Our testers didnt like the matching Base Leggings as much as they did the top, because the waistband sat a bit low and squeezed a lot. Sizes: S to XXXL; fits a 30- to 54-inch chest, Sizes: XS to XXL; fits a 32- to 46-inch chest. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Merino wool is naturally odor-resistant, but synthetic fabrics can pick up slight smells. The fit on the Minus33 layers was much more tailored overall and fit more of our testers better. But why not have both? If you need a pair of thermal underwear that works well to keep you at a comfortable temperature no matter what youre doing, invest in this pair from Smartwool. The way something fits in real life can still be quite different. Make sure to wash your base layers often with gentle detergent. The womens version of the Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer Long Sleeve. If it gets a lot of wear, and a lot of washing, this shirt may need to be replaced at the end of the season. *At the time of publishing, the price was $50. Worn under another layer, they're an excellent option for skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and climbing or hiking in the warmer months. It also pills very quickly. *At the time of publishing, the price was $85. This makes a shirt a little less versatile because if its worn by itself on a sunny day, the shirt will still be too hot. The 3.0 refers to the weight of the shirt (it also comes in 2.0 and 4.0 versions). Available in both mens and womens styles, this legging does a great job insulating and ventilating. Are all thermal underwear odor-resistant? We also talked to experts. The goal of the Icebreaker BodyfitZone Merino 260 Zone Long Sleeve Crewe (in mens and womens sizes) is to aggressively dump heat you generate while youre moving and then keep you warm when youve stopped. The Rho's from Arc'teryx are lightweight leggings that are deceivingly warm. However, after looking at hundreds of garments, we have definitely identified a difference, and it involves how you use them. ", Best for Layering (Womens): 32 Degrees Base Layer Thermal Leggings at Amazon, "This baselayer from 32 Degrees feels like wearing nothing (in the best way possible).". Finally, this shirt is rated to UPF 50+, a sun-protection rating that means the weave of the fabric is tight enough that less than 2% of UV rays can pass through it. The mens Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Long Sleeve lacks the fit, flair, and design we would expect for the price. And wool is also not necessary if youre doing an activity that requires constant output, like running, because there really is not much heat to regulate (only to release). (At the time of our interview, Noland did not represent any of the companies we considered.) If you need some leggings for high-output activity in the cold, winter running tights are a better bet; we have a womens pick in our running gear guide. It doesnt necessarily have to be skintight, but it should not hang loosely from any part of your body. These merino wool leggings are thick, soft, and comfortable, and they work best as a layer under waders or snow bibs. Silk is the most fragile of these fabrics and requires hand washing. The mens leggings come with a working fly, something that certain leggings at 10 times the price dont have. But this material is a heavier-weight fabric than most, and that thickness alone adds a significant amount of durability. It should be long enough in the arms to cover your wrists and long enough in the torso to cover your back when you bend over, because these are places where you lose body heat. These merino wool leggings have some room in the crotch, so theyre best worn as an undergarment beneath rain pants or snow pants. And this shirt has both a weight and a fit that make it appealing to wear by itself or as a base layer. These layers fit the curves of her body as well as the Le Bent base layers do (our current top choice for next-to-skin contact). REI Co-op Womens Midweight Base Layer Tights. The Ridge Merino Aspect Wool Base Layer also comes in a zip-neck mens version. This top was especially loved by our snow sports testers because it kept them from overheating. The Under Armour Mens ColdGear Base 3.0 Crew. These pieces also dont come in as many sizes as wed like. (Kora has renamed its Shola layers since we last tested them; well take a look to see if the fabric has changed as well.). This merino wool shirt is fitted but not tight, and it wears well under backpack straps. If you need something inexpensive: There are a handful of other cheap options out there, but we like the 32 Degrees Lightweight Baselayer Crew top (in mens and womens sizes) and the 32 Degrees Lightweight Baselayer Leggings (in mens and womens sizes) because theyre stretchy and comfortable, and they come in a ton of colors and sizes. We also have ideal options for getting muddy at sports practice or for layering under your civilian clothing. The mens version of the Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer Long Sleeve. But he didnt consider this to be a dealbreakerhe wasnt surprised to see some wear and tear after 100-plus days of sweaty, next-to-skin contact. Kari Traa also makes a synthetic version of these base layers, the Perle Top and Perle Pant. And, of course, we have a budget option. We particularly love them because they are great at stretching with your every movemore so than