The Lowdown
If you are looking for a light, comfortable pair of lounging shorts and want something that regulates temperature well and helps keep odors at bay, the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are for you.
Overall
Pros
- Thin and light but still durable
- Comfortable merino wool with just enough stretch
- Wide waistband holds shorts up without pinching
- Pockets make them great as loungewear
- They are so comfortable you will want to wear them all day
Cons
I’m still slightly surprised that more people don’t understand and appreciate that merino wool clothing isn’t just for winter. Merino t-shirts are great all year long, merino boxers provide four seasons of comfort, and the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are great for summer lounging and sleep. They’re pricy but oh so comfy.
Isobaa is a British company that produces quality merino wool clothing. As we will see, their craftsmanship is excellent, and their offerings are rather extensive. The premium prices of Isobaa’s products might give some people sticker shock, but it’s in line with what other companies charge for their merino offerings.
The company sent me two items for review. The Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are one of those items.
Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are made from a superfine 200gm Merino blend. In this case, the word “blend” refers to the fact that the fabric used to create the shorts is a “nylon core spin superfine merino.”
When I was first getting into merino wool clothing, I shunned items that weren’t 100% merino wool. I’ve since come to appreciate that adding nylon or some other synthetic material into the mix yields a more durable fabric than 100% merino clothes but retains the same benefits that make merino wool great.
The shorts look and feel like 100% merino wool but have a bit more stretch than would otherwise be possible. Yet, despite the use of some nylon in their fabrication, the shorts still keep you warm when it’s cold and breathe when it’s hot. And, of course, they will offer merino wool’s quick-drying and natural odor resistance.
The shorts are shipped in packaging made from recycled materials that can, in turn, be recycled once again. I really appreciate companies that make an effort to be as sustainable as possible.
As you can see, the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are slightly wrinkled when they first come out of the packaging. Wearing them for a day or two, or immediately washing them, will eliminate the wrinkles without needing to iron them. — that’s also one of the benefits of clothing made from merino wool.
In keeping with that mindset, it is worth noting that Isobaa only used non-mulesed Merino merino wool in their products.
Mulesing is “a painful procedure that involves cutting crescent-shaped flaps of skin from around a lamb’s breach and tail using sharp shears designed specifically for this purpose. The resulting wound, when healed, creates an area of bare, stretched scar tissue. Because the scarred skin has no folds or wrinkles to hold moisture and feces, it is less likely to attract blowflies. This makes mulesed sheep less susceptible to flystrike in the breech area.” (Source)
In other words, while there is no direct benefit to the consumer, I’m happy knowing that the wool used in their products comes from non-mulesed sheep who were not subjected to this painful practice.
When I pulled out the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts, I was initially surprised by how thin the material was. It didn’t take long to realize that “thin” didn’t mean “delicate.” That’s thanks to the mix of 82% merino wool, 14% polyamide for strength, and 4% Elastine for stretch.
A closer look at the shorts reveals the amount of thought that went into designing them.
The Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts have flatlock stitching that helps reduce chaffing as you move about. All the seams are straight, and there wasn’t a single loose thread that I could find. In other words, the quality of the manufacturing is excellent!
A soft, elastic waistband holds the shorts up without being too tight.
And the side pockets are good for carrying items such as a phone or tv remote as you walk about the house.
The Isobaa logo is printed on the right side, close to the pocket.
Another logo can be found in the form of a folded label on the hem of one leg. I’m not a fan of overt logos on clothing, but the Isobaa logo is discreet and understated enough that I really don’t mind.
As is the case with most clothing made from merino wool, the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts can be machine washed cold using a detergent such as Woolite; then, they should be laid on a rack to dry to avoid shrinkage.
Isobaa suggests that “these shorts are ideal for lounging around the house or keeping you comfortable whilst you sleep.” I’ve used the shorts both ways since they arrived, and while they are quite comfortable when worn as pajama bottoms, I find they excel as ‘lounging shorts.” They are light, comfortable, and breathable; thanks to the two side pockets, they strike me as more befitting for this use.
I’ve washed the shorts twice according to the company’s directions, and they still look brand new.
And while Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts definitely don’t look like the type of shorts you would wear to lunch, I don’t think you’d be embarrassed if you wore them to run an errand or two.
Features:
- 200gm Nylon Core Spun Superfine Merino wool blend for added stretch & comfort
- Flatlock stitching helps to reduce chafing.
- Naturally soft, moisture-wicking, odor resistant, and breathable
- Welt side pockets for a smooth silhouette
- Soft elastic waistband
- Printed ISOBAA sheep logo
- ISOBAA folded hem label
- Easy care & quick drying
- Non-mulesed Merino
- Recycled & recyclable packaging
- 82% Merino, 14% Nylon, 4% Elastane
Raina and I are headed to Sonoma for a week of vacation, and I expect I’ll be wearing these around the bed and breakfast most mornings. If I’m feeling super lazy at the end of the day, I can always climb into bed and sleep in them.
If you are looking for a light, comfortable pair of lounging shorts and want something that regulates temperature well and helps keep odors at bay, the Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts are for you.
The Isobaa Merino Blend 200 PJ Shorts sell for $66; they are available in Cloud Melange (light gray), Smoke Melange (dark gray), and Petrol (blue) directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Thin and light but still durable; Comfortable merino wool with just enough stretch; Wide waistband holds shorts up without pinching; Pockets make them great as loungewear; They are so comfortable you will want to wear them all day
What Needs Improvement: They are so comfortable you might forget and wear them to the store … looking like you are still in your pajamas!