Do mesh base layers really help in hot weather?

notleyboy

Hi,

I am interested in any feedback from the forum on the use of mesh base layers like the Castelli Core Mesh 3 base layer under a lightweight jersey for hot weather riding.

Adding an extra layer when it is hot sounds counter intuitive, so really keen to hear your experiences, is it marketing hype or do they really make you cooler?

Also is there an specific temperature range over which they work best?

If you find they work for you, any recommendations for good ones?

Thanks

Chris

Matthewfalle

is it the same principle as a string vest but glorified?

singleton

I always wear a base layer of some kind.
Minimum would be a sleeveless mesh type - but in general I use Craft base layers.

drlodge

I've stopped wearing a mesh base layer when its hot, it just makes me hotter. However I did buy a pair of arm protectors when in France last year to stop my arms getting burnt from the sun. Putting these on actually makes my arms feel cooler.

mamil314

I don't think mesh baselayers are there to cool you. The advantages are longer serving life of jersey and less road rash with, probably, half a meters worth sliding distance on your shoulder/back reduced.

mrb123

I'm not sure they make a huge difference to your temperature one way or the other but I always wear one as I just find it more comfortable to wear under bib straps. Would feel odd without one now.


I'd say the different brands are all much of a muchness. Gore, Sportful and Craft all work fine. Just needs to be thin, snug fitting and stretchy. All mine are the vest style.

milemuncher1

It’ll improve the rate of sweat wicking, which should help with comfort, but not so much with temperatures.

davebradswmb

I find that they increase the amount of insulation so you can get away with a lightweight outer layer in the morning when it is still chilly, but don't seem to make you any hotter later in the day when the sun starts doing its job. Or alternatively as last night I when was able to do our group ride comfortably but didn't feel the chill too much when supping a couple of beers outside the pub as the sun went down.

supermurph09

Science: http://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/1263/ ... the-summer

notleyboy

Thanks all, and useful article Supermurph09. It sounds like the jury is out as to whether mesh base layers can help you feel cooler in the heat, especially if you have a jersey in modern material.

Chris

drlodge

notleyboy wrote:

Thanks all, and useful article Supermurph09. It sounds like the jury is out as to whether mesh base layers can help you feel cooler in the heat, especially if you have a jersey in modern material.

Chris

I was thinking this...most of my jerseys are made of good modern materials so they wick extremely well already hence no need for a mesh layer to aid wicking...my Wyndymilla top actually has a mesh back and is so thin you can get a sun tan through it on hot days!

timmyotool

drlodge wrote:

I've stopped wearing a mesh base layer when its hot, it just makes me hotter. However I did buy a pair of arm protectors when in France last year to stop my arms getting burnt from the sun. Putting these on actually makes my arms feel cooler.

Could I ask which arm protectors and which colour? I've been looking at various ones but am seeing mixed reviews.

mamil314

Pearl izumi get good reviews. White are good but difficult to keep them that way. I use Rapha

apreading

I have the Pearl Izumi sun coolers - use them as arm warmers in cooler weather too because they are more stretchy and less restrictive than most arm warmers I tried, dont fall down and arent really tight at the top either. It was kind of a bonus that they mean I dont have to wear sun cream and yes, I think my arms do stay a little cooler when its really hot. I have black and white but mainly use the black ones because a) I prefer the look and b) I worried the white might not stay white but the white ones are supposedly a little cooler and havent discoloured to the extent that anything doesnt wash out.

Moonbiker

Ebay ones for £2

prhymeate

I'm not convinced that they do help in the hottest weather, but I still wear mine. I find it more comfortable than straps/jersey against my chest.

mrfpb

I wear a DhB aeron base layer, not to keep me cool, but to stop me freezing on descents. It is thin enough not to let me overheat on climbs. I had to stop ad buy a t-shirt one day this spring when I went out thinking I'd be okay in a single layer.

drlodge

timmyotool wrote:

Could I ask which arm protectors and which colour? I've been looking at various ones but am seeing mixed reviews.

