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Merino Sport Lined Skirt by Smartwool
Materials: Body—86% Polyester, 14% Elastane; Trim—82% Nylon, 18% Elastane; Lining—54% Merino Wool, 46% Polyester
Weight: 4.5 ounces
Price: $70
Best Features: Good fit, light feel, merino lining resists odor and dries quickly.
Room for Improvement: Waistband might be slightly tight.
As someone who doesn’t always love running skirts, I’ve been running in the Merino Sport Lined Skirt a lot lately. Other skirts can feel restrictive or too long—the fabric rubbing on the tops of my thighs—so I’ll usually opt for a light short. The lined skirt lands at a great height on the thighs, so when you run, it moves easily and doesn’t make itself known. I forget I’m wearing the skirt most of the time.
The merino-short lining is a great feature. It fits well, doesn’t rub, and dries quickly. There are two drop-in pockets in either side. They’re not secure enough for a phone, but my trail bar fit and didn’t bounce or fall out on a particularly jumpy downhill.
There is a drawstring in the waistband, yet I didn’t use mine. The top seam of the band is somewhat less elastic than the rest of the fabric—a feature I like because it keeps the skirt in place—if you’re borderline with sizes, you may go a size up.
Rocking subtle style with an overlap-pattern in front (don’t worry, it’s attached and doesn’t flop), this is an item you can truly keep on post run for brunch or happy hour.
—Megan Janssen is the Associate Editor at Trail Runner magazine.