This guide is for shoppers who want to know whether Ridge Merino (ridgemerino.com) is a real store, and what its sizing, shipping and return rules say before they order merino wool base layers or outdoor clothing. It is not a review of the products. We have not tested any product. Policies change, so check the current pages at checkout.

Disclosure: We earn a commission or a fee when you click or buy through some links, at no extra cost to you. We label those links as ads. We have not tested any product or store mentioned here.

Quick answer

  • Real business: Ridge Merino says it was founded in 2014 and has a store and headquarters in Mammoth Lakes, California. The domain was registered in April 2014.
  • Returns: the store says U.S. orders can be returned or exchanged free within 90 days, if items are new, unworn (trying on is allowed), unwashed and have tags.
  • Shipping: free standard U.S. shipping on orders over $49 (pre-tax); $5 below that. Standard takes 2-7 business days.
  • Watch for: final sale items and pro deals cannot be refunded, and international return shipping is not included.
  • Verdict: nothing we read points to a fake store. Public review data is very thin, so rely on the written policies and keep your proof of purchase.

At a glance

ItemWhat we found
Returns window90 days from purchase for U.S. orders (Ridge Merino returns page, read 26 Oct 2026)
Return shipping costFree for U.S. orders; not included for international orders
Refund timingStore aims to process within 3 business days of receipt; bank may take up to two weeks
Refund methodOriginal payment method (store credit after the 90 days, at the store's discretion per its page)
ShippingFree over $49; $5 under; $25 expedited (1-2 business days)
Warranty"Ridge Guarantee": lifetime cover for manufacturing and material defects; normal wear is excluded
Contactinfo@ridgemerino.com, (760) 914-2008, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Pacific
Company and locationRidge Apparel, 4 Alpine Circle, Mammoth Lakes, CA; ships from Salt Lake City, UT
Payment methodsCards, PayPal, Venmo, Amazon Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay (FAQ page)
Trustpilot3.3 score from 4 reviews, latest 9 Oct 2026, profile unclaimed (read 26 Oct 2026)
BBBNo listing found in our search on 26 Oct 2026

Who runs Ridge Merino

The FAQ says husband-and-wife team Susan and Jeff Russell founded the company in 2014. The same page gives the headquarters and retail store address in Mammoth Lakes, California, and a phone number with weekday hours.

A WHOIS-style lookup (RDAP) shows ridgemerino.com was registered on 27 April 2014, matching the founding year the store gives. The FAQ says the clothing is made by partners in several countries, including the United States and Vietnam; we did not check this.

Sizing and fit

Ridge Merino publishes a size guide with body measurements, not garment measurements, except where a product page marks "actual garment measurements." For women, the chart runs from XS (bust 33.5 in, waist 26.5 in, hip 36 in) to XL (bust 43.5 in, waist 36.5 in, hip 46 in). The page notes that women's sizing changed in 2025, and that products still on the old sizing carry a note on their page. For men, tops run from S (chest 38 in) to XXL (chest 50 in), and bottoms from S (waist 30.5 in) to XXL (waist 41.5 in). Inseam is listed on each product page.

For between sizes, the store says to size down for a tighter fit or up for a looser one. Measure your chest, waist and hip with a soft tape before choosing. The FAQ says most clothing can be machine washed cold and hung to dry, and that heat is the main cause of shrinking. Because the returns policy requires items to be unwashed, do not wash anything you may send back.

Two outside bloggers (Halfway Anywhere, The Sweet Cyclists; no dates shown) gave mixed fit comments on single items, such as a hoodie running big in the chest. Check measurements for each product.

Shipping and delivery

All online orders ship from Salt Lake City, UT. The store says orders placed before 12pm Mountain Time usually ship the same day, Monday to Friday. Standard shipping uses ground carriers including USPS and takes 2-7 business days. Expedited costs $25 and takes 1-2 business days; PO boxes go by USPS Priority and may take longer. Expedited orders do not qualify for free shipping.

International orders are not free. Shipping is calculated at checkout, duties and taxes are the buyer's, and the page warns recent shipments took a month or more. Canada goes via USPS-Canada Post.

Returns and refunds

For U.S. orders, returns and exchanges are free within 90 days of purchase. Conditions: new condition, unworn apart from trying for fit, unwashed, clean, free of hair and stains, in original packaging with hang tags, and with the order number in the box. The store says items in poor condition get no refund, credit or exchange. Returns start through an online portal. The store says it aims to refund within 3 business days of receipt.

Exceptions: final sale items are not refundable but may be exchanged for another size or colour if in stock. All "pro deals" are final sale. After 90 days, only store credit is offered for eligible items. International returns are accepted if items meet the same rules, but you pay return shipping, and the store will not credit original shipping, customs or duties. International exchanges are not available.

The Ridge Guarantee is separate. For a defect, you email photos to start the process; items must be laundered first, and the store may charge a cleaning fee if they arrive dirty. It decides between repair, replacement or refund.

What shoppers say

Trustpilot (read 26 Oct 2026) shows a 3.3 score from only 4 reviews, split evenly between 5-star and 2-star, with the latest on 9 October 2026. The profile is unclaimed. The two critical reviewers described garments wearing out within a year, an offer of partial compensation rather than replacements, and a slow repair by post. The positive reviewers praised staff help with a delivery deadline and the fit and build of hoodies. Four reviews are too few to draw a firm conclusion, and Trustpilot does not fact-check them. We found no scam or non-delivery reports. The BBB search showed no Ridge Merino profile.

Verdict

Ridge Merino looks like an established small brand with a physical base, a long-registered domain, clear written policies and a generous stated return window for U.S. buyers. The main caution is the warranty: reviewers say wear-and-tear decisions can be disputed, and the policy itself excludes normal wear. If you are outside the U.S., plan for paid return shipping, duties and long transit times.

Checklist before you order

  1. Measure your body and compare it with the size chart; note the 2025 women's size change.
  2. Check if the item is marked final sale or a pro deal.
  3. Keep tags, packaging and the order number; do not wash an item you may return.
  4. Save your order confirmation and the returns page date.
  5. Note the 90-day deadline from purchase, not delivery.
  6. Outside the U.S., add duties and return postage to the price.
  7. For a defect, take photos and write to info@ridgemerino.com.
  8. Pay by card or PayPal so you have a dispute route.

What we could not confirm

  • Trustpilot count is only 4; we could not find Reddit threads or other large review sets.
  • No BBB listing was found.
  • We could not verify fabric contents, country of origin or wool sourcing claims.
  • We could not confirm how the warranty is decided in practice.
  • The legal entity name: the terms page gives only a street address.

Last checked: 26 October 2026. Sources: Ridge Merino, returns (no date shown); Ridge Merino, shipping (no date shown); Ridge Merino, FAQ (no date shown); Ridge Merino, sizing guide (no date shown); Ridge Merino, guarantee (no date shown); Ridge Merino, contact (no date shown); Ridge Merino, terms (no date shown); Trustpilot, ridgemerino.com (latest review 9 Oct 2026); RDAP, ridgemerino.com (database updated 26 Oct 2026); Halfway Anywhere (no date shown); The Sweet Cyclists (no date shown). Terms change: read the current terms at checkout.