Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). Get this if: You want a shirt that occupies the middle ground. Get this if: Youre playing touch football, running a Tough Mudder, or going to sports practice after school. Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Fabric: Nylon, wool, elastane | Care: Hand wash. Try packing light enough to forgo not only checking luggage but also using the overhead bins. These stretchy, form-fitting leggings come with a flysomething that leggings twice the price often dont have. Because this crewneck stands up to a lot of washing, its a good option for sports practice, obstacle races, or any activity where you might get really dirty. Like the Uniqlo top, the mens Uniqlo Heattech Long Johns had one of the worst drying times in our tests, so they dont disperse moisture. And, of course, we have a budget option. You dont need to change out of it to be comfortable, either when you stop backpacking for the day or when you sit down for some food after a long day hike. The material delivers excellent breathability, which is crucial to anyone getting active outside. The mens leggings come with a working fly, something that certain leggings at 10 times the price dont have. Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL | Fabric: Merino wool | Care: Hand wash. It would make a better travel shirt or a summer layer, since it comes in lighter colors. This thin, merino-blend shirt comes in basic colors for wearing alone or layering under clothing. Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | Fabric: Polyester, spandex | Care: Wash cold on the gentle cycle, tumble dry on low. Why theyre great: These base layers are pieced together with two different weights of fabric. The mens Duckworth Vapor LS Crew is an everyday shirt like the Ridge Merino Aspect, but it has a looser fit (which the company says is an intentional design to trap more warm air against the body). Or maybe you enjoy engaging in outdoor sports or playing in the snow? I've worn the 250 on runs multiple days in a row, logging upwards of 50 miles in-between washes. Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL | Fabric: Microfiber, spandex | Care: Wash on a cold, gentle cycle and air dry. Merino wool is truly a wizard at masking stink. It doesnt necessarily have to be skintight, but it should not hang loosely from any part of your body. The Minus33 crew and bottom are both 100% merino, which normally would be a red flag in the longevity department. This set has an incredible stretch, making it a great choice for those who work outdoors year-round in need of an extra layer. This thermal set is also available in a mens style. Sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XXL, 3XL | Fabric: Polyester, spandex | Care: Wash cold, tumble dry low. So it can be useful as an underlayer and also as a standalone shirt, because you can wear it on a sunny day without sweating to death. We havent found any official definition that makes a clear distinction between thermal underwear and base layers. A lot of great base-layer tops out there come only in black. Sizes: XS to 6X; fits a 33- to 61-inch chest, Sizes: XS to XXXL; fits a 32- to 47-inch chest, Colors: eight solids, two two-tone, and one camo, Sizes: XS to 6X; fits a 24- to 56-inch waist, Sizes: XS to XXXL; fits a 24- to 39-inch waist. 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. With four-way stretch and an elastic waistband, this layering piece is invisibleagain, in the best way possibleperfect for slipping on underneath a pair of hiking pants, snow pants, or denim. Best Overall: Smartwool Intraknit Merino 250 Thermal Bottoms, Best Leggings (Men): Salomon Essential Wool Tight, Best Leggings (Women): Arc'teryx Rho LT Bottom, Best Set: Thermajane Ultra Soft Thermal Underwear Long Johns Set, Best Wool: Icebreaker 175 Everyday Leggings, Best Lightweight: Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Long-Sleeve Top, Best for Layering (Mens): Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer, Best for Layering (Womens): 32 Degrees Base Layer Thermal Leggings. The Rho's from Arc'teryx are lightweight leggings that are deceivingly warm. And we even have some picks in this guide, such as the layers from Le Bent, that are ideal to wear underneath clothing. It's now infiltrated my layering system for basically all of my cooler weather outdoor pursuits. Opposed to most thermal underwear and its ever-neutral palette, this lightweight, long-sleeve option comes in three bold colors and patterns. ", Best Lightweight: Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Long-Sleeve Top at Backcountry, "The brands high-quality wool blend has better strength and durability than 100 percent Merino wool yarns. It quickly became obvious how poorly some of the pieces worked in this regard, staying damp for days. Testers thought it felt tight in the armpits. 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. However, not everyone knows exactly what theyre looking for right when they start off. 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. Its so easy to end up with a closet full of expensive technical shirts you dont wear because they dont match anything or do enough. And the smooth fibers help it shed dirt and debris more easily than a merino wool shirt. If you dont mind investing, look into the Smartwool Intraknit Merino 250 Thermal Bottoms (view at Amazon). When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. After four years of testing, these are our favorite merino leggings because they prevent overheating. Worn under another layer, they're an excellent option for skiing and snowshoeing in the winter and climbing or hiking in the warmer months. They are comparable to the thicker Minus33 base layers. This merino wool shirt is fitted but not tight, and it wears well under backpack straps. REI Co-op Womens Midweight Base Layer Crew Top. 