Base layers

p1tse

I see these can range from £10 to £50+
What do you use, cycling specific brands or do you have running, hiking ones from places like GO Outdoors?

I see compression versions too which I assume are the right fitting ones or do you go for the looser fit?
As a light user on the bike wanting to keep cost down any recommendation on the lower spectrum on price but still a nice fit and finish?

I assume some cheaper ones don't wick, keep you warm and breath ability aswell?

nathancom

Icebreaker merino - warm, decent wicking, no smell so can rewear.

They go on Sports Pursuit sometimes

cougie

I've never noticed a difference between my cheap base layers and more expensive ones.
Aldi are good. Helly Hansen last forever.

ju5t1n

cougie wrote:

I've never noticed a difference between my cheap base layers and more expensive ones.
Aldi are good. Helly Hansen last forever.

I have. I've been using a couple of Howies ones for the last 7 or so years but they both have a few holes in from crashes on ice and other mishaps. I bought a DHB from Wiggle in December and the difference in quality is noticeable. The DHB is thinner, so not as warm, and it sticks to my back when I sweat. It was £20 cheaper, so as with everything - you get what you pay for.

deeptheory

Must say i can't knock my under armour gear.

Been wearing them for a few years now for work, football and cycling. I've worn the 'coldgear long sleeve mock' (see photo) down to around 2 degrees with a thin long sleeve jersey over the top thats not windproof and i've been fine. Obviously cold at first but fine after a couple of miles. Couldn't recommend their stuff enough, wouldn't buy anything else now and much prefer it to skins and helly hansen products that i've tried.

Garry H

nathancom wrote:

Icebreaker merino - warm, decent wicking, no smell so can rewear.

They go on Sports Pursuit sometimes

+1 Been using Icebreaker for about 8 years now and find the excellent. Bought a job lot of them that were going cheap at Cotswold outdoors in Grassmere a few years ago. Helly Hansen does last forever but hey don't call it "Smelly Helly" for nothing.

Bozman

deeptheory wrote:

Must say i can't knock my under armour gear.

Been wearing them for a few years now for work, football and cycling. I've worn the 'coldgear long sleeve mock' (see photo) down to around 2 degrees with a thin long sleeve jersey over the top thats not windproof and i've been fine. Obviously cold at first but fine after a couple of miles. Couldn't recommend their stuff enough, wouldn't buy anything else now and much prefer it to skins and helly hansen products that i've tried.

+1 for Under Armour.
I swapped to Under Armour this year after a rugby playing mate recommended it, I can't fault the stuff and I have to say that it's the best base layer I've had, it out performs natural base layers and the synthetic tops that I've had.

maddog 2

merino are okay but synthetics wick better, so I use these on any hard/long ride.

Icebreaker are good for merino (<150gm for cycling or you'll sweat too much)

I use Craft for synthetic. Very good (and I've tried a lot...)

MichaelW

Icebreaker made their reputation with New Zealand-made quality merino gear, before decamping to China. If you want this top grade stuff, check out chocholatefish

moscowflyer

Craft and Prendas for me, great bits of kit.

ck99

+1 for Craft.

p1tse

I was thinking helly hansen as easier to try and get hold of.
What's this smelly helly?

ADIHEAD

I've some cheap ones but really notice the difference with an Assos full winter one (less than 3degrees) - £110 but paid somewhat less! Then the Endura Baa Baa Merino for general use 3degrees to the point where you either don't need one, or go onto SS. The cheap ones leave the sweat on you and you get cold when you either back off or stop.

daviesee

p1tse wrote:

I was thinking helly hansen as easier to try and get hold of.
What's this smelly helly?

From experience - 4 guys sat round a cafe table midway round a ride. 2 in Hellys, one in Adidas, one in 100% merino.
3 of the 4 were stinking.
Draw your own conclusions.

