Your second skin: Base layers

BASE LAYERS (You know. Tops.)

SNOW WAS LYING on the ground and temperatures were nudging zero when we started this test. By the time we were ready to write up our reviews, the daffodils were up and it was a balmy 15 degrees outside. So in spite of lockdown, it’s fair to say we were as rigorous as we could be in trialling these shirts. There’s nothing like a freezing walk one week followed by a spring stroll the next to get the measure of a base layer.

What do we mean by ‘base layer’? As the name implies it’s the first layer worn next to your skin, and while it can specifically apply to thermal underwear, it has become a coverall term for ‘outdoorsy shirt’. It’s their technical properties that make them special; specifically, how they deal with sweat.

Perspiration is an inevitable and healthy part of exercise, but trapped under layers of clothing, it makes your skin feel clammy. In cold conditions, when de-layering isn’t an option, that moisture saps body heat too. So a good base layer transfers sweat outwards, leaving your skin drier and helping to regulate your body temperature.

But they come in a vast range of styles. So we’ve compiled the widest variety of options from across the market, to make sure you’re good to go whatever it’s doing out there.

About our reviews

We’ve chosen ten base layer tops that should be widely available in the UK at the time of going to press. Philip and Rachel tested five each, and all but one come in both men’s and women’s styles (indicated by these dots ). We rate each top on comfort (how it fits and feels), anti-sweat properties (wicking and odour-resistance), versatility and value for money. We don’t select an overall winner, but Philip and Rachel have chosen their stand-out favourites and selected one top that represents best value for money.