BASE LAYERS
BASE LAYERS may not be the most exciting garments in your outdoor wardrobe, but they have crucial jobs to perform. I can well remember those early hillwalks dressed in poorly performing T-shirts, feeling wet and cold under my jacket. A well-designed base layer will ‘wick’ moisture away, helping to keep you dry. This in turn regulates temperature and keeps you comfortable. Comfort as well as safety – what’s not to like?
Base layers tend to be simple in design and relatively close-fitting, as this optimises the performance of the fabric, although looser fits are available. They tend to be classified as lightweight, midweight or heavyweight, and as you’d expect the lighter ones tend to be more comfortable in summer, while the heavier base layers are warmer and more suitable for winter use. Heavier fabrics are often also more durable.
Fabric choice is important. Polyester is the most common synthetic fabric; it wicks sweat well, dries quickly and is inexpensive. It’s also durable and these garments tend to last a long time. However, unless treated with an anti-odour technology it can get smelly! Anti-odour treatments are not permanent and will eventually become less effective. Merino wool (often blended with polyester) is naturally odour-resistant and great at regulating temperature but it’s slower to dry and can be less durable.
You won’t always be wearing a base layer as a component in the layering system beneath mid layer and outer shell, so look for a comfortable fit when wearing it by itself too. On warm days you may find that a base layer is all you need for your upper body.
What is wicking?
A base layer should keep your skin dry by moving moisture vapour (ie sweat) away from your body and letting it evaporate. ‘Wicking’ refers to the fibre’s ability to absorb moisture and spread it out so that it can evaporate.
