bogus baselayers

THE WARM

AND FUZZIES

Baselayers combine fabrics for improved

performance and comfort. BY M.T. ELLIOTT

Skinny Skivvies

Increasingly, customers are relying on active insulation midlayers

to stay warm, and only ask that bases wick moisture and don’t itch.

“Our lightweight and midweight baselayers are doing well,” says

Rebecca Brooks, manager and buyer at Whittaker Mountaineering

in Ashford, Washington. “Expedition weight came to a grinding halt

in the past year. Customers are moving toward the lighter-weight

baselayer so they’re not committed to it for insulation all day.”

Under Construction

Brands are experimenting with new yarns, fabrics, and manufacturing

techniques to increase the softness of next-to-skin layers. Patagonia

fluffed up its baselayers with air, while Ortovox incorporated

soft beechwood into its wool yarns to boost comfort. Seams also continue

to disappear, with fused constructions weaving together different

weights or types of thread and 3-D knitting techniques creating

shape without producing much scrap material.

Below is a picture of a skinny skivvie garment. Considering how form fitting this garment is how much moisture do you think can move through it? ZERO that is how much, also consider that the material used for this garment is most likely a synthetic. If it were wool such as merino wool they would state such information.

The brands that are experimenting with new yarns and fabrics are hell-bent on NOT accomplishing anything of value. All of the constructions are identical; the fabrics are knitted very closely as you can see in the picture.

The reality is that regardless of the brand these base layers will not do anything other than to guarantee you to be cold if you are wearing them in a cold environment and more so if you happen to be active such as skiing or mountain climbing.

The companies that market these close knit outfits are primarily interested in selling them to people who see them as active sporty look garments and will more than likely never see winter, which is okay. Just don’t fool yourself into thinking what you have will actually work as the company literature claims. These garments cannot function as fishnets do.

According to Consumer Reports these garments do not improve performance or comfort when you start sweating while wearing them.

But as we have seen over and over again so many of the companies who profess to selling garments that will make you time in the outdoors more pleasurable are just saying that as if the language comes out of thin air. Just to make you feel good about buying the idea of a pleasure you will never experience. There are those who will believe it just like those who believe waterproof/breathable material actually exists.