Base Layers - recommendations required

New Avon Arms
R

rigboot

Well-Known Member
Hi guys,

What would you recommend as a decent base layer for late summer/autumn stalking forays

I tend to cook a bit when up and down hills all day and I'm struggling to find a base layer which actually "does what it says on the tin"

The base layers I have tried supposing to be ..wicking this, and breathable that ..simply not upto the job and still left with damp back and sweating like an iraqi hijacker when I stop for a break

I don't mind paying for trusted gear either but would like a few ideas

Cheers

rb
 
I've only tried the HH Lifa (sp?) tops when I worked in the Arctic, they performed well with insulating us, but hard to say how they'd perform in a different environment as I'm essentially after top notch wicking/breathability nowadays.

How do you rate the HH stuff?

Cheers
 
I normally wear it under a Harkila fleece and deerhunter ram jacket, both of which are also "wicking", it works well, I would not say I am 100% dry but there is a lot more of the moisture on the outside than the inside, I have not been cold through sweat being on me, when I've stopped moving.

For the sake of a few quid it might be worth trying.
 
Yeah your right, I've been gooling the old HH Lifa gear and it looks favourable.

I won't be using North Face or Simms base layers again, didn't seem to perform well at all even under breathable shells

Time to try something different hence the question and cheers for the reply

Rb
 
Try IceBreaker kit comes in all different weights, from the thinnest T-shirts to 320 weight tops. NOT CHEAP but lasts. It is merino wool, so is warm when wet. Other than on outer layer, all I use on the hill.
Bear in mind nothing will stay 100% dry, when under exertion, and the outer layer's ventilation/wickin ability has a huge influence. Pit zips as in some harkila stuff make a huge difference. (If a jacket is lined in any way, with cotton or polyester it will impair the wicking ability of a pure gortex shell (shells are not warm).
 
merino wool, keeps you warm in winter, cool in summer, wickes away sweat and doesn't smell even after days of wear :shock: (in winter wear as a base layer, in summer wear just on it's own)
 
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Ice Breaker, no questions asked! feels great, perfectly breathable, dries in seconds, the have microfleece zip-neck, followed by full length heavier weight fleece top. I use this setup for both shooting, fishing and mountaineering - where you are both VERY cold and can end up sweating A LOT! For fleece, buy Regatta on sale, light weight fleece tops £8 and heavier zip tops £12 each - same quality as North Face, which are disgustingly priced. Also, you can get really great stuff ex-mod from places like surplus and outdoors.

hope this helps,
 
+1 on the icebreaker gear, fantastic kit. I also have some woolpower base layers I used this winter and they were also excellent.
 
I brought Ice breaker gloves to wear underneath my dry gloves diving, they were warm but quality was rubbish, very thin and ripped very very easily. Agree with merino wool as a good base layer.
 
Ice Breaker no doudt the best by far keeps you cool when hot warm when cold. And best if you are like me and sweat a lot it never smells! But its not cheap Hally Hanson does a work wear range I normally get off ebay which is 30% of the price and 80% as good. The last base layer I got on there was less than 20 pound. I just put merino as teh search item. The diffirence is the merino content of the H&H is a lot less than Icebreaker.
 
Termoswed Light is pretty good if it's mild, Merino (I use Harkila) for when the chill sets in.
 
UNDER ARMOUR

COLD GEAR AND HEAT GEAR

made in the usa

under armour is very good i used it on a late summer mountain goat hunt here in bc and i was comfortable for the whole hunt!
 
ok have a look at the gear from arktis really is good stuff I bought I waterproof smock and trousers from them in the 90s lightweight breathable tough as nails still have it 2day really good stuff I mean it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Really worth a look for sure!!!!!!!
 
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Web-Tex, super light & smooth on the skin, dries in very quick time on the body, even seconds thrown over a branch etc, hard wearing, unless you have to move through brambles without a top coat!:D
 
Well gents,

Many thanks for the replies and recommendations, i'll go and have a shuftie at the various brands suggested and choose myself something soon.

Could have done with it this morning, was out for a look for the foxes this a.m.and it's as muggy as hell but ****ing showers and my old noggie long sleeve shirt is wetter on the inside than the out!!

Time to get the merino on me :thumb:

Cheers

Rb
 
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