They're Assos 1.4 Arm Foil Warmer in white, I think the most expensive in the shop in Malaucene and seem very difficult to get now. I did find one place selling them second hand on the web but not in the shops at all. Most of the material is like a fine mesh so very breathable and wicks the moisture away extremely well, hence why they feel rather cool when put on.

https://shop.gironacyclecentre.com/prod ... m-warmers/

coops1967

No, of course not ( and I live and cycle in Bangkok, standard is 30 to 32 degC and humid).

The usual vague and only semi sensible 'argument' is about needing to wick moisture away from the body - but that's what your jersey, outer layer, should be doing anyway.

If the outer jersey is terrible for wicking - how is a base layer going to help? Sweat then stays on the base layer and you, as the outer jersey is still rubbish at wicking... so get a good summer jersey.

DeSoto skin cooler jerseys are good - and they do a non zip skin cooler top with long sleeves for sun protection (and the thin 'beanie' is good for sweat in eyes prevention too.)

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I was out for four hours late afternoon yesterday, wearing my Aldi long sleeve merino base layer under my Altura Peleton Transformer in gillet mode (with zip open to level of my HRM on chest), temp was ~25C and very light winds. In the first ~10mins, I started to think I had made a huge overheating mistake. But then it became very comfortable for the rest of the ride, admittedly I was taking it very easy with a 15mph average with 5000 feet of climbing and Normalised Power just 201W, but the experiment has made me happy to try it again.

iron-clover

I find they help if I'm wearing a very tight top (normally my skinsuit for TTs) as it is able to wick the water away from my skin quicker than it can escape through the skinsuit, leaving my skin relatively dry and the outer skinsuit layer soaked. Although I'm not convinced it's cooler, I find it an awful lot more comfortable than just having the wet material directly against my skin.

On regular rides it also makes me less embarrassed to open up the jersey zip a lot more than if I had nothing underneath...

londoncommuter

Interesting thread.

Any thoughts on the two Assos offerings on arm protectors? The only review I can spot for the £35 fancier one is on Wiggle with the guy understandably moaning that his arms were sunburnt with dots!

https://www.assos.com/armfoil-evo8?quan ... en&cur=GBP

https://www.assos.com/armprotectors?qua ... en&cur=GBP

neilr4

For what it's worth......

Residing in the netherlands I encounter a lot more summer heatwaves as compared to my native irish homeland, though much to my detriment...... It's the only weather I suffer in. Anything above and beyond 25 degrees C and my performance drops by about 10% though the main contributing factor is the humidity!!!

I have a number of mesh underlayers from bioracer, btwin and castelli and as soon as the mercury rises to tropical figures I leave them in the drawer! True maybe they would delay some roadrash in the event of a tumble but I'd rather risk it and go bare under my racing jersey. I feel no need nor benefit to have sweat whicked away, I just make sure I'm wearing a jersey (my club have two types from bioracer) that aren't of mesh material otherwise I risk getting sunburned through the jersey!!

Do I believe in or rate mesh under-shirts as compared to a regular craft under-shirt? No.

I haven't found them to have a specific use...... A great idea in principle just like an ashtray on a motorcycle!!!

My 2c

ds2288

I find it more comfortable to have a mesh base layer, however once it’s over 38 degrees celcius I normally choose not to be out, or go earlier in the morning when the temperature isn’t as high. But I believe they wick sweat off the skin well and if you unzip your jersey even a bit, the sweat evaporates very quickly. I use a Castelli one, although I don’t know if that makes any difference. Definitely a polypropylene mix one though, I don’t believe those thin merino ones are any good for the heat, get too wet and too warm. Good for less than 15 degrees though.

lostboysaint

UnderArmour Heat Gear vest. Don't know how it works or the science behind it but it does and is brilliant. Plenty of 35 degc + rides in it under my Pearl Izumi (road) and Fox (MTB) short sleeve jerseys and the combo is fantastic.