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. By contrast, the Smartwool 150 shirt also comes in some lighter colors. Both sides of the polyester fabric are brushed and very soft to the touch. Flaws but not dealbreakers: We dont recommend the matching bottoms for this top because many testers didnt like the fit. The Ridge Merino Aspect Wool Base Layer also comes in a zip-neck mens version. Thats the main reason the Kari Traa layers arent currently a pick. And finally, they shouldnt make you itch. The 12 Best Men's Insulated Jackets of 2022, We Researched the Best Hiking SocksHere Are Our Top Picks, Here Is the Best Cold Weather Running Gear, Tested by Our Experts, Here Are the Best Ski Socks to Wick Away Moisture and Keep Your Feet Warm, These Are the Best Women's Ski Jackets for Any Adventure in the Snow, The 12 Best Beanies That Offer Both Warmth and Style, The Best Rash Guards to Protect You and the Whole Family. our process. This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. 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 tend to have that problem, this shirt may be a solution. Style shouldn't be prioritized over performance when it comes to activewear. If youre okay with (or prefer) patterns or prints on your base layers: Consider the Kari Traa Smekker Half Zip and Kari Traa Smekker Pantsuper-soft, form-fitting merino-blend layers (designed for women) that come in patchwork-patterned designs. It's style. I recently wore it backpacking California's Ansel Adams Wilderness, then hiking Duck Pass outside of Mammoth Lakes, then fly-fishing on Crowley Lake just outside of Mammoth, and even the local brewery. Icebreaker addresses other comfort issues, too: The shirt has offset shoulder seams, no tag, and a long torso to cover the back. For instance, youd wear thermals to sit in the bleachers at a football game, to lounge around a cold house, or to layer under regular clothing before you go outside. And the 32 Degrees shirts are longer than, for instance, the shirts in the Uniqlo Heattech Collection, so theyll cover your back when you bend over. So you can wear it comfortably by itself, yet it wont bulk up if you wear it under a sweatshirt. If you know what activity you like to do, and you dont mind the feel of wool, we think a merino pair of base layers is a better investment. And of course there is a lot of crossover, so both types of garments can work for a variety of situations. She has always been drawn to ideas about how to relate to, and play in, the wilderness. Synthetic fabrics and wool tend to be best for winter athletes, while silk is great for casual wear and lounging. If you want bottom layers that you can wear on their own as pants, try the Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layers, which we discuss in the Competition section. Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL | Fabric: Merino wool | Care: Machine wash on a cold, gentle cycle and tumble dry on low. 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. The mens version of the Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Wool Base Layer Long Sleeve Shirt. Consisting of a long-sleeve shirt and a pair of leggings, this odor-resisting set has a special four-way stretch that allows you to move comfortably in any direction (great for skiing or any sport that can send you bending in weird positions). If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. The wool fiber is 18.5 microns thick, just like the wool in the Ridge top we recommend, and that makes these pieces wearable against the skin. We ran all the layers through the wash and hung them up, ordering the layers based on how moist they felt right after the spin cycle. 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. The L.L.Bean Mens Cresta Wool Ultralight 150 Base Layer was a former pick, but we think the Ridge will be more durable in the long run. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. This set is also available in a womens style. Smartwool Intraknit Merino 250 Thermal Bottoms at Amazon, Salomon Essential Wool Tight at Backcountry, Thermajane Ultra Soft Thermal Underwear Long Johns Set at Amazon, Icebreaker 175 Everyday Leggings at Amazon, Ortovox 185 Rock'N'Wool Long-Sleeve Top at Backcountry, 32 Degrees Base Layer Thermal Leggings at Amazon. 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. Both the tops and bottoms are substantial enough to be worn alone, though they do look more like long underwear (especially the leggings) than other options. Erika Owen is a travel writer and a cold-weather enthusiast. Why theyre great: Not to be confused with our budget option (32 Degrees), Minus33 is a completely different brand of much higher quality. Wed expect these layers to last maybe one season, and theyll likely get damaged along the way. After three years, these five boxer briefs are the most comfy, supportive, and good-looking we could find, and they start at less than four bucks a pair. We also talked to experts. The only reason we moved them out of our main lineup is because they have been so hard to find. But overall both the men and the women on our testing panel liked the fit of the Icebreaker crewneck (and zip-neck) pieces better. This gap allows you to keep a relatively consistent temperature, like being in your own temp-regulated bubble. The fabric is 87% merino wool blended with nylon. 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. I did not find them particularly warm or comfortable, however. The Under Armour ColdGear Base 3.0 Crew, in mens and womens versions, is ideal for anyone who gets really dirty and needs to clean their base layer often.