most wool leggings we've tried. ", Best Leggings (Men): Salomon Essential Wool Tight at Backcountry, "These wool tights from Salomon are great for outdoor activities. The Ridge Merino Aspect comes in neutral colors, which helps it pair with many outfits. In addition, we conversed with Outi Pulkkinen, then the design director of merino wool apparel company Duckworth, and Pierre Kim, SVP of product development for mens apparel company Rhone at the time of our interview. If you dont mind investing, look into the Smartwool Intraknit Merino 250 Thermal Bottoms (view at Amazon). Thermal layers like this are most commonly made of wool, silk, or synthetic materials since theyre great at wicking away moisture, keeping heat trapped inside, and drying quickly. I purchased Smartwool's Merino 250 Base Layer a few years back for the same purpose most do: I wanted a midweight layer for skiing from a brand I knew would deliver a solid product. This thermal set is also available in a mens style. The merino Desoli Tights didnt have quite enough stretch to beat out the comfort of our picks. *At the time of publishing, the price was $70. Youd like it to pass for a casual shirt, but you also want to wear it as a base layer when youre biking, hiking, or hitting the slopes. Get these if: Youre going to be wearing a rain jacket, rain pants or snow pants, fishing waders, or any looser, straight-legged pants for keeping out water. And finally, they shouldnt make you itch. Comfort: There are some design features that can add to the comfort of any layer. We dont know whether this is a result of how these leggings are pieced together or due to the tiny bit of stretchy Lycra, but people who slide down snowy hills universally love them. It's style. Form-fitting and tight on the ankle, these wool leggings are the ultimate base layer for winter sports enthusiasts. We have picks that will take you from city to trail, picks for hiking and backpacking, and picks for fishing and huntingor even for skiing and snowboarding. The material delivers excellent breathability, which is crucial to anyone getting active outside. But their added benefit is that they look like clothing, not just underwear. The torso is cut long, so your lower back stays covered (and warm). However, not everyone knows exactly what theyre looking for right when they start off. The knees of these leggings are also ribbed, which allows for more durability and flexibility. our process. *At the time of publishing, the price was $75. Learn more. These leggings are stretchy, soft, and very comfortable on curvy bodiesone of the advantages of synthetic fabrics. It absorbs water, which when trapped next to skin in winter weather can make you cold (or hypothermic, in a worst-case scenario). The high crewneck keeps sun off your chest in the afternoon. After logging thousands of miles testing the best travel accessoriesand the worstweve come up with our list of essentials. The Smartwool Merino 150 Base Layer Long Sleeve top (available in mens and womens versions) is comfortable to wear all dayeven in the afternoon, when the sun might make an appearance and warm things up. I wore them on a 35-degree day for a walk in the woods, under jeans and a flannel shirt and down jacket. Yes and no. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Synthetic base layers, typically made of nylon or some type of rayon, arent bad, but they perform differently. Get this if: Youre playing touch football, running a Tough Mudder, or going to sports practice after school. Winter-adventuring duo Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry suggested that a base layer top should have a relaxed fittrim enough to layer over without being bulky. (For comparison, a scratchy wool sweater may have fibers that are 50 microns thick.) Especially loved by our snow sports testers because it kept them from overheating, the womens version of this top is pieced together slightly differently to accomodate a different body shape. Basic, functional, and often on sale, the Under Armour ColdGear Base 3.0 Crew is a synthetic shirt, so it can go into the wash a lot more often. A lot of great base-layer tops out there come only in black. Sizes: S to XXL; fits a 36- to 53-inch chest, Sizes: XS to XL; fits a 32- to 42-inch chest, Sizes: S to XXL and L to XXL Tall; fits a 28- to 46-inch waist, Sizes: XL and XL Petite; fits a 36-inch waist, Colors: black/asphalt (heathered black and gray). We interviewed Justin Lichter and Shawn Forry, the first and only known people to hike the Pacific Coast Trail in winter, and we spoke with Alli Noland, who has worked for almost a dozen base layer companies. This gap allows you to keep a relatively consistent temperature, like being in your own temp-regulated bubble. Differently named but the same top as the mens version, this merino wool top is thick enough to wear by itself or under a jacket or sweatshirt. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. The lighter you pack, the easier travel seems to get. Opposed to most thermal underwear and its ever-neutral palette, this lightweight, long-sleeve option comes in three bold colors and patterns. It's now infiltrated my layering system for basically all of my cooler weather outdoor pursuits. And we even have some picks in this guide, such as the layers from Le Bent, that are ideal to wear underneath clothing. If we had to parse it, wed say overall that base layers are for regulating heat, and thermals are meant to retain heat. The fit of these tights is certainly slim and best worn underneath a layer or two. Almost all of the base layers we recommend in this guide are made of merino wool, or a wool blend. This soft, well-made merino wool top is thicker than our other picks, so its a great shirt to wear under looser clothing, like waders or rain gear. ", Best Wool: Icebreaker 175 Everyday Leggings at Amazon, "Both the top and bottom are stretchy so they can easily be worn underneath any type of winter gear. It fits next to the skin, but the fabric is thicker because of the weaveso its sort of a base layer and sort of a mid-layer. If, for example, you attend a football game and then go home, or if you finish skiing and then sit around the fire, its nice not to have to change out of your clothing immediately. You may have noticed that we try to choose plain or mostly plain options as our top picks, because everyones taste is different. Another season, a million new base-layer options. And if so, youll probably find a set of comfortable, functional base layerslightweight pieces of clothing to wear under sweaters or jackets or pantsto be a worthwhile investment. ", Best Set: Thermajane Ultra Soft Thermal Underwear Long Johns Set at Amazon, "Thermajanes thermal long john set is fleece-lined and softer than soft. Its what sheep wear outdoors, all the time, in wind, rain, snow, and sun: a fiber that miraculously does all the things we described above. Then, every five minutes, we rearranged the order based on moistness until all the layers were dry, recording how long each layer took to attain dry status. Why theyre great: These base layers are pieced together with two different weights of fabric. These pieces are the most durable layers in this guide. Thermals, on the other hand, are meant to keep you warm. Weve found that this version offers the right thickness for staying warm in early spring or late fall. If you want a shirt you could wear to dinner after a day of outdoor activity: The mens and womens Smartwool 250 Base Layer Crew and mens and womens Smartwool 250 Base Layer Bottom would be the layers to get. The seams are flatlocked, so theyll resist pulling apart for a long time, and in our tests these pieces came out of the washer and dryer three times without any wear that we could notice. And of course there is a lot of crossover, so both types of garments can work for a variety of situations. If thats what you need, take a look at the Minus33 layers below. Keep in mind that the thinness of the fabric, while warm, can be a bit see-through if youre wearing them solo. Fit: Base layers keep you warm by trapping heat in the small gap between your skin and the fabric. The midweight Merino 250 Base Layer was designed with a flat-lock seam, meaning theres less opportunity for chafing. If you are looking for an inexpensive pair to wear around the house or in less strenuous scenarios, opt for the Thermajane Ultra Soft Thermal Underwear Long Johns Set (view at Amazon), which provides a thermal t-shirt and leggings at a great price. Every garment in this guide is machine-washable, and we did wash all of them in testing to make sure. Thermajanes thermal long john set is fleece-lined and softer than soft. That way, if you have a backpack on, the seam wont rub into your shoulder; several of our winning layers have a raglan or offset sleeve specifically for this reason. Synthetics are naturally flexible, and that makes for good bottoms: If you squat, the fabric moves with you. When youre standing still, the garments cover your skin, keeping your body warm. She can remember the titles on her childhood bookshelf that set her in this direction: Into Thin Air, On The Road, The Call of the Wild. The mens Bn3th Classics Full Length bottoms (which we tested when they were named the MyPakage Weekday First Layer) are made of modal, and they had a drying time similar to that of cotton in our tests (which we expected). Why its great: This basic, functional merino wool shirt is a good option if youre going to be outside all dayits available in more light colors than the Ridge, so its a better choice if the weather will be bright and youll be moving a lot. This baselayer from 32 Degrees feels like wearing nothing (in the best way possible). Minus33s Franconia Midweight Wool Bottom. Without the need to wick away moisture, a cotton or synthetic thermal is an okay choicethink of the classic army-issue waffle thermal. By contrast, the Smartwool 150 shirt also comes in some lighter colors. If you tend to have that problem, this shirt may be a solution. But were not too concerned because generally when you are backpacking, the conditions arent quite cold enough to warrant a bottom base layer. More-form-fitting layers, the kind that really wick sweat away during high-intensity activities, sometimes sacrifice a little of that comfort. This pair ranks among our all-time favorite merino leggings. This set is also available in a womens style. But overall both the men and the women on our testing panel liked the fit of the Icebreaker crewneck (and zip-neck) pieces better. It has a raglan sleeve (like the Ridge layer), so the shoulder seams are offset (meaning theyre not directly on top of your shoulder). Get these if: Youre trying an outdoor activity for the first time and you dont know whether youll actually like it enough to stick with it.