WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY? ARE YOU LOOKING TO WEAR YOUR BASE LAYER UNDER OTHER CLOTHING? CONS: Can pill after washing, may hold onto lint & pet hair, not as durable as synthetics in the long run Slim athletic fit requires a slim athletic body type, expensive, not as durable as cheaper synthetics Thumb holes are useful during late fall and early spring, when your hands may start out cold but as your body temperature rises, gloves get uncomfortable.

The 5 Best Base Layers of 2023 | Tested by GearLab

Let’s be honest, we all fared perfectly well without them before (Image credit: Susumu Yoshioka) 5. Sun protectionWeak durability keeps this top a dedicated base layer, seams found converging in pinch points, pricey You have probably seen running tops, shirts, base layers, and hoodies with thumb holes. But why do these long sleeves have thumb holes? If it’s warm outside, a lightweight layer might be the only layer you wear. Our men’s base layer tester, for example, gets sunburned easily, so he wears lightweight, long-sleeved base layers year-round. Best base layer bottoms overall: Patagonia Capilene Midweight Men’s / Women’s - We’ve had the same pair of Patagonia’s Capilene Midweights for years, and they’re showing very few signs of wear. We find the level of warmth they provide to be appropriate for most of the year, and their athletic fit makes them easy to layer. The best merino wool base layer we tested is the Ibex Woolies 2. Both Liz and Naomi tested this base layer seven years ago, and both of them consistently reach for that same shirt at least once a week. Since then, Ibex has gone through a major rebranding, but for 2023, it has re-released the Woolies. We are overjoyed. We're thrilled to report it has all the same great features we loved with the previous version.

Thumb holes: outdoor gear necessity or marketing gimmick? Thumb holes: outdoor gear necessity or marketing gimmick?

To identify what qualities to look for, we interviewed Tucson-based professional trail runner Ashleigh Thompson (she/hers). A member of the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation and a Ph.D. Candidate in Anthropology at the University of Arizona, Ashleigh believes being outside is paramount to healing and happiness. She promotes recreating respectfully on Native lands and creating outdoor spaces that are welcoming to everyone. WARMTH Pros: Synthetic base layers tend to be affordable, lightweight and easy to wear. They can feel similar to Lycra, making them a good fit for activities requiring a wide range of motion, such as HIIT. She's been testing base layers for years since her first story on base layers in 2015 for Wirecutter/New York Times. If it’s cold, you may intend to pile on the layers. But having a lightweight layer as your next-to-skin layer gives you more flexibility for temperature adjustment while doing something active. This allows you to keep the warmth against your body and adjust as needed. Many folks will layer a heavyweight base layer over a lightweight one for very cold aerobic sports.What we liked: Body mapped fabric vents heat, comfort, seamless anti-itch fabric, fit, functionality