Best Base Layers

[Nate Dogg]

I'm looking for some new, more effective base layers this year, and I was wondering what the collective opinion is on what works best. I was considering trying Under Armour Cold Gear, as I've used it in the past when I was playing football in sub-freezing temps and it worked well. It is a bit pricey however. I have also heard good things about Patagonia Capilene. Any others?

[routter]

patagonia.

[maddog]

I'm an old school, natural fiber kind of guy. I love my 80%silk, 20% wool skibbies.

[schuss]

I <3 my EMS midweight bergelene.

[Toby]

Icebreaker. 100% merino wool. Pricey, but IMHO worth it.

[cowdog]

Icebreaker. 100% merino wool. Pricey, but IMHO worth it.

Roger that! Great stuff. And they don't smell even after many ski days without washing.

[ncsears]

thin silk base layer and mid weight wool sweater. cant be beat.

[13]

I have both Patagonia capilene and UA cold gear.

The capilene is great, but the cold gear is by far much better. I was skeptical at first so I asked for it as a christmas present.

Worth every penny and it's easier to wash than capilene.

[glademaster]

Silkweight Capilene next to skin for sure, the fastest drying, the best wicking, and its smooth, so layers slide over it easily. It doesn't add much warm, but its purpose isn't warmth as much as it is keeping your skin as dry as possible, thereby letting insulating layers keep you warm.

I've used normal UA and UA Cold Gear for years, and I don't like the tops nearly as much as my Capilene. However, the UA Cold Gear tights are great, I wear those with Polartec Power Stretch pants over them and its a perfect combo, wicking, fast drying and warm.


I'm glad to hear someone likes EMS's midweight bergelene, I just bought one of those shirts on sale and was hoping it was worth it.

[m1e448]

Craft stuff may be kind of nerdy, but its really nice and works well. I've also got a TNF el cap shirt that is really nice.

[iceman]

Icebreaker. 100% merino wool. Pricey, but IMHO worth it.

I just bought some of this on Woodsy's reccomendation. Haven't had a chance to use it but it seems like a cool product though very spendy. We'll see.

[iceman]

thin silk base layer and mid weight wool sweater. cant be beat.

Thank you Mr. Shackleton.

[Particle]

Icebreaker absolutely rules the roost. Spendy but worth it. Super comfortable, you can actually wear it as a shirt, and it really doesn't stink. Arcteryx also makes some Merino base layers, same goodness. RHO I think.

For synthetics, Marmot Silkweight and Patagonia are always good stuff.

I just bought some of this on Woodsy's reccomendation. Haven't had a chance to use it but it seems like a cool product though very spendy. We'll see.

[seldon]

smartwool makes some good tops. they dont hold their shape well but they're soft and warm

[CANADASTEEP]

For bottoms, I picked up some mtn hardwear fleece tights that are amazing.
they have "zeo2" treatmentand the reviews online that they don't stink up as bad as regular fleece.
I like them alot because the outside is napped and flat and smooth, and the inside is like a micro fleece. This on top of regular longjohns = serious warmth.
The cut is like tights so more effective at trapping heat.

For tops, my all time favourite is the Canadian Forces "Wooly Pully".
Its an all woold sweater which is ribbed for your pleasure
The ribbing is vertical so allows some stretch in any given size.
Also, they come in real chest sizes like 38 42 etc. and can come in tall as well.
Bonus is they are cheap and can be had at surplus stores.
I got mine new from an army kit shop for 30 CDN.
The cut is excellent and is instant heat.

[ulty_guy]

icebreakers is nice stuff, but it you are a big sweater (heh), forget it. i've got the lightest weight one and it sops pretty quickly and feels clamy.

patagonia lightweight works ok for me (mid's too heavy, silkweight is abiguously gay, not that there's anything wrong with that).

helly hansen lifa sport smells like death, but i haven't found anything better at keep me dry.

[72Twenty]

I wear Polartec Microwick and I am very pleased with it.

[gwat]

I am an icebreaker convert. It stays warm when wet, drys fast and doesn't stink. Ever.

[freak]

icebreakers is nice stuff, but it you are a big sweater (heh), forget it. i've got the lightest weight one and it sops pretty quickly and feels clamy.
helly hansen lifa sport smells like death, but i haven't found anything better at keep me dry.

same here.^^

i dont know if you got the falke stuff in north america, its definitely worth a view. not cheap but very good shape and function, not tested by myself but by my girlfriend

freak~[&

[Woodsy]

well i'll take Marcus Miller or Victor wooten anytime....

[72Twenty]

Just get some good 'ole red long johns.

[Meathelmet]

Here the old analogue "It Depends" stands.

Depends what you are doing?

For very high activity, any polypropylene based johnnies might work the best.
High transfer capacity full synthetic stuff to transfer the sweat away from the skin.
Con´s are that they get static,they sag easily and most, they smell like death,unless they are treated with silver or other AB treatments.
I mean it.Wear them for a day,and you aint got no friends...

Silk (and silk/merino) is superb if you stay in conditions where you cant wash you clothes for a long time.
They wick well even if dirty(for a natural material),they are usually very anti allergenic, and they smell very little. That is a "quite" good thing if you have to spend a week or two in the same tent with somebody...(by experience.)

Merino Wools are quite good too. They are usually warmer (due to their thickness by manufacturing), you can use them for couple of week´s without smelling like a carcass, they are durable.
But for high energy outings,they are a bit too warm.
And you might get a weird thing if you live in old buildings..
There are some bugs that feed on the wool.

I live in such an old house,that i have to keep all my woollen underwear in the freezer.Half of them look like they were shot on a shotgun because i stashed them in a closet and found that we have the bugs.


But in short.

If you need some fast stuff, get some polypropylene that has been properly "worked out".
It sucks (literally) to be in a cabin lift or Apres Ski bar and smelling like J.Hoffa.
The price difference is small anyway.Patagucci and like make good stuff.

If you camp or are in colder/higher climates the poly+silk/wool is a good choice.

It all comes down how much you sweat AND how you otherwise regulate your temperature.

In overwiew,people tend to ski with waaaay too much clothes on.

Keep your extremities warm,put 2 layers on the legs and 1 layer of thin stuff on the torso, and you´ll usually be fine up to -10c´- -15´c.
If you get cold, get a down vest for the pauses.

Or something..

[Yossarian]

Thank you Mr. Shackleton.

I laughed.

To answer: I'm a Patagucci lightweight capilene guy, but haven't tried the UA stuff or Icewhatever stuff.

[Treepinner]

Whatever you do, don't buy into the merino wool hype. Sucky, sucky, suck, suck. Slow drying, freezes your ass off when you stop, stinks, and still scratchy. I've tried Icebreaker, Smartwool, and Arcteryx; free samples, glad I didn't pay twice as much to find out how lame it is. Modern midweight synthetics are way better.

[Talking Monkey]

Any opinions on Brynje base layers? I'm looking for something warm.