What is the best base layer to wear? That depends of what the activity is you are participating in, personnel heat or cold tolerance, financial consideration.
So for the purpose of this we are going to assume that you are wearing a base layer for skiing/snowboarding. Light to mid weight and assuming you are on a resort not off exploring the backcountry. So the next choice and the biggest is the type of fabric; here you have three main options.
Polyester or polyester blends:
- Manmade fabric.
- Some product contained recycled polyester.
- Is normally blended with other product to improve moister wicking or comfort.
- Durable.
Polypropylene
- Manmade fabric.
- Durable.
- Used by some military as a base layer.
Wool
- Natural fabric.
- Good heat and cold control.
- Durable.
- Been around a long time.
- Natural flame resistant.
Cotton was not included since it is not a good base layer because of its ability to hold moisture, and Silk while I personally I like my silk some other place then in my base layer.
So which one is the best option? The most common and easily accessible is polyester also the products in this group have big ranges in prices. You can purchase top and bottoms from big box retailers for $ 28.00 or you can pay up to 155.00. So since I’m budget consigns I tend to look closely when the spread is that big. How much is that driven brand, sales BS and how much of it is value worth paying for. So you need to ask your self some questions:
- How long do I want this base layer to last?
- Do seams bother my skin causing rash or itch?
- Do you want or need this layer to do more than the ski/boarding season?
- Do you care if it my trap odors?
- Is purchasing environmental friendly product important to you?
- Do you need one set or multiple sets
The answers to the above will help guide you in your decision, there are to many product on the market and manufactures for me to have tried all of them so I can’t recommend one over the other.
My personal choice is this product it is from MEC, the bottom and top meet my personal needs. I have a high temp tolerance for cold and like the environmental impact of this product since they use recycled polyester. And also the fact it is more budget friendly at a price of 52.00 for the set is not the cheapest but mid price product. REI also make a similar product top and bottom you will pay 60.00 for the set but they don’t use recycled polyester. My son has been wearing a big box set for two years for skiing and it still is in great shape and works warm so don’t loss site that big box store products in this case are a reasonable option when the wear is more than likely to outgrow the product in two or three years.