Guglielmo

My Craft Zero Extremes are the best I've used and they last years. Better wicking than Merino by a fair bit. Merino is good for more casual use (no pong, better looks) and Merino base layers also make great mid layers! Right now I'm riding in freezing to 5 degrees with a Craft base + 2 Merino bases as mid layers + Jersey + Windproof jersey/jacket. Works really really well (but takes an hour to get dressed!!!).

gabriel959

+1 for Craft. IMO they make the best base layers. Their top offering is a blend of merino and synthetics and it is amazing.

p1tse

Is merino a brand or type as I've seen rapha, endura etc with merino in the model make

Strith

merino is a type of wool, lots of manufactuers use it. I use uniqlo heattech as a base layer, cheap and does the job.

migrantwing

I have Aldi and Lidl own brand (Crane and Crivit) base layers and also Helly Hansen stuff. One of the own brands fits poorly, top is super tight but the bottoms are loose and don't provide much warmth at all. The other own brand is excellent in fit, comfort and warmth. The HH stuff is good, but for 3 times the price of the own brand stuff, there's nothing to justify the extra cost.

migrantwing

cougie wrote:

I've never noticed a difference between my cheap base layers and more expensive ones.
Aldi are good. Helly Hansen last forever.

+1

FatTed

maddog 2 wrote:

merino are okay but synthetics wick better, so I use these on any hard/long ride.

Icebreaker are good for merino (<150gm for cycling or you'll sweat too much)

I use Craft for synthetic. Very good (and I've tried a lot...)

Try this from Ground Effect best of both worlds
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... IS-MER.htm

gingermagician

UnderArmour for the cold, Craft for when it gets a bit warmer (mainly their sleeveless mesh style). The UA ColdGear stuff is exceptionally good imo.

I also have a Rapha merino baselayer but, to be honest, I much prefer it off the bike than on it - too nice to trash with a load of sweat!

blackpoolkev

p1tse wrote:

I see compression versions too

I have a pair of tog 24 compression tights that I wear under my bib longs on colder days.Compared to the thermal underwear-type garments that I also use,the compression tights are less restrictive but equally warm.They cost me £15 from tk maxx .

robbo2011

I have an Underarmour cold gear base layer the same as in the pic above. It is a good quality, warm piece of kit. However I also have an Assos Early Winter base layer and it is better for temperature regulation as it has a zipper at the front that is useful for climbs etc. Also the high rear collar keeps you neck wamer.

Depending on your budget, I would recommend either.

thegreatdivide

daviesee wrote:

p1tse wrote:

I was thinking helly hansen as easier to try and get hold of.
What's this smelly helly?

From experience - 4 guys sat round a cafe table midway round a ride. 2 in Hellys, one in Adidas, one in 100% merino.
3 of the 4 were stinking.
Draw your own conclusions.

Haha! Spot on.

Lord Jimmy 7th

I personally go for the under armour stuff aswell, after using it to play American football and then transferring it to cycling the cold gear stuff is absolutely brilliant, I got both long and short sleeve turtleneck and they keep you nice and warm, the summer stuff (heat gear) is good also I prefer it to riding with any other stuff I have tried ( Nike, decathlon, skin)

ads2k

Another for +1 Craft here. Very pleased with their selection as they offer a different type for all weathers, be it hot or cold.

Garry H

ads2k wrote:

Another for +1 Craft here. Very pleased with their selection as they offer a different type for all weathers, be it hot or cold.

Why would you wear on in hot weather?

Lord Jimmy 7th

I hot weather the fabrics can help to keep you cool, ( it's science stuff honest) something to do with taking the sweat away from the skin helps to keep you cool, or summit like that ( don't hold me to that being exactly it though)

Garry H

Lord Jimmy 7th wrote:

I hot weather the fabrics can help to keep you cool, ( it's science stuff honest) something to do with taking the sweat away from the skin helps to keep you cool, or summit like that ( don't hold me to that being exactly it though)

It's sweat ON the skin, then evaporating (In the wind/air) that keeps you cool. You don't want the fabric to keep it off the skin. Wearing two layers will only make you warmer. Sounds like pseudo science from the marketing dept to me.

Lord Jimmy 7th

Yeah that's what I was kinda thinking as well (recalling gcse science now), the problem is whatever this fabric does it works, I feel better, cooler when I wear the heat gear than when I don't wear it ( or it just is all in my head)