Non Merino Base Layers?

singleton

Are you sure you want a warmer base layer?
Surely the whole point is that you wear a base layer for comfort/wicking, an outer layer for weather protection and whatever necessary in between for the right level of warmth.
Easy to adapt from one day to the next. As the weather changes - adjust the mid layer, or remove it.

apreading

Mid layers are all generally wicking and capable of being base layers though. So why have two layers when one will do the job? If a base layer doesnt add any warmth at all then it has no point.

Personally I think of base/mid layer as the same thing and through a combination of single or multiple garments, I can cater for a wide range of weather.

singleton

apreading wrote:

why have two layers when one will do the job?

Because if 1 layer does the job for today's unique weather conditions, then it probably won't do the job tomorrow.
Maybe just personal choice, but I've found that 2 layers give more choice in more conditions than 1.

joey54321

apreading wrote:

Mid layers are all generally wicking and capable of being base layers though. So why have two layers when one will do the job? If a base layer doesnt add any warmth at all then it has no point.

Personally I think of base/mid layer as the same thing and through a combination of single or multiple garments, I can cater for a wide range of weather.

Also while mid layers might wick "ok" a base layer will wick better. It's not essential, but like most things the more specific a job it can do, the better it can do it.

pinno

Craigus89 wrote:

As with a lot of cycling things, most of it is marketing ****. If you have the money to blow then feel free, but a premium brand baselayer is not really noticeably better than any other.

The HH Freeze is far superior to all the cheaper base layers I have.

SJH76

I've always just used under armour coldgear long sleeve base layers. Always kept me warm and don't smell after use.

flanners1

The basic HH dont keep me warm cycling I use them for hiking, haven't tried the 'Freeze' version.

Craft thermo baselayers are the best non merino in my experience for Winter usage been using them for years, they wear well and are work efficiently even when wet from sweat/water; I use the gore windproof one's in Spring/Autumn under jerseys.They do smell after a while so use an antibacterial liquid in with your wash and all will be good.

Tried to use merino again last year and it is just too itchy and uncomfortable for my skin :?

photonic69

Craigus89 wrote:

Anything that fits closely to your body is going to do a pretty good job of 'wicking' to be honest, simply because it is touching your skin. I've got a £5 planet x baselayer that is just as good as a £40 premium brand that I tried.

As with a lot of cycling things, most of it is marketing ****. If you have the money to blow then feel free, but a premium brand baselayer is not really noticeably better than any other.

I'm in the position where I would much rather spend a fair bit of money on a piece of kit/clothing and know that it will work and that I will get many serviceable years out of it. I've got too big a pile of cheap stuff I bought because I thought it would "do the job" but in fairness I found it just to be "a bit sh!t" You all know the saying "buy cheap, buy twice" but in terms of cycling clothing that can be buy three/four/five or more if you are unlucky! It really costs a lot more in the long run.

I'm finding all the advice really useful and at some point I will Google all these recommendations and try and find a real shop that stocks them so I can feel the quality and judge by that.

I like the idea of the Craft windproof ones as I find that it is the windchill factor I suffer from mostly on my arms and stomach/groin

joey54321

Unless you are really never, ever, ever, ever too warm (in which case I would recommend wearing more), I'd say leave the windproofness to an out layer. That way a zip has more temperature control to help stop you sweating which will keep you warmer in the long run. The only caveat being if you are doing winter races/CX races where you might be wearing some sort of club kit and not want to wear or put pin holes in a bulky jacket/another layer in order to get the windproofing over the top.

sam_anon

Would I be high-jacking if I asked about base layer leggings...?

Do they exist? Have standard cycling shorts and running leggings I usually wear but need to increase the insulation!

apreading

joey54321 wrote:

apreading wrote:

Mid layers are all generally wicking and capable of being base layers though. So why have two layers when one will do the job? If a base layer doesnt add any warmth at all then it has no point.

Personally I think of base/mid layer as the same thing and through a combination of single or multiple garments, I can cater for a wide range of weather.

Also while mid layers might wick "ok" a base layer will wick better. It's not essential, but like most things the more specific a job it can do, the better it can do it.

If the mid layer doesnt wick well then there is not much point in the base layer wicking well as it will not be able to pass the moisture onto the next layer and out. The moisure will stop and be retained by the base, holding it against your body.

pinno

Now I have catalogue of options to wade through...

Craft Active Extreme CN Base Layer £20

I stumbled on this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/craft-active-ex ... gJat_D_BwE

davebradswmb

sam anon wrote:

Would I be high-jacking if I asked about base layer leggings...?

Do they exist? Have standard cycling shorts and running leggings I usually wear but need to increase the insulation!

Super Roubaix legwarmers might be the solution. The only trouble is that your shorts won't be very warm around the nether regions so maybe you might want some Super Roubaix bib tights when it gets properly cold. I'm a fan of "classic" bib tights that don't have a pad and are meant to be worn over your normal shorts so you get a double layer over your core but these seem to be our of fashion these days and are increasingly hard to find.

flasher

sam anon wrote:

Would I be high-jacking if I asked about base layer leggings...?

Do they exist? Have standard cycling shorts and running leggings I usually wear but need to increase the insulation!

You need these:

https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/specialize ... 7-ID_65116

super_davo

Pinno wrote:

Now I have catalogue of options to wade through...

Craft Active Extreme CN Base Layer £20

I stumbled on this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/craft-active-ex ... gJat_D_BwE

I have the same baselayer in short sleeve plus a long sleeve version with a quarter zip. The material is superb, wicks well, provides warmth but not too much ; I just don't like the neckline on the short sleeve, comes up way too high. Good for warmth I suppose but I don't like the "strangled" feeling.

The long sleeve with zip is possibly my favourite baselayer though, that and an Alpha jersey can cover a huge range of temperatures.

pinno

davebradswmb wrote:

I'm a fan of "classic" bib tights that don't have a pad and are meant to be worn over your normal shorts so you get a double layer over your core but these seem to be our of fashion these days and are increasingly hard to find.

Yup. my unpadded Endura Roubaix bib tights are slowly dying a death.
Now you have to find tights that are suitable but you also have to find tights with a decent pad. Which opens up yet another world of choices and decisions. Pads are highly subjective.
On that note, the DHB aeron deep winter tights that I bought are good and the pad is excellent.
I have found the Le Col one's only good for sub 30 mile rides.

joey54321

apreading wrote:

joey54321 wrote:

apreading wrote:

Mid layers are all generally wicking and capable of being base layers though. So why have two layers when one will do the job? If a base layer doesnt add any warmth at all then it has no point.

Personally I think of base/mid layer as the same thing and through a combination of single or multiple garments, I can cater for a wide range of weather.

Also while mid layers might wick "ok" a base layer will wick better. It's not essential, but like most things the more specific a job it can do, the better it can do it.

If the mid layer doesnt wick well then there is not much point in the base layer wicking well as it will not be able to pass the moisture onto the next layer and out. The moisure will stop and be retained by the base, holding it against your body.

No because the base layer will designed to distribute the water over a larger surface area helping it wick through the next layer. It's like the base layer gives a 'wicking boost' to your next layer. This is also why base layers help keep you cooler in summer as they increase evaporative cooling.

priory

The gold standard has always been silk baselayer , thin wool , then layers and shell according to need . But very fine wool is expensive and hard to wash and wears quickly. Merino comes in various qualities of softness . I have some old Smedley ones that are extremely comfortable on the skin and other things labelled merino that are itchy and need something underneath. These days rather than silk I tend to buy Rab https://rab.equipment/uk/interval-ls-tee