A base layer is a piece of technical equipments that is used to manage moisture in your clothing by trapping air next to your body. People may treat a base layer like regular underwear, but there are important difference between the two. If a base layer dont have the proper fit or it is made of the wrong material, it will not properly keep you warm.
A base layer must have the proper fit so that it can move moisture away from your body and it must have the correct material so that it can manage your body temperature. There are three main type of fits for base layers: athletic fit, regular fit, and relaxed fit. An athletic fit is designed to be closer to your skin than regular fit clothing and is useful for move moisture off your body quickly.
How to Pick and Care for Your Base Layer
However, if an athletic fit garment is too loose for you, the moisture will not be able to be wanked properly and you can become damp and cold. A regular fit is in between athletic and relaxed fit and offers more comfort for your body. A relaxed fit is a loose garment that is for resting and is not for physical activity as it can make you overheat.
In order to purchase a base layer that will properly fit your bodys measurements, you must use a size chart and use the measurements for your chest, waist, and hips to find the correct size for you. The garment you choose for the base layer also affects the outer layers that you will wear. If the middle layer is tight, your base layer should be snug.
If the outer temperature is extreme in your environment, you may want to choose a larger base layer so that there is air between the base layer and the mid-layer for added insulation. The material of your base layer is important. Some materials include merino wool, synthetic materials like polyester, and silk.
Merino wool is great for handling odors which is perfect for trips where you may not be able to regularly wash your clothes. Synthetic materials like polyester are great at drying quick and they are very durable. However, they do hold onto odors more than merino wool.
Silk is a very light material however it isnt as durable as merino wool or synthetic fabrics. You must also consider the fabric weight of your base layer. Fabric weight uses grams per square meter to describe the weight of the fabric.
Ultralight fabrics are for activities where you produce alot of heat while you are performing the activity. Midweight fabrics are for general use while you are wearing the clothing. Heavyweight fabrics are for temperatures as low as freezing however they are not the fabric of choice for everyone at all times.
If you wear a heavyweight base layer while you are hiking, for example, you will begin to sweat and may feel cold when you are not moving from producing body heat. The layering system works for the garments that you wear because each garment have a specific job to do. Base layers are responsible for wicking moisture away from the body.
Mid-layer garments are responsible for trapping the body heat next to your body. Shell garments are responsible for blocking the wind and rain from getting to your body. One way to improve the efficiency of your layers is to tuck in your base layer into your bottoms to prevent your warm air from escaping out of the bottom of your clothing.
In order to ensure that your base layer lasts for a long time, there are a few steps that you can follow. If you wear a base layer that is made of merino wool, avoid using high heat when washing your clothes as the merino wool could of shrink. Always use cold water to wash your base layer and lay it flat to dry so that the fibers of the base layer dont break down and the base layer continues to fit proper on your body.
