin to work?

Yes. The double-layer construction works best when the bottoms are against your skin, because then the polypropylene on the inside can move moisture from your skin to the outer merino wool layer. If the bottoms are too loose, moisture stays between your skin and the fabric, and temperature regulation doesn't work as effectively.

We recommend choosing a size that fits close to your body without feeling tight. You should feel the bottoms against your skin, but they shouldn't press or squeeze anywhere. Thanks to the anatomically shaped front panel, the bottoms fit naturally and don't feel tight even when you squat.

We recommend checking our size chart when choosing your size. If you're between two sizes, choose the smaller one, because the merino knit stretches well and is comfortable when it fits snugly.

What does it mean that Merino Extreme has been developed with professionals?

Merino Extreme wasn't developed in an office. Its material and designs have been tested over decades together with professionals for whom kit that works is not a matter of comfort but of safety. Professionals have been wearing Svala for years.

One of our most demanding user groups is people who work in the cold, for example in the food industry. They work entire shifts in freezer warehouses and production facilities where the temperature stays below zero hour after hour. For them, the base layer has to perform consistently throughout the shift, and there is no room for error.

Is the Merino Extreme you sell the same product that professionals use?

Yes. We don't make a separate “professional version” and a lighter consumer version. The same material, the same double-layer construction and the same designs that have been put to the test by the army, water rescue teams and people working in the cold are available to you too.

Professional use is part of our product development, not a separate product line. Decades of their feedback have shaped the very bottoms you buy. When you buy Merino Extreme, you get the same kit that people rely on in conditions where there is no room for error.