Best base layers for cycling: a buyer's guide

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Base layers are there to keep you comfortable while cycling. They do this in two ways: by trapping a layer of air next to your body to keep you warm, and by transporting sweat away from your skin to keep you dry. 

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If you want to get technical about it, a base layer forms the bottom of a multi-layer clothing system designed to manage the climate differential between the inside and outside of your garments. As such, you're likely to wear them on all but the very hottest days.

How do base layers work?

Some base layers wick moisture away from the skin through capillary action (the fabric’s inner face has lots of tiny voids to make it porous), while others do it using hydrophilic coatings that work to actively draw moisture through the garment.

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What are base layers made from?

Base layers for cycling are usually made from synthetic fabrics like polyester blends, and are designed to suck sweat off your skin and shift it to the outer face of the cloth where it can be more easily evaporated off. This is what people mean when they talk about wicking.

Wool, or merino wool, is the natural alternative. It achieves the same result thanks to its internal construction, which has hydrophilic fibres held together inside a hydrophobic sheath.

What to look for in a base layer

When it comes to choosing a base layer, there are other things to consider besides the material it’s made from. It's important to think about the fit, thickness of material used, warmth you'll need from it, and odour management.

Warmth (but not too much)

Base layers provide warmth by trapping air next to the skin. This effect is due to the weave design, the fabric fibres used, or a mixture of both. The colder the conditions, the thicker the base layer you use – it's as simple as that.

How warm you want your base layer to be obviously depends on how warm you naturally are, and how warm you want to stay. Some folk can ride in sub-zero conditions with just a thin base layer and a shell, while others need three inches of fleece just to go out in autumn.

Long, short or no sleeves?

Odour management

As few seams and zips as possible

Season-appropriate collars

Longer hems

You can read more at BikeRadar.com

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