REI Women’s Midweight Base Layer Top & Tights Review

Base layers for women are one of those gear categories that don’t get much attention. When they work, you forget about them. When they don’t, you notice immediately. I tested the REI Co-op Midweight Long Sleeve Base Layer Top and Tights across a mix of activities, and I have some good news: They worked!

I wore this set while resort skiing at Snowmass Ski Resort, uphill skiing at Buttermilk, trail running in the hills around our neighborhood, and hiking with our dog. As a true midweight synthetic base layer, this set is designed to add noticeable warmth while still functioning as a next-to-skin layer.

The thicker fabric and snug fit help hold heat close to the body and wick moisture during movement, but they also make it less forgiving when conditions warm up or activity levels spike.

In short: The REI Co-op Midweight Base Layer Top and Tights ($55 each) deliver solid warmth, a snug fit, and easy layering for cold-weather conditions. They dry slowly and run warm during high-output activities, but they still offer a lot of value at a great price. Plus, the material is Bluesign-approved, and the majority of the thread is recycled polyester (92%).

To see how these base layers compare to the competition, check out our buyer’s guide to the Best Base Layers for Women.

REI Co-op Midweight Base Layer Top and Tights Review

I’ve tested dozens (if not hundreds) of women’s base layers over the years, and one thing remains true. It doesn’t matter how fancy the technology, how pretty the colors, or how dazzling the pattern. If they’re not comfortable, they will collect dust in the back of my closet.

Fortunately, this REI Midweight set hit the right marks (especially in the top). I found myself grabbing it for trail runs and hikes, dog walks, and ski tours. It’s all synthetic and doesn’t have any bells and whistles. You won’t find zippers or thermoregulation or intricately woven patterns. But you will find reliability and affordability. And these days, I think that often matters more.

Warmth Built for Real Winter Days

Warmth is the first thing you notice with this women’s base layer set. The fabric has some real substance and sits close to the body, making it feel genuinely insulating rather than just “there.” That midweight feel works in your favor on cold days, but it also means there’s a clear point where it starts to feel like too much once temperatures climb or you’re working hard.

On cold ski days at Aspen Snowmass with temperatures hovering around 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, both the top and tights felt appropriately insulating while downhill skiing and during moderate uphill movement. The snug fit minimizes air gaps where heat can escape, which is especially noticeable when riding lifts or stopping between runs. I never felt chilled during colder, cloudier days, even when activity levels dropped.

Tradeoff: That same insulation becomes less ideal during warmer or high-output efforts. On a 45-degree Fahrenheit day while skinning uphill at Buttermilk in full sun, these layers almost crushed my soul. Sweat built quickly, particularly through the back and torso.

This wasn’t a total surprise, but I definitely felt like a baked potato. I actually considered throwing my backpack down and rolling around in the snow just to get a little more air. This isn’t a negative, but it is a warning for the best use case: not in the sunshine.

Sweat Happens: How These Handle Moisture

Sure, we want base layers to keep us warm, but they have one main job: to move sweat. Ideally, they’re moving sweat away from our body so that it doesn’t sit on our skin. With the REI Midweight layers, this worked — to a point. During higher-output efforts like skinning or during trail runs at the nearby Red Hill Recreation Management Area, sweat moved away from my skin. I didn’t experience significant clamminess, which can happen with cotton or poorly designed synthetics.

Once the fabric became saturated, however, it didn’t dry especially fast. After finishing the uphill skin, I sat in the lodge for about 30 minutes to eat some snacks and ponder my life choices. (Code: I was tired!) Then, I transitioned my skis and bopped back downhill to the car. After all that time, my back was still damp.

This isn’t a total surprise since synthetics often dry more slowly than merino wool, but it was slower than I expected. As a result, I swapped out for another shirt for the car ride home to cut the chill. While these layers certainly dry faster than cotton ever would, they are still on the slow side.

Snug, Stretchy, and Easy to Layer

The REI Midweights are a redesign of an older model. While I never tested the previous version, a quick scan of the comments makes one thing clear: They fit much more snugly than they used to.

Overall, the fit works. I’m 5’5″ tall and weigh around 145 pounds with wider hips and broad-ish shoulders. I opted for a medium — my usual size — and these fit as expected. However, they are snug with a next-to-skin design that runs trim through the stomach and hips. If you want a looser fit or are in between sizes, I’d definitely recommend sizing up.

With this trimmer cut, mobility was great. The added stretch allowed for a full range of motion while skiing, hiking, and running. I never felt restricted while skinning uphill or hiking over steep terrain. That close fit also helped with layering, especially under ski shells and insulated jackets. I had no problem stacking both a midlayer and an external shell on top, and the tights fit cleanly beneath my non-insulated snow pants.

That said, there are some fit notes worth mentioning. While trail running with my pup, I definitely felt the seams digging into my armpits. At first, I thought it was because my insulated vest (worn on top) was too snug, but I quickly realized it was coming from my base layers.

It wasn’t painful or extreme, but it was noticeable. Thankfully, the arm length was great. I have slightly long arms and often cannot use the accompanying thumbholes on shirts because they hit somewhere between my wrist and my palm. That wasn’t an issue with the Midweight top.

The tights also fit well through the hips and stomach, without digging into my belly. The waistband is thin and not particularly flattering, but it didn’t bother me. I did, however, want to battle against the ankle cuffs: They’re tight. This is fine if you wear them pulled all the way down. But for skiers who like to pull base layers up over their calves to accommodate ski boots, these are almost impossible to work with.

Room for Improvement

Honestly, I’m not sure why brands focus on full-length tights when so many winter enthusiasts use them with tall socks and/or ski boots. While that is an industry problem for another day, I did really struggle with the ankle cuff on these REI Midweight base layer bottoms. They were perfectly comfortable while trail running and hiking. But I spend 50-60 days per season in ski boots — and these could not accommodate them. That’s a bit of a bummer.

However, drying time was the bigger problem. Most of us focus on base layer tops because that’s where we sweat the most and need moisture management. While the REI Midweight fabric did move sweat away from my skin, it took a long time to dry.

For mellow outings where I’m not sweating like a pig, this is fine. But during high-output adventures where sweat is part of the fun, the slow dry time definitely became a problem. I wouldn’t hesitate to wear them skinning uphill at a resort. But, I’d be reticent to take them into the backcountry where cold and wet layers could be a larger concern.

Final Thoughts

The REI Co-op Women’s Midweight Base Layer Top and Tights are dependable, warmth-focused layers built for brisk winter conditions. They offer noticeable insulation, a snug performance fit, and easy layering under shells and insulation.

While these base layers for women are not ideal for warm, high-output efforts and don’t dry as fast as I’d prefer, they do perform well enough for everyday adventures. Plus, you can’t overlook the price tag — they’re a screaming deal.

For skiers, hikers, and runners looking for a snug, synthetic women’s base layer set for cold days and steady movement, this set is worth a look.