Ridge Merino Women's Tencel + Merino Wool Pullover Hoodie Review: A Soft, Odor-Resistant Sweatshirt

Deputy Executive Editor Sarah Schlichter's idea of a perfect trip includes spotting exotic animals, hiking through pristine landscapes, exploring new neighborhoods on foot, and soaking up as much art as she can. She often attempts to recreate recipes from her international travels after she gets home (which has twice resulted in accidental kitchen fires—no humans or animals were harmed).

Sarah joined the SmarterTravel team in 2017 after more than a decade at the helm of IndependentTraveler.com. Sarah's practical travel advice has been featured in dozens of news outlets including the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Budget Travel, and Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio. Follow her on Twitter @TravelEditor.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A journal. Even years later, reading my notes from a trip can bring back incredibly vivid memories."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Road tripping and hiking through the rugged mountains of Patagonia."

Travel Motto: "'To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.'—Freya Stark"

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle. I get restless on long flights and like to be able to move around without disturbing anyone else."

Email Sarah at sschlichter@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Sarah Schlichter

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I can never resist a good hoodie. I usually pack at least one for any cool-weather trips; they’re perfect for cuddling up in on the plane or keeping me warm while hiking or sightseeing. However, hoodies can also be heavy and bulky, which is why I was interested to try the Ridge Merino Women’s Tencel + Merino Wool Pullover Hoodie.

This lightweight sweatshirt is made of a blend of merino wool and Tencel, a sustainable fabric made of renewable wood pulp. Both materials are naturally odor-resistant, and the sweatshirt is designed to help regulate temperature and wick away moisture. You might assume a garment made of wool would be a little itchy, but I was pleasantly surprised by how soft this hoodie is.

ridge merino tencel wool pullover hoodie — Ridge Merino

Ridge Merino Women’s Tencel + Merino Wool Pullover Hoodie Review:

Price and Where to Buy: $79.95 on the Ridge Merino website or on Amazon.

How the Ridge Merino Women’s Tencel + Merino Wool Pullover Hoodie Rates:

Usefulness: 9/10. A lightweight sweatshirt is always a handy item on your travels, whether you’re trying to stay warm and comfortable on a plane or you need an extra layer in an air-conditioned museum. And it’s particularly useful to have a garment that’s resistant to odors; instead of packing multiple sweatshirts or wasting time doing laundry during your vacation, you can wear this hoodie over and over again. To test this hoodie I wore it to bed every night for more than a week, and I found it to be much less prone to odors than a typical cotton sweatshirt. I did notice a very faint wet-sheep smell when I pulled it out of the washer for the first time, but it was gone by the time the garment dried.
Value: 8/10. $80 is a lot for a sweatshirt, but for many travelers it’s worth investing in a garment that’s comfortable, odor-resistant, and made of sustainable fabric.
Durability: 7/10. The pullover is machine washable, but to extend the life of the garment, the care instructions say not to tumble-dry it, dry clean it, or add fabric softener when washing.
Portability: 8/10. This lightweight sweatshirt isn’t bulky, so it’s reasonably easy to pack.
Cool Factor: 9/10. The sweatshirt is attractive and comes in two neutral colors, black and gray, which go with just about anything. It’s cut long to cover your hips, so you can wear it over leggings.

Final Verdict: This soft, odor-resistant hoodie makes a good addition to your travel wardrobe.

More from SmarterTravel:

Follow Sarah Schlichter on Twitter @TravelEditor for more travel tips and inspiration.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at editor@smartertravel.com.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.