BASELAYERS

The layer of clothing next to your body is the most important one, in terms of comfort. This is especially true when the temperature drops, because once you stop working hard, any moisture on your skin will quickly get cold and chill you – as you’ll soon find when you get to the top of a climb and stop for a snack or to wait for your mates. A good baselayer not only wicks sweat away from your skin, it also has the capacity to disperse it to your outer layers. This is due to a combination of the fibres used and the way the baselayer is constructed.

Broadly speaking, the fibres can be synthetic or natural. Synthetic fibres can be manufactured with hollow channels to aid the wicking process and can be incredibly efficient. The downside is that they get smelly fast, so most now come with some form of antibacterial treatment. Merino wool is naturally antibacterial, so it can be worn for extended periods without needing washing, but it doesn’t wick as well, takes longer to dry and can feel damp next to your skin, although it does still maintain its ability to insulate. Many higher-end baselayers are now made of a mixture of wool and synthetic fibres, for the optimum combination of comfort and performance. This means they provide a lot of warmth at a lighter weight and drying faster than pure wool.

Classic baselayers